Hi Pete et al:
>Most of the
>big noisemakers in my area have been slack spans
Slack spans are notorious for giving false readings with a AM
radio. The low frequency noise propagates a lot farther
than the higher ones. They also will "jump off" at a
slack span so that where you get the peak reading
with a AM radio may be a couple of miles from the actual
source.
Case in point is a slack span near my house. When you stop
at the stop sign your AM radio (I listen to 770) is wiped
out completely. But when the pole is checked with a
thermal imaging camera nothing shows up. You can shake, rattle, and
pound the pole all you want, the noise source just isn't there.
>I have had good luck with using progressively higher frequencies to locate
>noise sources
This is the best way to do it. When you hit 450 mHz you can get real
close as the upper frequencies don't travel as much.
>Their one and only RFI guy (for several states)
In Calgary we have two RFI guys who do nothing but line
patrol. Both have more than 35 years in the trade and
more than 15 years on RFI. These are the guys I trained
with so I think I can speak with a bit of knowledge.
I don't know how a company can only have one guy for
"several states", not the way I would run a joint.
BTW Enmax (my company) has the top rated first line
response team in North America. (trouble calls, RFI complaints,
new service connections, and underground utility locates)
Peter
VE6YC
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