HI Sean,   
      
   On Sat 2039-Apr-02 10:49, Sean Dennis (1:18/200) wrote to Richard Webb:   
      
      
      
    RW> knowledgeable too.  I'm betting you're TVA over that way, so they've   
    RW> got expertise on staff. I'm expecting to see this guy within next   
    RW> couple weeks.   
      
   SD> Thankfully, the power board here is very responsive to complaints   
   SD> from hams around here.  They really do try to keep us happy.  I'll   
   SD> call on Monday, speak to dispatch, give them the pole numbers and   
   SD> will hopefully get a call from the linemen that respond.  It's the   
   SD> lightning arresters on top of the poles that might be causing the   
   SD> grounds to be radiating.   
      
   YEp, I find that happens a lot, either that or loose   
   grounds.  I use an interesting technique to rdf those things with a vhf   
   receiver tuned to the vhf air band, in am mode of course, and one of my   
   transmitter hunting antenna rigs.   
      
   SD> I'm the one that's been lazy and not made the call.  Thankfully, I   
   SD> do have fellow hams that are well-known at the power board and they   
   SD> will help if need be.  But I need to initate the contact.   
      
   SOunds like you should have good luck.  These guys are one   
   of those rural electric cooperative things, and not quite as sharp about such   
   things.  wHen ARRL and the FCC told them   
   they weren't buying in they brought in the consultant from   
   TVA.  I told him, and he already understood that I wasn't   
   trying to be adversarial just for grins, I just wanted to   
   get the problem solved, for their benefit and mine.   
      
   SD> Right now, though, I am studying my dad's copy of the 2009 Handbook   
   SD> to try to find a good way to eliminate AC noise coming through my   
   SD> power supply.  I have a very nice Radio Shack 25A switching power   
   SD> supply but unfortunately the ancient wiring in this house   
   SD> (ungrounded 2-wire aluminum) just picks up noise like you wouldn't   
   SD> believe.  I hear a "rushing" sound all over every band when I use   
   SD> it, but since my battery can't supply enough amps to keep my radio   
   SD> at "full" power, I generally only get out at around 50-70 watts   
   SD> depending on the battery's charge.   
      
     I hate switching power supplies.  I know, they're   
   cleaner than they used to be, but that noise you describe is consistent with   
   their behavior.   
      
   Get you a bigger gel cell and float charge it with a trickle charger, I bet   
   that'll clean up a lot.   
      
   OH btw, if you've got aluminum wiring, inspect all your   
   fixtures, make sure that they used those little pigtail   
   splices to that aluminum wire that are made for the purpose. electrolytic   
   action or intaction between the copper and the   
   aluminum can be a dangerous thing, and you might find your   
   home sweet home becomes an inferno.  IF fixtures aren't   
   connected with those little pigtails made for the purpose   
   get 'em.   
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   --- timEd 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)