This is to follow up on my experience with Greg and Jeff CenterPoint, who came by my shack shortly after the weather emergency to look into my QRM issues.
First of all, Jeff is indeed retiring and Greg is taking over the reigns. They called me to arrange a visit. There is only one person in the company to cover QRM issues in the entire area, so if you have an issue, you will be talking with Greg. When they got there they listened to the noises I was getting on all my bands, then they hooked up their noise analyzer to my antenna and verified what they were hearing. This was not an oscilloscope or a spectrum analyzer, but a specialized scope for viewing the noise in a standard fashion. Based on the particular band on which we could hear the issue, they could conclude whether the offender was likely nearer or farther away. I showed them the antenna in my back yard, though they really did not need to see it. They had already verified there was an issue and loaded back into their vehicle for a drive around to monitor with the mobile detector and narrow down the location of the problem. They took a minute to show me their equipment. They had a “fox hunt” device to use when they get close, and a parabolic listener which they sometimes use to hear sounds like sparking etc. About 15 minutes after they left, Greg phoned me to have me listen while Jeff kicked the pole. I heard nothing, but they identified an issue with a lightning arrestor about two blocks away. At this time I am waiting for CenterPoint to fix the issue. I will be surprised if that is is my issue, but I am glad they located an offender. Overall, had great experience with these guys. It was pretty cool seeing how they worked. It is really helpful to investigate any issue before they arrive. According to ARRL, you may only get one swipe at solving the problem, so it is best to be prepared. That said, these fellows could not have been more helpful. Mark N5PRD > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Doug SEYLER via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> > Subject: Re: [BVARC] QRM in new radio setup > Date: February 7, 2021 at 3:36:02 PM CST > To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org > <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> > Cc: Doug SEYLER <djsey...@comcast.net <mailto:djsey...@comcast.net>> > Reply-To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org > <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> > > No charge > > Doug W9LCQ > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Feb 7, 2021, at 1:39 PM, Mark Brantana via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org >> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> wrote: >> >> Thank you! Any chance they would change me for the work? >> Mark >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Feb 7, 2021, at 1:36 PM, jclupp...@ussailing.net >>> <mailto:jclupp...@ussailing.net> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Jeff Hoke was in the process of retiring and I believe he is no longer >>> there. He was training his replacement though, his name is Gregory Young. >>> >>> gregory.yo...@centerpointenergy.com >>> <mailto:gregory.yo...@centerpointenergy.com> >>> Office: 713-945-6555 >>> Mobil: 832-715-0549 >>> >>> If you can get him to come out he has all the same equipment and can run a >>> spectrum analysis that could possibly help. >>> Hope that helps. >>> >>> Chris Luppens >>> >>> From: BVARC <bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org>> On >>> Behalf Of Jeffrey Carson via BVARC >>> Sent: Sunday, February 7, 2021 8:49 AM >>> To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org >>> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> >>> Cc: Jeffrey Carson <jcarson...@yahoo.com <mailto:jcarson...@yahoo.com>>; >>> Mark Brantana <mark.brant...@gmail.com <mailto:mark.brant...@gmail.com>> >>> Subject: Re: [BVARC] QRM in new radio setup >>> >>> Hello,i have had Jeff Hoke with Centerpoint come out and remediate some >>> noise on a pole behind my house. Very thorough and professional. >>> >>> His contact information: Contact Jeff by email FIRST. >>> Jeff Hoke >>> jeff.h...@centerpointenergy.com <mailto:jeff.h...@centerpointenergy.com> >>> >>> Office: 713-945-6304 >>> Mobile: 713-304-2728 >>> >>> >>> On Saturday, February 6, 2021, 11:37:44 PM CST, Mark Brantana via BVARC >>> <bvarc@bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Tonight I hooked up my little TH-F6A to the same antenna and got the same >>> noise. I do have to test out my radio, but I am 85% convinced that it is >>> QRM from a pole transformer located about 25 ft from the long end of my >>> OFDP. This is a reasonably new transformer, since they replaced it about 5 >>> years ago when the old one blew. Anyone have experience with getting the >>> electric company to do a RFI survey? >>> >>> On the down side, I carried my AM radio to my back yard and heard no >>> detectable interference. This is turning into a real mystery. >>> >>> Mark >>> N5PRD >>> >>> >>> On Feb 3, 2021, at 6:55 PM, Gus Bernard via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org >>> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> wrote: >>> >>> What Rick says. Then try taking it portable, away from the QTH and power >>> lines. >>> >>> Gus, K5GMB >>> >>> On Sun, Jan 31, 2021 at 7:33 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org >>> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> wrote: >>> I am reaching out for ideas on a radio issue. I have installed an IC-745 >>> Icom with an MFJ-2010 offset fed dipole. The power supply is a 20A MegaWatt >>> switching power supply, which is located right next to the radio. The >>> antenna is under some high power-lines with the long leg 90 degrees to the >>> power-lines. I used my nanoVNA to study the band SWR response, and >>> everything looks reasonable, though some small adjustments may need to be >>> made. Nothing is grounded as yet. >>> >>> Here’s my problem. I am only attempting to receive at this time and I get >>> consistent QRM white noise across all bands to the point where I can barely >>> pick out some voices, etc. >>> >>> I am confident that the antenna is properly connected due to my antenna >>> study. >>> I don’t believe the power lines are an issue, since the problem would >>> likely be more isolated show up as birdies at certain frequencies. >>> The radio settings seem to all be correct according to the manual. >>> Lack of grounding, but again the white noise is generally consistant across >>> the spectrum. Still, this could be the problem. >>> I have turned off my computer, so there no QRM from its power supply. >>> It does not help to have the switching power supply right next to the >>> radio, but other users give good reports on this model and no QRM issues >>> are mentioned. >>> I tried the radio at different times of the day on 20-m voice band, with >>> the same noisy result. >>> It could be the net result of a large number of small device transformers, >>> but I doubt it. >>> I turned off the wifi, and still no change. >>> >>> Hmm… I am a little stumped. Any thoughts or ideas? Personal experiences? >>> >>> Mark >>> N5PRD >>> ________________________________________________ >>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>> >>> BVARC mailing list >>> BVARC@bvarc.org <mailto:BVARC@bvarc.org> >>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >>> <http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org> >>> ________________________________________________ >>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>> >>> BVARC mailing list >>> BVARC@bvarc.org <mailto:BVARC@bvarc.org> >>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >>> <http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org> >>> >>> ________________________________________________ >>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>> >>> BVARC mailing list >>> BVARC@bvarc.org <mailto:BVARC@bvarc.org> >>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >>> <http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org> >>> >>> Publicly available archives are available here: >>> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ >>> <https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/%20> >>> >> ________________________________________________ >> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >> >> BVARC mailing list >> BVARC@bvarc.org <mailto:BVARC@bvarc.org> >> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >> <http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org> >> Publicly available archives are available here: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ >> <https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/> > ________________________________________________ > Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club > > BVARC mailing list > BVARC@bvarc.org <mailto:BVARC@bvarc.org> > http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org > <http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org> > Publicly available archives are available here: > https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ > <https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/>
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