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All communication circuits have a backhaul … Amateur Radio does NOT

In the light 0f hurricanes and earthquakes and all sorts of mobile and incidental activity one thing rings strong … everyone talks about infrastructure and that just means one thing generally … backhaul …

 *ALMOST* every circuit or communications method, I don’t care if its satellite, cellular, wifi, wimax, or whatever you are talking about. If there is no Internet behind that signal you might as well be talking to the MOON. If they lose their Infrastructure meaning that they lose their Internet then all your fancy VOIP - Voice over Internet Protocol and any thing else that goes over internet … goes right out the window.

 One thing that d0es not go out the window though is SSB / HF  or low band communications. Assuming it was not something nuclear that damaged common solid sate equipment then SSB / HF communications can still get through,. Sailmail and such things for HF email might just work, assuming nothing happened to the infrastructure of Sailmail and the shore stations for that.

But you might consider becoming more familiar with your SSB / HF equipment on your boat - and on land as well if you can. And Ham Radio / Amateur Radio is one such way to do that. But not the only way in the marine environment. You might however try checking into or listening to area SSB / HF marine networks to be ready for any such occurance and be ready to communicate by SSB/HF radio if that ever becomes the only way to go.

If the INTERNET ever goes … even if by satellite … you might want to be ready and able to use SSB / HF radi0 to communicate if your have to.

Alan Spicer - KA4UDX

http://www.marinetelecom.net

Watching Satellite TV you have it pretty easy. I want this Arrow Antenna for Amateur Satellite - as well as to track down noisy Power Poles (RFI - Radio Frequency Interference)

Watching satellite TV from home, yah, fairly easy, on a boat / yacht a little bit more of a challenge - but most of the work is done by those nice white radomes with the 3-axis tracking antenna system to take care of keeping you on the “bird” (The satellite) so that you can watch TV. Now grant it many yacht sat tv users have had to deal with things like changing satellites and even changing LNB (Low Noise Block) to watch satellite TV in different geographic areas as they travel.

But *this* looks like more of a challenge! Amateur Satellite a part of Amateur Radio - and this can all be done with relatively inexpensive equipment. If you already had the dual band handheld radio, and many of us hams already do, then all we would need is that fancy antenna - and maybe the duplexer that’s needed with it! I was already looking at the UHF antenna as someone recommended it for use in tracking down “noisy” power poles in your area that cause Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) on the ham bands. See my other posts about RFI on here.

I want this arrow antenna. And I might just get the VHF and UHF “Satellite” version instead of just getting the 7-element UHF Yagi. That would let me use it for satellite (VHF and UHF) as well as on single bands UHF or VHF, along with the RFI tracking that I was wanting to do anyway.

What can be more fun than tracking and talking through satellites by hand? Tracking and locating noise electrical power poles by hand?

Here’s a satellite video showing this antenna system:



How to GET and put together the ARROW Satellite Antenna for Amateur Radio / Satellite Use:





Alan Spicer - Radio Amateur KA4UDX
(See my other contact info elsewhere on this blog)

Alan Spicer (KA4UDX) Contacts J79WWW in the Caribbean Island Dominica

Youtube Video of Alan Spicer (Radio Amateur KA4UDX) contacting J79WWW on the Caribbean Island Dominica via 14 Meters - 14.250 Mhz - Upper Sideband with 100 Watts using Hustler 6BTV Trapped Vertical Antenna.




This is my side: Kenwood TS-480SAT Radio



This is J79WWW’s YouTube Video - showing their side and their station




This is the Dominica Amateur Radio Club Inc. Site Video
http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom

Alan Spicer - KA4UDX - General Class Radio Amateur
Alan Spicer Telecom / Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net
http://www.blog.marinetelecom.net - http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom

Heil Sound - Really Rocks for Music - and for Ham Radio

Heil Sound - Really Rocks for Music - and for Ham Radio

Well just watch and listen to this video… I’ve been considering purchasing a Heil microphone for use in my HF/SSB Ham Radio station. I also noted from their web site that they make microphons for broadcasting and musical recording and on the road shows. I had no idea of the history of Heil. Check out this video and let me know what you think?




Alan Spicer - Radio Amateur KA4UDX

Alan Spicer Telecom / Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifityacht.net
+1 954-683-3426
communications (at) marinetelecom.net

Communications Technology - www.ct-digital.com - Interesting Editors Letter

http://www.ct-digital.com

Stressed Networks - Johnathan Tombes - Editor

The seismic energy unleashed along a fault line between North America and Caribbean tectonic plates on January 12 was a sober reminder of the earth’s deadly and hidden powers.

The earthquake that began some 10 miles south-west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, also drew attention to the country’s poverty and weak infrastructure.

Natural disasters can play havoc on life and telecommunications networks. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the earthquake in Haiti destroyed the link to the country’s one undersea fiber optic cable.

In such circumstances, equipment that orbits hundreds of miles above the earth’s surface has a distinct advantage. In news released on January 14, Intelsat said it responded to customer requests for assistance by establishing two networks to provide “critical communication links” supporting parties and relief efforts throughout the country.

More stress relief

Quite apart from geology, human forces also are playing their rol in stressing the business of telecommunications.

Demand for wireless services - - Haiti itself had seen a rise in mobile phone use from 5 percent of its population in 2006 to 35 percent in 2009 - - is fast outpacing revenue growth. As a result, business plans, particularly for mobile data, are under revision; and investors are placing a premium on complementary advertising systems.

(More in the February 2010 Communications Technology [available free and digital online copy] - GLOBAL. BROADBAND. EXCELLENCE)

Alan Spicer - Radio Amateur KA4UDX

Alan Spicer Telecom / Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net

http://blog.marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

Want to bone up on wireless tech? Try ham radio

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139771

 computerworld_page_logo

For 40 years, Computerworld has been the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld’s award-winning Web site (Computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the world’s largest global IT media network.  So it is quite a commendation when they published the October 2009 article

Want to bone up on wireless tech?

Try ham radio

Abundant spectrum resources and an engaged research community are drawing wireless experimenters back into a hobby that many had forgotten.

By John Edwards

October 29, 2009

See the article at http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139771

73 de KA4UDX - Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net

http://blog.marinetelecom.net - http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom

Amateur Radio and Technology - Here’s an interesting Blog!

Are you interested in technology?

Check out this link: http://wedothatradio.wordpress.com/

Ham Radio in the 21st Century! Ham Radios’ attaction is on the increase, and it’s really no wonder why … Many Radio Amateurs have a lot to do with current technologies (things we are using already) and things that are “in the works” and “things to come”. This blog tells about Light Wave Communications experimentation, Amateur Satellite Systems, Communications with the ISS - The what? Yes! The International Space Station… Also there are newer and older digital modes authorized and used in Amateur Radio. I have recently been using BPSK31 (PSK31 for short) on the HF bands and found it rather easy to connect a computer, with a sound card (most already have this), to the radio … download FREE software and start making contacts via the keyboard - computer - and radio all over the US and Canada.

Soooo… it’s a cool blog to check out. That URL again is: http://wedothatradio.wordpress.com/

73 de KA4UDX - Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net

http://blog.marinetelecom.net - http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom

Yes I’m on YouTube! Have been for awhile. Some Marine Communications related videos are up on there, and several HF/SSB Amateur Radio Contact videos as well, and including some videos of Powerline RFI (Electrical Interference from Power Lines) - which is radio frequency interference that can affect amateur (and other radio services, broadcast, and public services) radio sites.

SK

[end of work. end of this contact!]

Alan contacts radio station: W1AW - W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station

Alan contacts W1AW on 2 seperate HF ham bands using 100watts SSB: 18.140Mhz on 17 Meters, after original contact on 100watts SSB: 14.229 Mhz on 20 Meters. No doubt they are running more power than me, but maybe not … I believe the guy on 20m said he was running 200watts. I’m sure they have really HIGH and really GOOD directional antennas at ARRL HQ !

Action Callsign
1st
Date/Time
2nd
Band
3rd
Mode RST Comments
LIMITS W1AW 01Jan70 - 01Feb10  
Click here to View or Edit this log entry W1AW 01Feb2010
18:40
20m SSB 59+20 Nice Contact with KC2PJL as W1AW thanks from Alan Spicer
Click here to View or Edit this log entry W1AW 01Feb2010
18:52
17m SSB 57 Nice Contact with KC2PJH as W1AW thanks from Alan Spicer

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html

W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, is a living memorial to the “Father of Organized Amateur Radio”, located at ARRL Headquarters in Newington CT. When visiting ARRL HQ, most amateurs choose W1AW as the place to see where Amateur Radio comes alive. What can you expect to see when you visit? Here’s a look inside. * Also last night for a couple of hours there was an apparently Sporatic-E band opening on 11m (CB Radio) and 10 Meter ham band. I pulled of 6 contacts on 10 meters that you normally cannot do as it is normally dead.

Action Callsign
1st
Date/Time
2nd
Band
3rd
Mode RST Comments
LIMITS 01Jan70 - 01Feb10 10m  
Click here to View or Edit this log entry KB1IXI 01Feb2010
01:23
10m SSB 56 10 meter band opening nice to contact you
Click here to View or Edit this log entry KE4TZN 01Feb2010
01:56
10m SSB 57 10 meter band opening nice to contact you
Click here to View or Edit this log entry KJ4IKO
( notify)
01Feb2010
01:09
10m SSB 57 10 meter band opening nice to contact you
Click here to View or Edit this log entry KU4I 01Feb2010
01:29
10m SSB 59 10 meter band opening nice to contact you
Click here to View or Edit this log entry N3UGY 01Feb2010
01:36
10m SSB 57 nice long qso / rag chew … I really enjoyed it! Let’s do again!
Click here to View or Edit this log entry W4OTN 01Feb2010
01:27
10m SSB 57 10 meter band opening nice to contact you

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2001/07/30/1/

Think you might be interested in Amateur Radio? http://www.wedothat-radio.org/

Ham radio provides the broadest and most

powerful wireless communications capability

available to any private citizen anywhere in

the world.

The ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the USA. You too can become a member and communicate across the country, around the globe, or even with astronauts in space. To learn more, follow this link to www.arrl.org as well as the three links below.


Alan Spicer - 73 de KA4UDX, Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Grid Square: EL96we

DBA Alan Spicer Telcom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
Computer Services, Wired/Wireless Networking,
Cell/Sat/Landline Communications, General Consulting…
Marine, Business, Small Office and Home Office (SOHO)

* Cost Savings and Integration of Multiple Internet Technologies
on board Sail and Motor Yachts * Documentation, Operating
Instructions, and Support after the Sale *

* http://www.marinetelecom.net/
* http://www.internetforyachts.net/
* http://www.wifiyacht.net/
* 954-683-3426

RFI - Florida Power and Light Powerline Radio Frequency Interference

I still have RFI on the Ham Radio and adjacent bands (rather broadband as it can be found on many frequencies) which makes most ham radio contacts impossible. Earlier I promised video and I have made several attempts but the videos tend to get rather large rather quickly. So here is an attempt to beat the 10 minute YouTube requirement. Actually this one came in at just over 5 minutes. It demonstrates the Radio Frequency Interference, which is quite prominent and quite disruptive to communications as signal levels average in the S7 to S9 range - which really cuts off my receive “ears”. I probably cannot hear 80 - 90 % of radio signals that I could otherwise communicate with - without the interference. Here’s the video embed:



Again I reference: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/pwr-line-noise/index.html for an explanation of what this is, what the legalities are, and what should be done and how. I would certainly like to be acknowledged AGAIN by FP&L in regards to this ongoing problem. The initial response, at least from the Radio Guy with FP&L, was fantastic. He opened a trouble ticket to fix a specific piece of hardware on a specific FP&L power pole. Wether or not this was accomplished has not yet been communicated to me. The pulsing, stronger, RFI - which was identified at that time seems to be gone. But other apparently strong powerline RFI remains. I am trying in multiple channels (emails, FP&L web site email contact) to get communications between myself and FP&L going again. My Amateur Radio / Ham Radio Station remains at their disposal for demonstration of the RFI and for hooking up their equipment to indentify (”fingerprint”) the offending radio frequency interference. 

FCC Part 15 rules require that utilities and other operators of “incidental radiators,” such as power lines, cause no harmful interference to licensed operations

Power-line noise can interfere with radio communications and broadcasting. Essentially, the power-lines or associated hardware improperly generate unwanted radio signals that override or compete with desired radio signals. Power-line noise can impact radio and television reception — including cable TV head-end pick-up and Internet service. Disruption of radio communications, such as amateur radio, can also occur. Loss of critical communications, such as police, fire, military and other similar users of the radio spectrum can result in even more serious consequences.


I am a “licensed operation”:

Alan Spicer -KA4UDX

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

I still have Power Line RFI on HF here …

Here’s another interesting web site about Power-Line Noise: http://www.powerlinenoise.com/ I just found that one on 02/01/2010. I’ll check it out some more, note: The sound that you hear (turn your speakers on) is very much LIKE what I hear on my radio gear here. He has some videos up on this site of his Power Line Noise Tracking Sessions. It’s interesting to me, his use of the Arrow Antenna Yagi + small handheld ham rig with AM capability. (Time to start finding, tagging, and bagging some noisy power poles. I would at least like to tag and report those poles / hardware that cause noise that affect my Ham Shack (1.5Mhz to 53Mhz) but I have this funny feeling after watching videos on powerlinenoise.com that it will be more than one pole, in other words more than one interference source. At my location it has already proven to be up to a 2 count as of now.) Hey maybe we can start a new sport - similar to WiFi War Driving (which derives from the old War Dialing in the Telephone Modem days) and WiFi War Chalking. Yah you can get in for a couple hundred bucks or so. $60 for the Yagi antenna … Ham Radio guys probably already have the rig (note: it has to be capable of AM reception) because they often already have a dual-band handheld portable (handi-talky or walkie talkie) - but some scanners might even work for this, especially if the have some kind of S-Meter.

Anyway back to the original post that was here:

The powerline RFI that was located by FP&L when they came here awhile back (pulsing very strong RFI) seems to have gone away … but now it reveals what I think was the original RFI that I experienced before the stronger pulsing one came.

I may post more video showing how this sounds and where it is found soon. It still pretty much ruins my use of most of the HF/SSB Ham Bands (especially 3.8 Mhz and 7.175 - 7.300 Mhz ranges.) I wish FP&L would pay attention to me and solve this one as well. It’s very likely something else arcing AC high voltage somewhere on a power pole. It’s surprising that it doesn’t fry some of their own equipment or cause a fire somewhere. You almost want to say you wish it would burn itself out and fall down. But we wouldn’t want anyone to be hurt by falling powerlines or power distribution components. Somethings wrong… something shouldn’t be sizzling and pumping out RF signals that probably travel for miles (or further?)

 Here’s W8JI on Powerline Noise: http://www.w8ji.com/power_line_noise.htm (Definately see it there with pictures! Nice info!)

Power line noise is generally a raspy buzz modulated at some low harmonic of the power line frequency.  Power line noise is  frequency insensitive, having only a very gradual change in level with frequency. Power line noise can be band specific, but it is never frequency specific. CB operators sometimes mistakenly call line noise land noise or ground noise, very unusual slang since neither the ground nor the land is a source of noise.

Power line noise is from the following causes, each of which has subtle but unique characteristics:

Pin or hardware arcs on insulators, generally bell insulators
Arcs from loose clamps or bolts that join wires
Arcs in hardware, like lightning arrestors
Arcs in hardware near, but not connected directly to, power lines
Poorly wrapped or insulated tie wires that secure power lines to knob insulators
Arcs inside equipment, like internal arcs in transformers or lightning arrestors
 

 Insulator Pin or Hardware Arcs
This type of noise is a higher pitch raspy noise. It almost always goes away in wet weather. It also “breaks up” when the wires wiggle or move. When I did noise investigation for a few utility companies I would strike the suspected pole with a large hammer and listen for the noise to “break up”, or (after looking to see the guy wires were well clear of any hot lines) shake or push on the guy wires. You should not do this without permission of the pole owner. I had permission.

Insulator pin arcs are one of the most common sources of broadband noise on power lines. This noise is caused by low tension on bell insulators, allowing them to hang with visible sag or slack. The noise is generally a medium to low level noise with a higher sounding smoother pitch because the arc is weak with very low current, but like all noises it can propagate a long distance along the lines.

The pins on each end of insulators can be a common source of noise. The long insulator above is a newer Polymer type. It does not have the leakage capacitance of older ceramic bell insulators, and is not as noisy when span tension is low. The pins however are the same in almost all insulators. With low tension the pins corrode and make poor contact. This can cause a very tiny arc. The arc excites the power line through the insulator’s stray capacitance and the power line acts like a giant antenna. A few milliwatts of energy can radiate a long distance when using a long wire antenna like a power line!

The problem is rooted more in the capacitance of the insulator than actual leakage across the insulator surface, although both can be involved.

The longer polymer insulators on the pole above have a long fiberglass rod core and a very long external leakage path around the ribs. Ceramic bell insulators have a very large metal casting capping the low voltage or grounded end, and have an interlocked center pin and body cap separated by ceramic. Spacing is small and parallel surface areas are large in the more compact ceramic insulators, causing very high capacitance between the metal cap and the center pin of the ceramic insulator. The longer multi-ribbed polymer insulators have very low capacitance and a long leakage path, so they do not couple from end-to-end nearly as well as the ceramic bell insulators. A span might have to be left slack if the pole can not be back-guyed. Polymer insulators are preferred when a span has to be left slack.

Pins that secure the insulator to the hardware will  corrode and build up a thin layer of insulation. When a span is slack (under low tension)  the insulator metal end cap, the floating pin that locks the end cap to the eye bolt or mounting hardware, and the mounting hardware will arc across the thing layer of corrosion in the joints. This is because the pin is not pulled tightly against the mounting hardware and a small arc develops across the corrosion in the joint. In wet weather the arcing will often stop and the line become quiet. Slack spans with bell insulators are mostly a dry weather problem.

Loose Clamps and Hardware on Poles
Loose hardware on poles and wires is a common problem. It is also a safety issue! This type of problem generally makes a severe raspy strong noise over all bands. This type of noise is generally unaffected by moisture, although it can get get either louder or quieter in rain. If it is arcing from something being ungrounded, noise will generally go away in the rain. If it is a loose connection on a through connection, like a loose nut on the transformer primary connection, it will come and go, being largely independent of moisture.

All metallic hardware should be solidly bonded to the ground wire on the pole or it should be well-insulated from anything else. This is important for minimizing radio noise as well as protecting utility workers. It also reduces the chances of lightning damage.

The bracket above, for example, should be securely grounded to the ground wire running down the pole. Notice this utility let the bracket float. While that won’t make noise, it does create a hazard. If the disconnect switch insulator should ever arc through, develop leakage, or crack the bracket would become hot. If the ground wire was close but not touching the ground wire, it could arc from normal leakage and cause radio noise. It either needs to be a long ways away from the ground wire, or it needs to be bonded to the ground wire. Best would be to bond it into the ground wire.

The eyebolt holding the polymer insulator should also either be solidly grounded, or it should be kept away from the ground wire.

Hot clamps and other line hardware should be tight. Some of the most severe noise sources are loose hot clamps and corroded disconnect switches. Loose connections can actually start fires in dry weather. 

(end quote. There must be a LOT of lose hardware hanging around on power poles. That stuff could fall down and injure someone. But then again people shouldn’t be walking around outside anyway… they should be inside writing a check to the power company :-) ) 

After all air travel is safe … your more likely to be injured or killed walking around and getting hit by powerline hardware, errr, I mean getting in a auto accident, than getting injured or killed in airline travel. That was a pun, intended :-)

Power-Line Interference from: NR6CA http://www.nr6ca.org/powerline.html

POWER-LINE INTERFERENCE

As we all know, power lines are everywhere. Even in communities where power lines are laid underground, they are still above ground at some nearby location. Even with buried lines, transformer still abound in small bunkers dug into the ground and one of them may be right in front of your house. In addition, there are almost certainly street lights in your neighborhood that could also be a source of problems. And then we have traffic lights, internal home wiring just to mention a few other sources of potential power-line noise.

First you need to know that if, for example, your local power company has a problem near you that causes harmful interference, they are responsible for correcting it. They would clearly be in violation of FCC rules if they do not locate and correct the problem. From previous cases the FCC has gotten involved with a 30 day period to diagnose and repair seems acceptable to the FCC. The ARRL can also assist with these problems if it turns out the local power company is reluctant to diagnose and subsequently correct the problem.

Lower frequencies are more affected by power-line noise then VHF and above.  If you have a potential power-line noise problem in your area it will most likely be fairly localized. That is not to say that a problem many miles from you can not be heard at your location. It only means that if you have a high noise level on 160, 80 or 40 meters (and even higher) that the source is fairly close by. Now a true FM radio will not be affected by this type of noise source since noise in amplitude modulated and not frequency modulated. Some modern radios though have both an active AM and an active FM detector working all the time. This is easier to do (read lower cost) for the manufacturer then designing in switching circuits that are selectable. What this means is you might have a wideband receive FM handheld transceiver (HT) that hears the noise. Rest assured it is the AM detector hearing it, not the FM detector.

So what causes power-line noise? Weather exposure is a major cause of problems. Dirt can build up across an insulator and then along comes some rain. Now all of a sudden there is a small arc across the insulator and 40 meters has an S9 noise level. You call the power company, they send out a technician on a nice dry day and he finds nothing. But then you say that it has been quite for the last few days.  Sure enough, he leaves and a few days later along comes another rain storm and the noise is back. So if you pay attention to different conditions when the noise exists write them down and over time see if there is some correlation. If you have one of those nifty all mode, multiband handhelds (such as the Icom R-3), listen to the AM broadcast band in AM mode and start walking around the neighborhood. As you get closer to the source of the noise, it will get louder and stronger. You may even be able to pinpoint it to a specific power pole. Write down the power pole number from the power company label fastened to it.

Another common source of power-line noise is loose, cracked insulator or oxidized clamp, defective fuse and even a damaged lightning arrestor. These can all produce arcing across or within them that results in a very high HF noise level.

Not all power-line noise is limited to HF frequencies though this is where they are most common. It is rare to have power-line noise bother 2 meters or higher yet it does occur.  Think about it, power-lines are very long, transformers are big and even the high voltage insulators can be massive. These things tend to generate noise at lower frequencies.
If you experience this type of interference, do yourself and favor, and the power company one as well and try to isolate the source as close as possible. Write down as much information specific to the time and conditions of the noise as you can. Don’t omit what may seem like an insignificant detail since that one small piece of the puzzle might potentially lead the power company technician to the actual source of the problem. But you do need to help yourself and go out and do some nosing around. Just NEVER, EVER, try climbing a power pole to get a “closer look.” It is not worth the risk. Leave that to the professionals. If you can narrow the noise source down to something like that pole or behind that fence, let the power company take it from there. You also need to be aware of any potential tresspassing. The power company has right-of-way in all locations where they have equipment, you don’t.

Alan Spicer - KA4UDX

Alan Spicer Telecom / Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net