How I Hunted the RFI in the Shack

[@KE5ZZO]

Good job youtube put a solar panels ad before the start of the video

[@HR4NT]

LOL...did that happen? How funny! Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@RandallRash]

Awesome Scott. I will use this technique in the morning.

[@HR4NT]

Glad to hear it. Hope it works out for you! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!

[@ferdinandwp4rjl377]

Great job SCOTT, glad to hear you're getting the issue resolved. 👍🏼

[@HR4NT]

Me too! Time will tell. I just hope that the neighbors will make this a priority so that I don't have to force their hand in this matter. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@VE3RGO]

So cool we talked about this a day or two ago. I didn’t think you would wrap it up so quick.

[@HR4NT]

LOL...the opportunity presented itself and I figured why not jus get it done. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@linuxman0]

If I had to guess, the solar system in question is generating more electricity than is being used locally, so the rest is being sent back to the grid. For that to happen, their has to be an inverter that's sync'd to the grid. That inverter is probably what's making the noise.

[@HR4NT]

Most of the time it is the inverter. To this day they still have not addressed hte issue and both the FCC and the ARL have been zero help. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@kyoshivp]

Good stuff as always, sir! And damn it, now I have another antenna project to build... =) It does make me wonder if hams could even use roof-top solar (I like the general idea) if it blasts out so much RFI that it affects you a block or two or few away. Mike from K8MRD Radio Stuff also had a good video on tracking down RFI using a device from MFJ and a yagi. That one turned out to be some power utility box.

[@HR4NT]

Antenna builds are a lot of fun and usually cheaper than buying from a company...plus you get to learn something new! Not all solar companies produce crap. Some are actually responsible enough to pay attention to RFI issues as they are installing them, however, the ones that disregard this are still liable to make it right once it is discovered. I have a fellow ham in my area that has solar on his house with no RFI issues what so ever...so it just depends. If you are going to do it, shop around and ask those questions BEFORE you have them install solar to your house. Just my two cents. I watched K8MRD's video. He and I talk frequently since we are nearby to one another. Like I said, the solar panels may not be the only issue IO have. If that is the case, I will bring out my antenna and HT again and hunt for the next source until it is all eradicated. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@FrozenDoberman]

My next door neighbours have installed a new roof solar panel that can be easily seen from the front of their house. Fortunately no detectable QRM increase at my house using outdoor HF and VHF antennas. The main HF and VHF RFI noise sources at my location are radio shack Windows 10 PC case internal AC/DC power supply (fixable), and front street powerlines (not fixable). This is proof that not all roof solar panels are strong RFI generators.

[@HR4NT]

Properly installed solar panels won't emit RFI, but the majority are made in China and the installers either don't know or don't care unless they get caught to install them correctly where they do not emit RFI. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@Digi4u]

Nice demonstration there Scott. I didn't had to do all this hunting stuff, as the SolarEdge noise I'm suffering for 3 years now, is right next to my house, literaly a couple of meters away from my shack and antennas. Looking forward to the next steps for solving this issue, as it is really frustrating indeed. 73, Patrick ON4CDJ

[@HR4NT]

Contact the RFI department at ARRL.org and they can assist you in getting that resolved. The law is on your side on this issue as the FCC mandates these things must be fixed once discovered and notification is given. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@randlecarr3257]

Fascinating!

[@HR4NT]

Glad you liked it! 73!

[@AlvinMcManus]

Thanks!

[@HR4NT]

Thank you for your support! It is most appreciated! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@chipfornaris]

What’s the result? Isn’t there anyway to shield your shack from this? In case your neighbor can’t do anything

[@HR4NT]

The result as of right now is nothing has changed. The neighbor seems to be ignoring the issue. They can absolutely do something about it by contacting the company that installed the system and force them to fix the RFI. It is their responsibility as a solar company to ensure that the products they sell do not emit RFI. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@Ron-xn4wf]

Another informative video. I have a non related question. What type of jumper do you use between your window pass through and your radio ?

[@HR4NT]

None that I know of. There is a 3 inch long SO-239 that goes through the passthrough. I have a 3 foot coax cable from the passthrough to the radios. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@Ron-xn4wf]

@@HR4NT Thanks for your help.

[@pnowikow]

Did you get that rfi issue fixed?

[@HR4NT]

Nope. The SOB's still wont' fix the issue. I reported it to the FCC and nothing from them. Asked the ARRL for help...and nothing form them. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@fm71450]

Thank you for this video. For me, it is right on point. There is a noise floor of S6-7 on my porch, about 100 yards away from my 10KW solar panel install. The outfit that did the installation of my panels went out of business 6 months afterwards. My plan is to go outside today and learn about the RFI that may be coming from those panels. Any fix will be on me. Ugh. Thanks again. 73 KQ4IXD

[@HR4NT]

Give the folks over at palomar-engineers.com/ a call. They have RFI kits you can buy and install that may help with that. Thank you for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@AlvinMcManus]

So, am I doomed even before I get my HF set up going because I have a solar array on my own roof? In fact it is right above the room where I will be setting up my shack! What did your neighbor do about his RFI? What was the solution? Anyway great video as usual.

[@HR4NT]

The company that installed your system is liable to ensure that no RFI is emitted from the array they set up. IF you have issues, see if they will come and fix it FREE of charge. If they are being difficult, you can call the ARRL's RFI department and they can help you out. Here is the link to the page from the ARRL: www.arrl.org/radio-frequency-interference-rfi I hope this helps. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@AlvinMcManus]

@@HR4NT Now that's a complete and usable answer. Thank you so much.

[@kevingoshe4371]

​@@AlvinMcManusany update on your situation? Hoping all is well now.

[@DonzLockz]

What exact frequency did you use? How do you get 40m on a HT? Did I hear you correctly?

[@HR4NT]

On my Yaesu FT3DR I simply set it for AM and set the frequency for 7.110. I am NOT transmitting on that band as the radio will not handle it, however it will receive on that band, at least it will indicate when the static noise goes up due to RFI issues. Honestly I think you could do it on any AM band, but from my research I was under the impression that I should scan on the band that has the most interference in order to locate the problem. If you use your HT on 40M DO NOT hit that PTT button!!! I hope this helps explain my scenario a little better. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@fairbanksmorse112hpheadles3]

It is much easier to just to get your receive signals thru the closest SDR located in a quiet RF location.

[@HR4NT]

Great tip! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@shawnhornett]

That handheld gets 40 meters?

[@HR4NT]

No it does not. It is VHF/UHF only, but you can set up any frequency just to have the static available to hunt RFI. I would NEVER hit the transmit button wile on that frequency on an HT in fear of frying it. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@stargazer7644]

Yes, the radio has a general coverage receiver that covers HF.

[@MichaelOfRohan]

you missed a good opertunity to glue a compass on the top and use pythag to triangulate the rfi. itd be alot more certain.

[@HR4NT]

Yeah well...you know...LOL I still found the issue...and they still haven't addressed it to fix it. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!

[@tallyjbud]

Any idea how that issue would be resolved?

[@HR4NT]

Yes! The home owner was contacted and I gave them the basics of what needed to be done. Basically, they need to contact the company that installed the solar and they would probably install ferrites to the charge controller on the house which should block the RFI coming form their house. I also gave them a packet I printed up from the ARRL website's RFI department Link is here: www.arrl.org/information-for-the-neighbors-of-hams . In time (hopefully sooner than later) this should be resolved and as long as this is the only issue, then I will be able to use my radios from home. If not, then I need to track down the next cause of RFI near my home. Hope this answered your question. Thanks for watching and for the comment!! 73!!!

[@stargazer7644]

You're using a 2m yagi on the 40m band? Say what?

[@HR4NT]

Yes, however keep in mind I am using the 40M band as receive ONLY. Hitting the transmit button would probably fry the radio. I am simply trying to find the source of the RFI on a band I have interference from at home. As long as you use it like I am in the video as a receive only, you should be good. Thanks for watching and for the comment! 73!!

[@stargazer7644]

@@HR4NT A yagi isn't going to be a yagi anymore when used at 20 times the design wavelength, whether you transmit or not. It's just a very inefficient dipole at 40m. I'm surprised you got any useful directivity out of it.

[@RedNeckSurgeyTech]

I didn't know they had HF HTs. Never heard of anyone tuning in 40 meters on an HT. What's it called? Brand and model number?

[@HR4NT]

This was not an HF HT. I simply tuned my Yaesu FT3-DR to a 40 meter frequency as a receive and used that to hear the difference in static as I was patrolling and hunting down the RFI. I am not aware of any HF HT on the market. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@RedNeckSurgeyTech]

@HAM Radio For Non-Techies I didn't know you could tune a vhf/uhf radio to 7.2 MHZ. I'll look at mine when I get home. I like your videos.

[@stargazer7644]

Several of these HTs have general coverage receivers in them that cover HF.

[@randlecarr3257]

So is it just a matter of handing your neighbor a bag of ferrites?

[@HR4NT]

That is one solution, provided they let you in to install them. I went a different route and approached them with a packet explaining the situation and how they could have their solar company fix the issue free of charge and if not, I could have the ARRL get involved and assist in getting it resolved. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!

[@randlecarr3257]

@@HR4NT copy! I was wondering... my comment was kindof sarcastic but did make my curiosity known. Good luck! That's a lot of noise!

[@lindsayhicks8152]

Good info thanks. I'll build one this weekend. KG5USC

[@HR4NT]

Super simple and they work! Best of luck on the build! Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@tribulationprepper787]

Maybe it is just the video but the difference in the static from the 3D speaker while walking up and down the street is barely discernible to me??? It all sounds loud and gruff. Could that noise have been squelched out to provide a more exact location?

[@HR4NT]

Sorry if the audio wasn't that great. From my perspective I could definitely hear a difference. Once I approached the house with the solar panels, there was an added high pitch sound within the static that pinpointed that location as the source of the RFI. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@theripper121]

@@HR4NT With a decent pair of headphones I had no trouble at all discerning your recorded audio and understanding the jist of the issue.

[@mjktrash]

What is the definition of interference that compels someone to be forced into action to make changes? There must be a level defined somewhere?

[@HR4NT]

It's pretty much anything that interferes with your normal expectation of being able to operate your equipment. If that is hindered by spurious emissions from an outside source, that source needs to be tracked down so it can be resolved. I am sur that Part 97 of the FCC code defines it much better. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!

[@mjktrash]

@HR4NT yeah, ultimately it seems subjective in nature, instead of a clearly defined limit that you could point to and say Mr. Solar Panels is exceeding, although in this case I think it's pretty clear that there is interference. But I don't think it's always this clear cut.

[@ErikAtTheW]

Why use AM and not SSB?

[@HR4NT]

I think AM picks up interference with more static better than SSB. Technically you could take an AM radio and walk around using that to find interference as well. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching and for the comment! 73!!!

[@david_W5QDF]

📻🎧

[@HR4NT]

Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@brian.7966]

if this happened in the UK you would not get any help from anyone,

[@HR4NT]

Hi Brian! That is kind of sad that you would not get help in resolving those issues over in the UK. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!

[@M7RTV]

@HR4NT @brian.7966 Thats not true. I am a recent UK Foundation Licence holder & I have been struggling with some bad RFI especially on the 20m & 40m bands. I contacted Ofcom & I had a visit from the Ofcom Field Engineer & he found the source & are currently working with the Neighbour to fix the issue. Our Ofcom is similar to your FCC. Appreciate all your uploads. Happy Radio! 73s

[@hkmp5s]

Hey, that's my house!!! lol

[@HR4NT]

LOL..oops! Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!!

[@BuiIdMoreFences]

Probably liberals

[@HR4NT]

LOL...maybe so...Thanks for watching. 73!

[@sbc383zz]

Nah, Trump supporters no doubt.

[@stargazer7644]

I think you'll find that liberals generally care about their fellow man, conservatives only care about number one.