On Dec 24, 2011, at 1:25 AM, graham foulkes wrote:

> Hi
> Old AM radio works fine as a cheap and cheerful  RF radiated field
> detector. That was what they were designed for all those years ago. You
> will be surprised by the number of source radiators around a typical hous=
e
> or workshop.
>=20

Years ago, the FCC apparently did concern themselves with unintentional rad=
iators below 30Mhz. =20

As a teenage ham operator, I was troubled by S10+20 or so noise on 40 meter=
s.  I could also hear the hash noise on an AM radio tuned to the high end o=
f the band.  I went outside, and noticed the noise increased on the AM radi=
o as I approached the city light pole at the street.  Placing the radio aga=
inst the light pole blanked out even the strongest AM stations with the has=
h.  I called the city and explained the issue, and they were out within hou=
rs to investigate.  I demonstrated the interference on the portable radio. =
 Turns out the light had a defective photocell assembly.  =20

Interestingly, the noise was only present during the daylight hours.  Once =
the streetlamp activated in the evening, the noise went away.

I wonder if a city would be so responsive today, or if they'd even care?

Joe, N6DGY




--=20
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