Good luck, Lloyd, in resolving your current RFI noise issue.

As we all know, this stuff can be quite annoying, to say the least.

Some list members may recall that I was trying to get to the bottom of a
very pesky noise issue that I had here on 10 meters, probably about 3 years
ago. The noise was very consistent for a period of at least several months.
...  I actually was able to track it down to a few houses about a block and
a half away from the home QTH.  Then, one day, just as mysteriously, the
noise suddenly disappeared, never to be heard again.

Of course, this doesn't negate the power-line noise I have coming from a
high-voltage power transformer to the immediate northwest of my property.  I
keep hoping that someday, we'll have a nearby lightning strike that will
take out the faulty transformer,  while sparing my antennas all along!!  Of
course, I don't ask for much, do I!  (smile)

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Lloyd Rasmussen
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 7:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: I Think I Know What Ham Radio in Hell Sounds Like.

Thank you for re-posting that. I didn't listen to it last year. In most
cases I find that listening to these devices in AM mode is the most
informative, including what your noise blanker is or is not able to do with
the RFI. I was walking up and down my block today with an AM short-wave
radio, trying to get some insight into the newish noise source I have from
80 meters on uop. It appears to be run-of-the-mill raspy power line noise,
possibly at the north end of my block. Makes it difficult to copy people
when my antenna is stuck north and I'm trying to run the 20-meter net. After
I get the rotor control box fixed, the next step is to deal with the power
company. I think this particular source has only been on the air for a
couple of months. There are others, but this one is really loud.
73,


Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, MD
http://lras.home.sprynet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 10:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: I Think I Know What Ham Radio in Hell Sounds Like.

Hi, everyone.

In response to this thread, I'm re-sending something that I think I posted
to the list back in the Spring of 2014.

The following link appeared in the Wednesday: April 2 2014 edition of the
Handiham World Weekly E-letter.

The link helps you listen to, and hopefully identify common sources of RFI
that may be getting into your ham radio equipment:

http://www.arrl.org/sounds-of-rfi

The sound files are excellent and quite interesting!

P.S.  As far as I know, it is not possible to send attachments on this list,
so maybe Eric can figure out another way to send those sound files to
illustrate what he is experiencing.


Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Mike Keithley
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2015 4:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: I Think I Know What Ham Radio in Hell Sounds Like.

If you can send attachments on this list, those recordinds would be
appreciated.

----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Oyen  <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 1:34 pm
Subject: Re: I Think I Know What Ham Radio in Hell Sounds Like.

>
>
> grow lights are not the only noise maker. believe me, I have a 
> plethora = of sources around my neighborhood. Firstly, the 12 Kv 
> overhead power = lines. THose things buzz 24/7 and are particularly 
> loud on 80 and 160. = That is not I can handle that with an MFJ-1025 
> noise cancellation unit. = Its some of the others that I have 
> difficulty with (like the plasma TV = my neighbor has, or the Tivo 
> unit out in the front room that throws = spurs all over the spectrum 
> from 14 Mhz all the way up into the 2 meter = band. I need to make 
> some recordings of all these types of noises and = see what you all 
> make
of them.
>
> DE n7zzt Eric
>
> On Oct 15, 2015, at 10:38 AM, Martin McCormick wrote:
>
> > I benge-read "QST's" and am all caught up including  October.
> >=20
> > By the way, there are numerous references in those issues  to the 
> >blistering interference caused by non-type-excepted grow  light 
> >balists. I think that is what is tearing up radio reception  around 
> >here but I am not sure.
> >=20
> > I started noticing it a couple of years ago while  listening to 
> >Sporadic E television skip from Mexico and thought  it was a 
> >switching power supply of mine until I unplugged it and  the BZZZZ 
> >continued unchanged.
> >=20
> > This trash is pretty solid between the high end of ten  meters and 
> >roughly 70 MHZ. It is as if you had a 130-volt power  sub station in 
> >your back yard or had welders continuously working  right under the 
> >antenna.
> >=20
> > It goes and goes for hours then abruptly quits in both  Winter and 
> >Summer, day and night. It doesn't seem to follow any  particular 
> >pattern except a general one of being more common on  work days. I 
> >have heard it on for as few as 4 or 5 minutes but  normally, it is 
> >buzzing and crackling 24/7.
> >=20
> > The "QST" articles said that some of the dodgy balists  emit 50 DB 
> >more noise than they should and a single one can be  heard for over 
> >half a mile.
> >=20
> > Our house is two blocks South of the university campus  and the 
> >veterinary school is the closest large complex. I haven't  gotten a 
> >fix on the megabuzz yet but lots of folks around here  grow plants of 
> >both the legal and quite illegal variety. That  buzzing sound could 
> >be somebody's brain on drugs and they finally  shorted it out. I wish 
> >a thunder storm would hurry up and shorten  it's life so one can hear 
> >actual radio signals again.
> >=20
> > One of the articles I read said that when the light first  comes on, 
> >there is a burbling sound as the fluorescent tube  first ionizes.
> >I hadn't heard that, but there is sometimes a  brief burst of racket, 
> >maybe a fifth of a second of relative  quiet and then we're off and 
> >running for who knows how long.
> >=20
> > The article said that some of the grow lights in question  are a 
> >kilowatt in power. I guess they could duplicate Marconi's 
> >transatlantic test and this time, the spark is contained in the glass 
> >tube.
> >=20
> > Martin