Finding Annoying Power Line Noise, Ham Radio / CB Radio

Power line noise is just terrible at my home QTH, and before I get my noise source handled, I have a bigger fish to fry.
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[@uncleben03]

I'm a Telecom tech for a power company, part of my job is RFI/PLI tracking. Even being out there in my company truck, hard had, hi-vis vest I get some pretty weird looks walking Around with my radar engineers parabolic and some other directional stuff. Finding PLI is one of my favorite parts of my job!

[@JayN4GO]

uncleben03 I’ve notified my power company 5 times over rfi on vhf. They have never sent anyone with any resources to find the noise. It’s always me and a small yagi with my hand held looking for it for them. Any tips to finding a tracker ?

[@Robert-Wilson]

I’d say with it wiping out other services. Notify the FCC bet it gets fixed real fast.

[@zman4150]

My last QTH had a nasty buzz from the power lines but National Grid wouldn't fix it. I tried an experiment - I smacked the pole with a sledge hammer & wouldn't ya know... The noise cleared up for a while! I don't recommend doing this to those poles though...

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

All units we have reports of an odd looking guy walking around with a satellite dish and a big sledge hammer. He's waving the satellite dish around and then he's taking swings at power poles. Reports are that he claims he's hearing noises. Guys in white coats are headed to the scene.

[@andrewfiertek5937]

Good luck getting the power company to fix something for you on the Transmission Line, you have a better chance of getting a problem fixed on Distribution Lines (I know first hand as I’m a Lineman for Eversource in CT) and have been out to fix a power line issue either on the line/insulator/ground etc because a HAM complained. Great videos as always!! 73 from N1YLO. Ps... heading to the beach tomorrow to work portable thanks to you!!

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Thanks for watching. Yah, I dont think this was ever going to get fixed, but it was fun making it :) Enjoy the portable brotha

[@jimsouthall1085]

Andrew, thanks for the work you do. I could never do!

[@rttakezo2000]

I thought spark gap transmitters were outlawed in the 20's..........

[@robertmeyer4744]

very hard to get power companies to fix the problem. unless it causes a power outage they just let it be. I had a 235 Kv lines near my home years ago and had a RF noise problem for years. Even wrote a letter to the FCC and still nothing done. Took a fire chief that using VHF low band radio to make complaint to FCC that was causing interference to fire radios and dispatch can not be heard. after that the power company came out and fixed it . was a cracked insulator . that was my personal experience with powerline noise back in 1990. 73s

[@HAMRADIOJOE4178]

KEEP YOUR DAY JOB, NO SINGING

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

It was great. Just like when we were teenagers in the eighties.

[@indyshadow18lg]

Great practical demonstration. Thanks. I’ve never seen one of those in use. And you’re a comedian too! 🤣 Love it.

[@cliffengle2897]

Sounds like how a local PV array at a treatment plant along US40 in Elkton MD wipes out AM radio and other reception as you drive by. Great video.

[@jimlanigan7298]

Great information. Can you make a quick video on filing a complaint to the power company and how they respond? I know it’ll be different by location but most of us wouldn’t know what to do after finding the problem

[@DMBigMac]

At 3:33 it almost looked like you could see an arc from the top of the furthest one. Or go out at night and see if you can see a light show.

[@greasydot]

Awe man, the school flashers and intersection flashers are horrible too.

[@vegasfordguy]

I've got a terrible buzzing noise that turns on and off like clockwork. Totally takes out all receive. We've tracked it down with a directional antenna and pinpointed it to a single house. Pretty sure it's a grow house with dirty lights. These grow houses cause havoc when they use cheap Chinese lights or they're not filtered correctly. It's super broad banded too.

[@James_Bowie]

If it's a bad insulator then that RFI may be visible on a dark night.

[@PupitoManuel]

Such a cool gadget you have there Erik! 73 from El Paso, TX KD5ERP

[@brianrose2487]

100,000 just around the corner Eric! That thing is cool as cookies!

[@OysterPir8]

My street has buried power lines. My cb base station has a terrible bacon crackle. I have a Dan gibson parabolic mic. Will it help in locating the noise?

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Wow that's some crazy noise. Eric don't bother to dust it the dust just comes back ;). 73 Joe

[@QRPadventures]

Little bit of DEF LEP!!!

[@VK9TOM]

Have you seen the DF loops from qrm guru for locating noise 73s all Tom Vk3ftom

[@daveborchard2019]

How far do those power line noise generators radiate? Your video shows it less than a mile. Maybe it’s farther if your picking up the noise with an HF beam antenna on a tower. Do the power companies respond to the complaints, and fix the electrical interference problems they are causing? Dave KY0L

[@williambarham8812]

Had a complaint that the electric utility I work for was causing interference on a customers ham radio. Secondary services, distribution lines and a transmission line were checked and found no problem. Adjacent telephone cables were across the street and we decided to check them just for the neck of it. Bingo!. There was a bad ground connection on a ground wire running down one of the phone company's poles.

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

music ok, subject matter excellent, content perfect, singing..better keep the day job,.. cheers Eric,,. 73

[@kevinheatcoat2190]

That Sounds Like A Fart Noise.

[@MaxShaposhnikoff]

Honey, what's the neighbor doing?? Ahaha, thats cool

[@James_Bowie]

At that time, he had very nasty neighbors. He has since moved.

[@diverbob8]

I'm still wondering why you didn't do some triangulating and aim testing when you were closer..... However, it's probably visable at night. Also, some rain may wash away some salt deposits and cure the problem.

[@ChumlyPage]

where do you get one of them MFJ things...

[@rickdaniel1671]

If things fail with the Power Company, keep records and contact ARRL. They had someone out within a week for my noise situation.

[@mikewalsh511]

You can build the parabolic listener for much less than $200. That seems nuts for what it is.

[@James_Bowie]

The most expensive part of the DIY approach is a good parabolic dish.

[@TGUlricksen]

Would a thermal camera reveal heat at the problem area?

[@James_Bowie]

Thermal/IR cameras are not recommended for this sort of work. Ultrasonic is what the professionals use -- except their gear is way pricier than this MFJ unit.

[@deltahotelxray]

So two queations: Was that a Nickelback remake of Zombie you were listening to? Secondly, didn't you do a video about this item a while back or am I thinking of someone else?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

I know it wasnt Nickelback, have to Google it. And No I never made a video of this.

[@mellikatt]

Bad Wolves is the name.

[@dojmike]

If this is a bad insulator, it could be a fire hazard as well. Who knows, maybe the next wind storm will spark a wildfire from this tower. Thanks to you Eric, this will probably be reported to the power company and lives may have been saved. God bless!

[@johncundiss9098]

Got the dish here. Got me a 120 Hz buzz. Once I find it was wondering.... Do a video on HOW to contact electric company? You can have fun with that here in northern Indiana.

[@soulwagon1251]

It's Koolaid for lunch. lol

[@Blake-jl8lh]

101.1 heck yeah

[@byates59]

Awesome info! Thanks!

[@badatpseudoscience]

You are using an audio receiver to track RF??

[@bobfurtaw8808]

No, he's using and ultrasonic audio receiver to track the arcing that's creating an ultrasonic acoustical sound (based on air displacement).

[@littlerhino2006]

I'm an OTR truck driver, having my receive BTFO is just par for the course. Happens multiple times a day, all across the country. Hell most new trucks skimp on RF grounding, I can hear them passing me. I know this company truck is noisy when I hear a tone change on different surfaces and hitting bumps.

[@cazablocki]

I've noticed that when traveling the interstate myself, monitoring .520 every once in a while a truck wipes out the frequency when passing! I can't complain too much, my stereo wipes out a couple frequencies for whatever reason

[@jeffolvesen3780]

I always wondered why my cell signal always dropped on that section of 95. That's just a shame.

[@bigguyprepper]

When we find these issues, how are we supposed to report them?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Your power company.

[@jimsouthall1085]

How many days of sunshine do you have in a year

[@HamRadioConcepts]

almost every. today it is 91F

[@verystupidhandle]

Good luck dealing with Corporate Zombies....

[@Subgunman]

If you have trouble with the power company resolving the issue, report it to the FCC, inform them that its broadband noise that affects all of the RF bands. Spark gap transmitters were banned for this one reason, wwaaayyyy too broad spectrum range.

[@James_Bowie]

Actually, approach the ARRL first as they have established a direct line of communication with the FCC and can get faster results than the regular amateur.

[@nandrews8412]

Best way to find power line noise, move to Florida you'll find plenty.

[@terryglenweaver]

That RFI is only working less than a mile. Let them use a multi-band vswr meter so it can interfere at much greater distances. LoL

[@AdamosDad]

I thought spark gap transmitters were illegal.

[@shooter.2578]

Watch at 1/4 speed 3:33 3:34 right tower 3rd insulator down just to the left of that treetop looks to be a disturbance in the force

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

That's funny. He sounds very drunk. Lol

[@johng7rwf419]

Might be worth taking a thermal image of the power pole...

[@daverhodes7235]

Eric is channeling Gladys Krabitz

[@WILDGEESE399]

I think we in the radio community are an annoyance to these electricity companys who really dont care what rfi is being created ,lots of radio operators end up moving away because nothing gets done about it , i know in my area its sometimes s5 to s9 when conditions are right it can be annoying to alot of operators

[@agitaterone]

basically a am/fm receiver strapped to a satellite dish

[@bobfurtaw8808]

Actually, it's an ultrasonic receiver, probably around 50 KHz, +/- 25 KHz (my guess).

[@borisjohnson1944]

an AM radio works just as well.

[@benjaminbowers421]

I liked the impression of Howard wolowitz's mother

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Benjamin bowers oh my god I have no idea who that is or why I am being called an “antisemitic” it was just an accent that people are taking way too seriously.

[@benjaminbowers421]

@@HamRadioConcepts it sounded like the mother from one of the characters on big bang theory. Love your videos by the way

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Benjamin bowers Lol , just saying I’m that I’ll informed that an accent I made apparently sounds like antisemitic and I didn’t even understand.

[@benjaminbowers421]

@@HamRadioConcepts going to take my ham exam tomorrow at 6:30 wish me luck

[@rickdaystar477]

Sounded like Edith Bunker to me Oh Ahhhchee!

[@williampeacock9473]

The price of the MFJ-5008 is a little bit pricey don't you think. I know they have to make some money but come on. Not all at one time Goodness gracious . Just giving you a hard time . 73 AE4OY WILLIAM EM-81UF

[@jodylaneyAA4XT]

Great videos but no more singing lol 73 kn4kbn

[@itsmeagain.1212]

Omg. If you need a device like that to find the noise your just being a crybaby. I can't believe some of the crap people think is worthy of a video. Keep your day job. Quit youtube and quit crying about what you can't hear.