Recently, I had a sudden increase of noise level when I switched on my FTDX-101D. With a spectrum display, it provides an immediate visual cue that something has changed. I could hear it as well, as the level was S-9. My first inkling that it might be temporary, so I left the rig on and did some other things.
It wasn’t going away, so I checked other bands. It seemed to be everywhere, but S-9 on 30 meters seemed the worst. Other bands were S-2 to S-8. So I started to try and figure out what was going on. There had been no changes around the house. No new gadgets, power supplies, appliances. With no antenna connected, there was nothing seen or heard. I was hearing it on other radios. I wondered, did a neighbor get a new welder or plasma cutter?
I started reading up and searching online. I recall going to a RARA meeting, maybe 12-15 years ago, where an employee from Rochester Gas and Electric discussed Power Line RFI. Unfortunately that presentation was not on their website. I came across a presentation to the AWA from Jeff, W4DD. Jeff had suffered from high noise levels at his QTH and discussed his problems and ways to identify and address the issue.
Following some of Jeff’s ideas, I took my FT5D HT out and tuned it to 136.750 MHz. I didn’t yet have time to assemble a 137 Mhz yagi, so I used my Arrow Antennas dual band yagi that has 3 elements on 2 meters. Though not matched, I thought I might still have some directivity effects. I could hear the noise, but waking a short ways, I couldn’t get a bearing. I knew based on Jeff’s info, that the source could be up to a mile away.
The next thing I did was take a ride around my neighborhood listening to the AM band on my car radio. The noise was clearly audible on an empty frequency. With no S-meter, sound intensity was all I could go by, and the best I could do was confirm it was within a 3/4 mile radius from my house, maybe more likely to my west.
Next I installed my Yaesu FT-857 back into the car. I put a 20 meter hamstick on the roof and repeated my drive around the neighborhood. Now with an S-Meter, I was able to find the strongest signals about 1/3 of a mile west of my house.
I went home and grabbed my HT again with the yagi. Though 25 degrees and snowing, I walked west and tried to pinpoint a location. The noise level at 136 Mhz seemed lower, but audible. I did find a section of 3 poles that I thought was suspect, but wasn’t 100% sure.
I went back the next day, this time also using an attenuator, and came up with a suspect pole. It was an interesting one, and may have nothing to do with the problem, but the pole has two transformers on it, a power meter near the bottom, and two metal boxes up about 12 feet above the ground. And something is buzzing quite loudly.
Usually, the powerline RFI is caused by the high voltage lines arcing, 14KV or 7.2KV or whatever they are. From W4DDs presentations, insulators, lightning arrestors are the usual culprits. But staples and bolts have also been identified. So anything below those transformers would be lower voltage, so I think much less likely a root cause.
I was intrigued by Jeff’s RFI Mapper tool. I could not find any links to his tool, so I emailed him. He sent me a link to the software and instructions, as well as plans for a 137 Mhz yagi. My FT-857 should do as a radio, I have a laptop I can load the SW on, all I would need is a GPS device and a cable for my FT-857 data port. So I ordered those.
But I felt that I had enough info to contact RG&E. I know these issues are low priority for utilities, and that it can take weeks or months, so I gave them a call. I could find no number on their website for this type of problem, so I had to call their main number that the website said to use to talk with a customer service representative. I still had to go through several automated menu selections and hope I picked the right ones, but I eventually talked to a person.
She put in a ticket, but I guess didn’t understand what I was trying to report. She picked up on the word “arcing”, and 1 hour later a service man was at my door. When I explained what was wrong, he said “oh, your having static”. He said he doesn’t do that, he would have to send it over to the “power quality” department. Once they confirm and identify the problem, someone like him would be called in to start trying to fix it.
So now I wait. Somewhere I read they have to address it within 60 days. I hope they can do better than that. Though the guy who came to the house told me, “we’re not the company we used to be”. Sigh.
In the meantime, I will build a 137 MHz yagi, and try to get RFI Mapper running and test it out.
Here are some videos of my FTDX-101D spectrum display.
