Tis the Season

[jFarley]

We had fairly mild weather in the weekend following Turkey Day, and everyone in the 'hood got their holiday decorations out, including myself.  Probably not coincidentally, I have been noting a new QRN in the 43M band which commenced last Sunday.

It appears to be related to 60 Hz mains, but doesn't have the raspy spastic nature that I have observed when something goes bad on a power pole.  It is a kinder gentler background buzz which raises my normally S2-3 noise floor to S3-4.  The software noise blanker easily handles the audible noise, but when rendered it does obscure very weak signals in the SDR waterfall.  All in all, not a major problem.

For the most part, the shielded Wellbrook loop is effective against this.  The unshielded resonant loop I prefer to use can see it, but since that loop is on a rotator, I can get pretty good suppression on the noise.  I can also get a pretty good idea of where it is, and the null points pretty much right at a neighbor's house, and possibly a lighted tree.

So, just wondering: anybody else seeing any new noises now that the Holiday Lighting Season is upon us?

[BDM]

Yep, sure am, and I surmised for the same reasons. Christmas lights abound all over

[JoeFLIPS]

Same situation here. Normal S2-3 noise level is now an S5 but the noise blanker button brings it back down to normal.

[Pigmeat]

I live in a historical district and the neighbors love to light those old houses up. We moved in about this time of year when we bought the place. I tried to listen to a sports show on a local AM station via a Walkman  that evening, it was hash from one end of the band to the other.

I was ready to sell the place until it hit me what it was. Once I got the good radios unpacked and set-up over the next couple of weeks, the noise blanker trick Joe mentioned killed most of it.

I did find a new hobby that winter, dx'ing the Xmas light timers in the neighborhood.

[JoeFLIPS]

Did you get any QSLs from the Xmas light timers Pigmeat? 

[Pigmeat]

Not a one. I carefully wrapped the reports around rocks and threw them through their windows. Lee Reynolds swore it would work. All that showed up were cops and restraining orders.

The moral of the story? Never trust a man that smells as bad as he looks.

[JoeFLIPS]

LOL! I remember meeting Lee at one of JTAs 4th of July parties back in the 90s. Good times!

[Pigmeat]

I haven't heard from Lee in about a decade. I wonder if he's still around?

[Nella F.]

Aha! So That's why the rise in the qrm. Damn. It's bad enough the best I can do is taping a fishing reel antenna to the ceiling, no the roof is aluminum siding. Great antenna for any & all (& now xmas electric noise) signals. I thought our sun was acting up or sumpin... hey... is it 4:20 yet!    Heh Heh Heh