TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 540.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 2900f7a7   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20a-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
     This is from the March, 1999 issue of WAVELENGTHS, the Arkansas Radio   
   Emergency Services Club newsletter. The article is ECNALG -- a Backward   
   Glance -- articles written by our senior or posthumous ham friends. This   
   one was also written by Lyle Armstrong, K5VPM, who became a Silent Key   
   in 1998. I personally remember when this happened, and it was, indeed,   
   a very interesting experience!! DS   
      
   "QRN in the Grass" by Lyle Armstrong, K5VPM   
      
     About the time a fellow figures he knows about all there is to know   
   about QRM - QRN - QSB, and what causes the sounds he tunes in or out,   
   something happens that doesn't add up, and the book solution doesn't   
   fit. It's exasperating.   
      
     My ham shack is located in the attic of my house. I have the usual   
   assorted dipoles and inverterd V's that cover the HF bands, and an 8   
   element telex 2 meter beam. Like most fellows I meet on CW, 25-30 feet   
   seems to be the average antenna height the majority of us are stuck   
   with.   
      
     Well, one evening, I was trying to contact my brother, KA8CKL in   
   MIchigan, on a 15 meter schedule. The whole band was weird. There were   
   strange harmonies and high pitched squeaking sounds. They all blended   
   together, and were strong enough to block almost all CW signals...and   
   what CW I could tune in was distorted and weak.   
      
     I called W5ZXS, and asked him if he noticed anything unusual on 15.   
   Jolly said no...it was not open, but that was not unusual.   
      
     I was so intrigued by the strange sounds I spent the night checking   
   the rig and all electronic equipment in the house...even shut off the   
   VCR, TV, answering machine, microwave, and even the FM-AM radio. Then I   
   shut off the fluorescent lights and the mercury vapor night light; I   
   imagined that made a slight blip in the sound of the continuing   
   background noise mess.   
      
     The scope showed definite sudden voltage peaks of different levels,   
   and at uneven intervals. A tour of other bands revealed the fact that   
   this freak interference covered all the HF bands. The "crud" was louder   
   on 15 meters, but was audible on all HF bands, but not subject to being   
   tuned out. I even tried a 12 volt DC HF receiver, and it yielded the   
   same results.   
      
     Along about 2am, I checked into the Fertilizer Net, and even that   
   brain trust group couldn't offer any answer to my problem. One regular   
   member suggested I change brands. Finally, I checked out and went QRT.   
   In the light of day, I tried again...still there, but weaker. NUTS!!   
      
     I shut it all down, and fired up the mower and tried to cut the grass,   
   which had been growing freely because of the rain and sun cycle. It was   
   all the 5-horse Briggs and Stratton with a 21 inch blade could   
   handle...but it had to be done, wet or not. So, I did it. The whole   
   yard covers 175 x 200 feet around the house...it just about did me in.   
      
     About 5pm, I finished the job, cleaned up, crawled up the stairs to   
   the shack, turned on the TS520S, flipped it to 2125 CW, and man, oh   
   man!! No QRM - QSB - QRN or strange stuff at all!! Just a Cincinatti   
   station calling CQ. I answered him - good QSO - 73, CUL.   
      
     Well then, a check of the other HF bands revealed nothing abnormal. So   
   what was it all about, anyhow?? Well, I finally figured it out...here is   
   my diagnosis of the phenomena:   
      
   1) The unexplained noise was at my QTH.   
   2) It stopped as soon as I cut the grass.   
   3) Nothing else was done at my QTH.   
      
   Conclusion:   
      
     I figure that the grass was growing as fast as nature would allow. The   
   sun-and-rain-and-sun-and-rain cycle cause the grass to grow at MORE THAN   
   its maximum natural rate...and it was such an ideal growing condition   
   that the molecules built up faster than the growth could occur. Then,   
   this energy stress would discharge through the vascular bundles to the   
   ground, and in so doing, would radiate a quick RF wave. The varied   
   species of grass in my yard would account for the different levels and   
   frequencies of RF emitted.   
      
     As a boy in Nebraska, I remember that on a hot, still night...a fellow   
   could stand in a cornfield, and every few moments, could hear a loud   
   squeak as the growth stress molecules would expand. The corn would grow   
   in inch or two a day, but only at night when the wind died down could   
   the jump in growth be heard. I just know that if I had a means of   
   receiving and indicating some RFI, I would have seen the needle kick   
   every time the corn squeaked.   
      
     I don't know enough about the super advanced electronics or solar   
   phased agronomy to figure out any other solution that will fly.   
      
     Finally, if you want to enjoy the hobby at its finest, keep your grass   
   cut short. And anyhow, why else is the green wire for ground?? Also,   
   perhaps my grass grows so fast because of some unknown RF feedback from   
   the Fertilizer Net frequency.   
      
   Submitted subject to review...   
      
   Lyle E. Armstrong, K5VPM, SK   
   --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/19 123 15/0 16/0 19/10 37 90/1 105/81 106/201 116/17 18   
   SEEN-BY: 123/10 130 131 142/104 153/7715 154/10 30 40 50 700 203/0   
   SEEN-BY: 218/700 840 220/90 221/1 6 360 226/18 30 227/114 229/110   
   SEEN-BY: 229/112 113 206 307 317 426 428 470 664 700 240/5832 266/512   
   SEEN-BY: 280/5003 282/1038 291/111 301/1 317/3 320/119 219 319 2119   
   SEEN-BY: 322/0 757 335/364 341/66 342/200 396/45 423/81 460/58 633/280   
   SEEN-BY: 712/848 2320/0 33 105 304 401 3634/12 5075/35   
   PATH: 2320/33 105 154/10 221/6 1 320/219 229/426