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Lightning surge suppressor on power poles can be big noise generators
when they go bad. The worst one I found was three miles from my house
and created S9 noise on my receiving array. Its characteristics fooled
me at first because it didn't sound like something a power pole could
generate. It sounded like someone holding down the dash lever on a
keyer set at about 10 wpm and running continuously 24/7. Then one day I
heard it break into a more random pattern. That's when I went looking
for it.
Found it easily because of the huge noise signature. Called it in to
the power company, gave them the pole number and which component on the
pole was at fault. Went back home and turned on the radio and the noise
was gone. Couldn't believe that so I drove back to the pole and they
had already disconnected the surge suppressor. Best repair time ever.
I use an MFJ-856 to get close and a homebrew ultrasonic detector to
identify the exact component on the pole. MFJ also now makes an
ultrasonic detector, the MFJ-5008.
Jerry, K4SAV
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