[TVARC] Power lines

[Larry Sheridan]

Good morning Tom:

My wife N4LBF and I were also concerned with the lines as we were looking
at various locations in the area.  When we drove down from Cheyenne in May
2019 for the week visit and then again in September 2019 for a month
rental, the Suburban was set up with the Kenwood 440SAT on the dash and a
Tarheel 200A on the trailer hitch receiver for the express purpose of
exploring power line noise on the HF bands in The Villages.  To my
amazement, the high-tension line on the 80-some-foot-high square towers
(345 Kv or 765 Kv, not sure which) was virtually silent on all HF bands 3.5
to 30 MHz (did not check 160) even when driving around and passing directly
under it.  IMHO, the only concern would be the visual impacts which for
some folks is a real issue but for others (like us, with a tower behind the
house) isn't a problem.

As others pointed out, the tower in the backyard makes for a great
lightning rod, with a cone of protection extending out around it for some
distance.  Since moving here full time in July 2020, "our" tower has taken
1 direct strike with no effects on us other than the incredible flash &
simultaneous near-deafening mini-explosion of noise.  You can Google Earth
our QTH for a street view if you like.

Not sure why the power line is so static-noise quiet, it may be that
frequent rains have a tendency to keep the insulators clean, but that's
just my guess.  The shack here has a full-size 40M dipole with balun lying
on the roof shingles & after some sleuthing to track down inside-the-house
noise sources (under-cabinet LED lights, laptop power supplies, Samsung
refrigerator <!> , LED shower lights, cable TV boxes, Samsung flat screen
TV) & applying #31 toroid filters the background noise floor level on the
new Icom 7300 is typically now running S1 to S2 on 40.  (Started out at S8+
before filters so a definite & needed improvement.)

Grounding system is (3) 8' long 5/8" dia ground rods 8' apart across the
front of the house with #4 solid copper into the shack, so that's a factor
too.

Hope this helps, and Best 73,

Larry K4LES






On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 10:16 AM Tom Crawford <tmcsail at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Good morning fellow TVarc members.
>
> As we give casual consideration to a change of domicile, I am wondering
> how much of an affect the high voltage power lines have that run through
> TV.  As a matter of general principles, I’m shying away from them, but I
> just wonder how valid my objection is.
> Any thoughts?
> 73,
> Tom W3TMC
>
>
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