[R-390] powerline noise

Thu, 27 Mar 2003 19:59:03 -0600

Hi Folks,

        I agree that it is in the Utility's best interest if for no other
reason than customer satisfaction...but I doubt the FCC would have anything
to do with matters of Power Line noise and am certain that there are no time
constraints the Utility is held to.  I can tell you that they will usually
be willing to help you solve the problem especially if you can try and
pinpoint it to a specific pole.  It is usually a piece of wire that is used
to tie the 13kv Primary conductor to the insulator.  When one end breaks
loose there is a small arc over that occurs to the tie wire...it creates
fairly broadband noise.  Sometimes the pole ground breaks loose at the top
and causes noise as well.

The Utility usually has it's hands full dealing with outage related problems
and will consider the noise trouble report a fairly low priority in the
grand scheme of things.  Try to remember that they have all been "DOWN
SIZED" to death and are usually understaffed.  (been there-doing that)

I know all this because I am a Telecommunications Wireless specialist with
the nations largest Public Electric Utility.   The easiest way to get in
touch with someone that can help is to stop by your local "Service Center",
easily spotted by all the bucket trucks going in and out, and ask to speak
to one of the division Engineers.  Explain what you are experiencing and
what you have done to try and locate the source.  It may take a few weeks to
get someone to come out and meet with you...but when they do show them what
you are hearing.  You probably won't have much luck calling the number
listed in the phone book used to report a power outage.

I assume you are hearing it equally well on the portable.  Another very
common source are door bell transformers.  There is usually one in every
house on your street and they have a nasty habit of becoming very noisy
before eventually failing.  (takes years).

Above all be friendly and patient....usually they will be willing to give
you a hand....Threatening to call the FCC or the Public Service Commission
will usually just get you ignored!

Cecil Acuff
WB5VCE
FCC General Commercial Licensed

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Richards <[email protected]>
To: 'Terry O'Laughlin' <[email protected]>;
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 6:00 PM
Subject: RE: [R-390] powerline noise

If you think that this is something that's being generated by your electric
utility, they have to investigate it, and within a specified period (which
escapes me at the moment).  Same thing with the smelter.  If they are
radiating crap, they have to clean it up.  The FCC will get involved if the
utility does not comply (sometimes with a nasty-gram).
Check in with the ARRL.  They have considerable experience in this area and
are often called on to act on the Amateur's behalf.

We had an issue with our local power company and they contracted with a
former FCC inspector who had all the necessary test gear to locate the
source, at least one of which they found.  It's in the utilities best
interest.  In our case, the utility replaced some equipment which was about
to fail.

Mark Richards
K1MGY

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Terry O'Laughlin
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 18:47
To: [email protected]
Subject: [R-390] powerline noise

My QTH has a horribly high noise level starting from what appears to be a
raspy fundamental that wanders between 400 and 450 kHz.  It persists to
well over 15MHz and has rendered all my shortwave radios essentially
useless.  It even overwhelms my R-390, R-390A and R-388 on a medical
isolation transformer circuit with a Kelvin ground.  My antenna ground
system is extensive as well.

I tried tracking it down with my Sony 2010 and it seems to follow some of
the power lines around the neighborhood.  But I can't pinpoint it.  I've
been assuming for 2 years the source is the aluminum recycler (smelter) 2
blocks away (the largest electrical user on the east side of town).  My
Sony 2010 detects little or no noise around the factory and tons in a one
block radius of my house.  I assumed it was the recycler because the noise
is often much lower or gone on Sundays.

I let this go for a long time assume I couldn't get the Al recycler to deal
with EMI.  Now that it appears to be coming from somewhere else I want to
nail down and get somebody to fix it.

Any ideas?

73
Terry O'
WB9GVB

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