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Author Topic: "Buzzsaw" RFI  (Read 456 times)

N2QLT

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"Buzzsaw" RFI
« on: September 10, 2021, 01:11:45 PM »

I've been having some strange RFI for a while now. Its a buzzing sound, accompanied by a high pitch buzzsaw sound. I don't know if it's one source or two sources. I only have one neighbor, maybe 300 feet away, and a power line between our homes. I can't tell if it's coming from the home or the power line. I took a portable receiver outside and found that it starts around 2mhz, peaks around 14mhz, and dies right down by around 21mhz. I just want to see if anyone has heard anything like this before I call the neighbor and ask him to start turning off his breakers. I moved to this location years ago, partially to avoid RFI. It's no fun dealing with neighbors, sometimes they take it the wrong way. Thanks for any suggestions.
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K6SDW

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2021, 11:11:46 PM »

There's a lot to RFI problems....I would avoid bringing up the subject to your neighbor unless you're almost 100% sure the RFI is coming from their house. My experience these days is that many people, especially younger ones don't know what ham radio is and what it does - talk with someone on the other side of the world using shortwave, why?!!! Just pick up a cell phone or Internet connection. And, in my experience, people get  immediately defensive especially if they don't know what we're talking about! Ham radio, what the hell is that? "Oh, that's why my TV is acting up, or my Internet connection keeps dropping......or, why I'm suddenly going bald."

It costs nothing to file a complaint with your local power company asking them to come out and check their lines. Of course it may take them a long time to show up, we hams are not a priority .... HI HI Hopefully, the power company lines will be the source of your RFI and your neighbor will never know.

The ARRL has some good books on RFI.

GL/73
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N2QLT

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2021, 01:20:06 PM »

Okay, the neighbor called me for help on another matter. Excellent. This gave me the opportunity to ask him tot help me. I had him shut off one breaker at a time while I listened to the radio. Bingo. It was coming from an outdoor shed. I asked him to go to the shed and unplug one item at a time. Bingo. It was a 12v 5a switching power supply being used to power some outdoor bluetooth speakers on the outside of the shed. He likes to use them when he is outside at various times, so they are always plugged in. So all that's left for me now is to find him a new power supply. Yay. Any suggestions on such a supply that may not cause RFI?
« Last Edit: September 11, 2021, 01:22:58 PM by N2QLT »
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K0UA

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2021, 02:39:41 PM »

Any linear power supply (one with a transformer) rated for at least 5 amps would be fine.

Maybe something like this:


https://www.amazon.com/Bench-Supply-Converter-Vehicle-Outlet/dp/B0002BA570?th=1
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73  James K0UA

N2QLT

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2021, 05:02:37 AM »

Perfect, thank you!
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KL7CW

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2021, 11:21:26 AM »

Congratulations on your handling of the matter.  It is really sad that hams and "normal folks" sometimes consider the other side as enemies.  We have lived in a semi-rural area of Alaska for over 50 years.  We take care of other peoples livestock when they are on vacation, have helped them build houses, drive each other to appointments, or whatever.  We watched a neighbors house one winter when they were in the "lower 48" for medical care for perhaps 6 months. The furnace needed to be reset a few times, there was a burst (frozen) water pipe, etc. which I was able to deal with.  When I needed help with a tower or two, they were the ground crew.  But this goes two ways also.  A few years ago one lady walked around the area with a clipboard trying to get everyone to sign a petition to "ban" a neighbor who had a rooster which liked to get noisy very early in the morning in Alaska (hint it is light all night here for several months). We sleep with our bedroom window open, and yes we hear the rooster, but mostly got used to being awakened at 2 am or whatever.  We gently told the lady this is not the city, and we all chose to live here so would NOT sign the petition.  We remained friends with the family and we actually felt sad when the rooster died.  Others have had dog teams, mules, etc. but never any major conflict.  Now if we lived in a high density city, tighter rules would be necessary. Hopefully N2QLT is not the only one who is able to solve a mutual problem in a reasonable way.   Rick KL7CW
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N2HUN

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2021, 03:16:53 AM »

You are a good neighbor OM for going to those lengths to help them solve the problem, 73's.
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N2QLT

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Re: "Buzzsaw" RFI
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2021, 04:52:58 PM »

Looks like that's the way to do it, Rick! You are a great neighbor. There are only six houses on our one mile stretch of road. No broadband here. But we do help each other out in times of need, whether it's plowing their driveway or whatever someone needs. But we don't see each other very much. So it's nice to have something like this RFI problem work out so well. The neighbors were very intrigued hearing about ham radio. Actually, they were astounded to hear of all that we are able to do. I gave them a small demo with my portable Tecsun SW receiver (the one that I used to sniff out the RFI). When they get back from vacation, they want to come here for the grand tour. Maybe will end up sharing a big antenna farm.
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