OK, Michael. I will cease spreading old and dangerous techniques for
finding bad connections on power poles.
Thank you. I stand corrected 50 years later.
Dave - WØLEV
On Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 12:15 AM Michael Martin <mike@rfiservices.com>
wrote:
> You're right David 50 years ago is right about the time I started doing
> this job. I was taught at that time that the method of choice was to listen
> to the radio and hit the pole with a sledgehammer. I repeat what A wise man
> once said, it was an acceptable practice. I've been doing this job full
> time for 45 years. Over 30 years ago I was standing under a pole in College
> Park Maryland and thought it was a good idea to put a hard hat on as I hit
> the pole with a hammer because people were watching me through a cafeteria
> window. I thought I would look more professional. I hit the pole with a
> sledgehammer and a galvanized steel j-hook hit me in the head. Luckily I
> covered my head with a hard hat. It could have just as easily hit me in the
> shoulder and ripped my shoulder apart but a galvanized steel lag falling
> from 40 ft overhead has a lot of force. About that moment the light came
> on! I vowed to never do that again. And I haven't. But I can tell you there
> has been many times since then that things have fallen from a pole and
> could have easily fallen on someone's head. Nowadays they call that line of
> fire. Part of my practice is to teach people to do the work from beside the
> pole and across the street and I do my best to get the point across. I
> think the RFI reflector is a very good place to point this out because
> unfortunately there are a lot of people that think it's okay to do that. If
> I'm ever in your area I hope you attend a presentation I give to a radio
> club or one of the ham conventions and you see the slides that I show of
> what happens when people hit poles. No offense meant in your statement and
> I'm glad to hear that it was 50 years ago. Not everything we do nowadays is
> not as good as it was back then. Be safe
>
> Michael Martin
> RFI Services
> 51 W Bay Front Rd
> Lothian, MD 20711
>
> 240-508-3760
> mike@rfiservices.com
> www.rfiservices.com
>
> On Mon, Jan 29, 2024, 7:04 PM David Eckhardt <davearea51a@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Well, it was sme 50 years ago. So be it.........
> >
> > Dave - WØLEV
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 11:23 PM Steve London <n2icarrl@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > "Believe me, it's
> > > an accepted practice."
> > >
> > > No, it is not "an accepted practice". You are not to be believed. It
> is a
> > > dangerous practice.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Steve, N2IC
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM David Eckhardt <davearea51a@gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> A standard procedure for physically exciting loose connections up top
> a
> > >> power pole: Take a big sledge hammer and beat on the pole from the
> > bottom
> > >> while monitoring for RFI. It looks brutile, but works if your hammer
> is
> > >> massive enough and you have a gorilla swing the hammer. Believe me,
> > it's
> > >> an accepted practice.
> > >>
> > >> Dave - WØLEV
> > >>
> > >> On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 8:04 PM K9MA <k9ma@sdellington.us> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > On 1/29/2024 12:47 PM, David Eckhardt wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > QUOTE: It may not even be a failed component, as any two pieces of
> > >> poorly
> > >> > bonded hardware can produce noise. That could explain the
> temperature
> > >> > dependence. In any case, have them check all the hardware on that
> > pole.
> > >> >
> > >> > An almost giveaway symptom for this type of failure is erratic
> > behavior
> > >> > of the RFI in a good gusty wind.
> > >> >
> > >> > True. It is possible to simulate that gusty wind, but power
> companies
> > >> > frown on that.
> > >> >
> > >> > 73,
> > >> >
> > >> > Scott K9MA
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> > Scott K9MA
> > >> > k9ma@sdellington.us
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >>
> > >> *Dave - WØLEV*
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> RFI mailing list
> > >> RFI@contesting.com
> > >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
> > >>
> > >
> >
> > --
> >
> > *Dave - WØLEV*
> > _______________________________________________
> > RFI mailing list
> > RFI@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
> >
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--
*Dave - WØLEV*
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