[SMCARA] HAM Detectives

Tue Jul 6 16:21:22 EDT 2010

HI Boz,

Two recent sources of noise at my QTH were: the dimmer for a set of 12 volt strip lamps and the control computer on our newly installed HVAC system.  I pulled the plug on the dimmer and a bunch of toroids helped with the heat pump computer noise.  

Some of the new Flat Screen TVs are notorious noise sources.  Some CFLs are OK, but others are noisy.  Home security systems often contain a microprocessor that can make racket.

First thing to look for is something new in your house.  Then snooping with the portable Rx can help.  Don't forget SMECO.  Have they recently done any line work?  Some of the pole mounted switchgear and transformers/power factor caps can make noise, as can loose line connections feeding those antennas (aka powerlines) all around the neighborhood.

73 Tom

Tom Clarke
Wyle, Inc  Aeronautics
P3 Product Lead, PEO(A)
USN/USMC National Airworthiness Office
Naval Air Systems Command, AIR-4.0P
(301) 995-3793/DSN 995-3793
Fax: (301) 342-3776
Cell (301) 904-2053
frederic.clarke at navy.mil

"Do not let spacious plans for a new world divert your energies from saving what is left of the old."

Winston Churchill

-----Original Message-----
From: smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KG3BOZ
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 9:49 AM
To: SMCARA Reflector (E-mail)
Subject: [SMCARA] HAM Detectives

Hams with experience finding and eliminating QRM, lend me your 
eyes and ears:

I need your help.  For about a week now, I have been experiencing very
heavy QRM across the -entire- HF Spectrum.  I can even hear it on six 
meters (weaker) through 80 meters. It's so heavy at times, the signal 
meter on my TS 2000 is PEGGED.  It's not ALWAYS there, but it is there
more often than not.  The end result is that it effectively wipes out
my receive capability.  Two meters seems unaffected.

After speaking with KJ4FZT (Grant) my thought on how to find it was 
to use an HF battery operated station, we could hook it up, and then
kill the power mains to the house.  If the interference goes away, 
we will know it is inside my house and troubleshoot accordingly.  
If it doesn't go away, it's outside the house and then make plans
to DX it.

I do not have a battery operated station or experience in finding
interference.  If you have one or both of the above, please let me
know if you can assist.

DE KG3BOZ

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