[Lowfer] Smart Meter Noise

[Paul Daulton]

And we thought BPL was as bad as it would get. 
Paul k5wms

Quoting Dexter McIntyre W4DEX <dexter.mc at gmail.com>:
> I have a underground multi pair cable running several hundred feet to
> two buildings that I laid while installing water and power to the
> buildings.  I initially had no particular plans for the cable but I had
> it so I took advantage of the opportunity to bury it while the trench
> was open. Since it was installed about 23 years ago I have used the
> cable for phone, intercom, feeding packet audio and various control
> functions.  The intercom has some AC hum on the audio but is very tolerable. 
>
> When the present smart meter was installed on my house last summer I
> initially heard the brief transmission very strong on the intercom. 
> This noise was in sync with my UPS switching so I immediately suspected
> the smart meter as the source.  The meter transmission are about 4
> seconds duration and occur about every 4 to 6 hours.  The noise is very
> noticeable from VLF up through MF. 
>
> Today I noticed, very faintly, more frequent transmissions on the
> intercom, obviously not from my meter but perhaps from the polling
> station.  This gave me the opportunity to investigate the signal more
> throughly. 
>
> What I found, which may be the prime signal, is a burst occurring
> between the seventh and ninth harmonic of 60 Hertz centered at 480
> Hertz.  Below is a SpectraVue capture of the signal. 
>
> http://www.w4dex.com/qrm/smart_meter/smart_meter_signal.jpg
>
> I suspect someone who lives near the polling station or closer to a main
> power line would have much more problem with this signal if they listen
> to AM radio or by chance they are a VLF/LF enthusiasts.  I may take a
> portable out the the substation just to find out. 
>
> Welcome to the Smart Grid world. 
>
> Dex
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Paul Daulton K5WMS
beacon WMS 185.302 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
Jacksonville,Ar 72076
em34wu