unknown Interference problem

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RFI-EMI-GUY

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use a VHF AM radio, like a portable aircraft radio, or scanner and see if the noise is picked up by that radio. If so try to correlate it with the HF noise. Then carry that smaller VHF radio nearby the homes in question. Use an attenuator at the antenna so you can discriminate between houses. Some of these solar systems have boost inverters mounted right at the panel . Those can be problematic as there can be several and they are poorly filtered. This may call for FCC intervention if the owner and solar installer isn't helpful.
 

12dbsinad

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As crazy as it may sound, contact your local 2 way shop if you have one in the area and see if they would be interested in sniffing this out for you (for a fee obviously). This would be easy for them since it is stationary and it could be done fairly quickly with the right equipment. It would probably get you down to a few houses, depending on how close they are. Then you could make contact with the homeowners and describe your situation.

Maybe this wouldn't work for you, maybe they would say they are not at all interested. But it's worth a mention. I know I LOVE sniffing out stuff like this and would jump at the chance to do so.
 

billob

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AZ Public Service, the local power Co. Sniffed and the problem is that there are at least 3 two story houses with collectors on the roof so when the sniffer is in that area, the signal seems to saturate to the point the direction the sniffer is pointed does not matter.

I have carried my wireless speaker over there which is not out of it's range but since the noise is somehow being picked up by my xmitter and rebroadcast to my speaker, I gain no new information.

Can these solar panels simply be switched off without causing any problems? If so, I might be able to carry my wireless speakers over to the suspected homes and ask the owner if they would be willing to switch off the solar system to see if the noise on my speakers go away.

Assuming the problem is an inverter, why would the problem be 24/7 since I doubt that much electricity
is generated from starlight?
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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AZ Public Service, the local power Co. Sniffed and the problem is that there are at least 3 two story houses with collectors on the roof so when the sniffer is in that area, the signal seems to saturate to the point the direction the sniffer is pointed does not matter.

I have carried my wireless speaker over there which is not out of it's range but since the noise is somehow being picked up by my xmitter and rebroadcast to my speaker, I gain no new information.

Can these solar panels simply be switched off without causing any problems? If so, I might be able to carry my wireless speakers over to the suspected homes and ask the owner if they would be willing to switch off the solar system to see if the noise on my speakers go away.

Assuming the problem is an inverter, why would the problem be 24/7 since I doubt that much electricity
is generated from starlight?


1) Your wireless speaker is either FM or some sort of bluetooth so it will be useless in troubleshooting. See my comment above about trying an AM VHF airband radio. You can also try an AM broadcast receiver with a built in loop antenna and the loop can be used to null in the direction of the interferer.

2) It may be LED lighting and not the inverter. But as long as some light is falling on the panels the boost inverter will work harder. There are many things it could be. If you trace it to a particular house you are going to have to ask the homeowner to turn off breakers until the problem goes away. Diplomacy is your freind, otherwise the FCC will be a help of last resort.

3) Contact some local hams and ask if they have someone experienced in troubleshooting this sort of thing.
 

billob

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Yeah:

Actually, having my speaker along could be extremely useful here if I get a co operative property owner.

If he hits the correct breaker, my noise will go away. If not I can try another house with solar on the roof.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Yeah:

Actually, having my speaker along could be extremely useful here if I get a co operative property owner.

If he hits the correct breaker, my noise will go away. If not I can try another house with solar on the roof.

The solar inverters might keep going regardless of the breakers.
 

JamesO

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Good luck with all of this.

The problem is I am assuming that most of the home owners may be clueless to Electricity, RF behavior, RFI and they may not even manage the solar collector systems in their homes.

Most will probably look at you like you have horns on your head. If they do shut something off and the noise stops, then all they are doing is setting themselves up for additional headaches in trying to resolve the problem.

Yes you may be able to get the FCC involved, but think about this. The problem could be a specific manufactured component, it would be with the installation or both.

If the system is generating "noise" it may be a problem, indicating an early failure or safety hazard, but again, will the homeowner even understand and know what steps to take to get a problem resolved.

Often you can use a Spectrum Analyzer along with receiver to track problems, trying to use your Radio Shack speaker system may not the best approach.

I have been stonewalled in the past with commercial business that had Neon sign lighting that was causing severe problems and the business is all the bit clueless and could care less, the sign company will take no action unless the business contacts them. So just be prepared for a long and difficult fight. You may luck out, you may have to live with things.

Good luck.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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If the OP can determine for certain that it is a solar system at a specific house, he can always ask the homeowner innocently, who installed it, contact the seller and raise the spector of the FCC. But here in Florida the installers are fly by night. My neighbors new system's invertor had a power terminal melt off, the company disappeared before the warranty ran out. His panels are all stacked in a garage.

The FCC will go as far as fineing the owner of the equipment. They did so with some lighting at a commercial salon that was interfering with cellphone. But FCC priority has always been Public Safety, Commercial Carriers, The Public, Then Hams and Swl'S
 
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