Sorry for the typo's. I used to do underground utility locations for years, and there's a Cable Avoidance Tool which does just what your radio is doing. I'm sure if you moved either left or right of your location on that sidewalk, the noise would decrease. The use of the dots are to keep down an ugly red line, but indicates where that elecrtical service is. Red is for electricity, orange for telecommunication, blue is water, green sewer, and if you ever see purple, that radioactive. Simple EMF.
Thanks for the info; handy to know. Also note this video was made using a 1foot diameter DF loop and a different receiver:
watch?v=SHjBcNtt5hA
On locating underground utilities, for instance in my back yard and alley (utilities underground) I use the black and chrome portable radio shown in this video, looking for the 'noise' that is always present due to computer switching supplies and TVs and such; it works well: walk across the yard w/radio held low listening for noise.
@uploadJ Certainly today, there's so many sources of interference, Even underground gas and water pipes have what is called cathodics. They induce an electrical frequency or small charge into the metal pipe, which polarizes the molecules, slowing down the rust process. When I was a kid, most radio listening was done on the medium wave, Am band. I still enjoy listening and Dx'ing, even build my own spirial antenna's, but so much more interference...Antenna placement is curcial. Thanks & Enjoy...
I don't think you're picking the noise up from the pole itself. I noticed there was an electrical drop to an underground service and when you panned your camera down from the pole thru the street and to the sidewalk where you were standing with yoru receiver, I could see two red dots. Those are utility mark outs, which indicate where that service drop is running. You are standing directly over that underground service. Your picking up the 60 cycle EMF from a service buries about 3 feet. No worry
Generally, the 'ground' wire radiates in a situation as this, with the top conductors acting as a 'capacity loading top-hat' and with wires extended from either side of a ground wire excited 'at the top' by an arcing/RFI source .. the 'fields' generated by the lines on top 'cancel' (for instance, look at the direction of the magnetic field as would indicated by the application of the "right hand rule") leaving only the ground wire mag 'field' .
I agree with @bobwacked... another ham I know here in Kansas City called up our power company when he suspected a power line source of QRM. KCPL came out, investigated, and fixed the problem. You should call your utility, as I'm sure they will be responsive!
@rixoff "You should call your utility, as I'm sure they will be responsive!"
Some of these videos I have produced are meant to be more informative on issues that affect us all, like this power line noise, by demonstrating the techniques of radio direction finding to find these 'sources'.
It has also been instructive to observe this source as weather changes, as when rain washes off insulators or when the wooden pole 'drys out' and the mounting hardware and bolts become slack.
This is one of the minor sources a couple of blocks away and there are bigger fish to fry, like the boat battery charger just down the street.
And, this last week 17th Oct 2011 a very aggressive source popped up on 75 meters that will take priority over this minor nuisance (another switching power supply gone awry on a house a few blocks south).
I really want to see how long this goes before the ham behind the pole calls the power company.
Sorry for the typo's. I used to do underground utility locations for years, and there's a Cable Avoidance Tool which does just what your radio is doing. I'm sure if you moved either left or right of your location on that sidewalk, the noise would decrease. The use of the dots are to keep down an ugly red line, but indicates where that elecrtical service is. Red is for electricity, orange for telecommunication, blue is water, green sewer, and if you ever see purple, that radioactive. Simple EMF.
glk001 3 months ago
@glk001
Thanks for the info; handy to know. Also note this video was made using a 1foot diameter DF loop and a different receiver:
watch?v=SHjBcNtt5hA
On locating underground utilities, for instance in my back yard and alley (utilities underground) I use the black and chrome portable radio shown in this video, looking for the 'noise' that is always present due to computer switching supplies and TVs and such; it works well: walk across the yard w/radio held low listening for noise.
.
uploadJ 3 months ago
@uploadJ Certainly today, there's so many sources of interference, Even underground gas and water pipes have what is called cathodics. They induce an electrical frequency or small charge into the metal pipe, which polarizes the molecules, slowing down the rust process. When I was a kid, most radio listening was done on the medium wave, Am band. I still enjoy listening and Dx'ing, even build my own spirial antenna's, but so much more interference...Antenna placement is curcial. Thanks & Enjoy...
glk001 3 months ago
I don't think you're picking the noise up from the pole itself. I noticed there was an electrical drop to an underground service and when you panned your camera down from the pole thru the street and to the sidewalk where you were standing with yoru receiver, I could see two red dots. Those are utility mark outs, which indicate where that service drop is running. You are standing directly over that underground service. Your picking up the 60 cycle EMF from a service buries about 3 feet. No worry
glk001 3 months ago
@glk001
Hi. Thanks for the comment.
Generally, the 'ground' wire radiates in a situation as this, with the top conductors acting as a 'capacity loading top-hat' and with wires extended from either side of a ground wire excited 'at the top' by an arcing/RFI source .. the 'fields' generated by the lines on top 'cancel' (for instance, look at the direction of the magnetic field as would indicated by the application of the "right hand rule") leaving only the ground wire mag 'field' .
.
uploadJ 3 months ago
I agree with @bobwacked... another ham I know here in Kansas City called up our power company when he suspected a power line source of QRM. KCPL came out, investigated, and fixed the problem. You should call your utility, as I'm sure they will be responsive!
rixoff 4 months ago
@rixoff "You should call your utility, as I'm sure they will be responsive!"
Some of these videos I have produced are meant to be more informative on issues that affect us all, like this power line noise, by demonstrating the techniques of radio direction finding to find these 'sources'.
It has also been instructive to observe this source as weather changes, as when rain washes off insulators or when the wooden pole 'drys out' and the mounting hardware and bolts become slack.
.
uploadJ 4 months ago
called up the power company yet?
bobwacked 7 months ago
@bobwacked "called up the power co ..."
This is one of the minor sources a couple of blocks away and there are bigger fish to fry, like the boat battery charger just down the street.
And, this last week 17th Oct 2011 a very aggressive source popped up on 75 meters that will take priority over this minor nuisance (another switching power supply gone awry on a house a few blocks south).
I really want to see how long this goes before the ham behind the pole calls the power company.
.
uploadJ 4 months ago