REPORT OF POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE FROM ELECTRIC UTILITY TO AN AMATEUR RADIO STATION

ARRL uses this form to receive reports about suspected power-line noise. If you are experiening harmful interference and want to start a case with ARRL and receive individual help with an interference problem, read the information on ARRL's RFI web page, then contact us by telephone or email for assistance.

Note on recording the RFI: It is helpful to provide us with a recording of the noise you are experiencing, and you can upload any recorded files to the RFI Program's Sharefile Folder. Please make sure to include your callsign in the file name for each uploaded file.

When making recordings of the RFI, the recording should be at least 15 seconds in duration, and be recorded for both AM and SSB modes, sitting on a single frequency in a ham band, and with no pre-amp, noise attenuation or voiceover. If you can provide a something in the frequency domain (e.g., from a spectrum scope), that can be helpful to us as well.

Name*

First NameLast Name

CALL SIGN (If unlicensed, type "none.")*

Address of the radio receiver receiving interference:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Email, so we can contact you with questions. (If you don't want to provide an email, type "none.")*

example@example.com

Phone Number (optional, if you want to be contacted by phone).

Please enter a valid phone number and indicate a good time to call.

Please provide a good time to call. Someone will get back to you within a few business days.

What is the name of your power company?*

In case we need to contact your power company, please provide the name of the company CEO, General Manager or President and a postal address. If you have a telephone number for them, please provide that as well.

ARRL can best help you if you are knowledgeable about power-line noise. Here are some helpful links and resources concerning RFI:

Have you tried to resolve this problem with your power company?*

YesNoI contacted them but they didn't respondI contacted them but they were unable to fix itI contacted them and they told me that my problem was not power-line noise

If you have tried to resolve this with your power company, please provide the details on the dates of your contact, who you contacted and what the results were.

Tell us what amateur bands and modes are being affected. Describe the noise level on each band in S units or dBm, the receive mode (SSB, CW, AM, etc.), the bandwidth of your receiver (if known), your antenna type and the distance between the noise source and your antenna. Use a separate sentence or paragraph for each band.

It is not necessary for an amateur to locate the specific pole that harmful interference may be coming from, but doing so often does help speed the process of getting a utility to fix a problem. If you have identified a pole number or other specific source, include information about that source in the "more information" section near the end of this report form.

Yes, I have identified a pole number of other source and have included it below.No, I have not identified a source.

What is the maximum level of the interference?*

Date(s) interference was observed (separate with semicolons if more than one). You can also use descriptions such as "continuous" or "heard for several months."*

Times of day interference was observed (separate with semicolons, or indicate 24 hrs)*

Power-line noise is steady across a band, varying by a few dB with changes in the antenna gain on a particular band. Other noise sources, such as switching power supplies typically make noise every 10 to 50 kHz, usually a buzzy carrier or a more broad buzz. Switching supplies are typically a bit drifty, with the frequency of the noise peaks drifting up or down the band. They are also sensitive to changes in input voltages or loads. Please check all that apply:*

The noise is steady across the band and on the AM mode it has a 60- or 120-Hz buzzThe noise if found every 10 to 50 kHz or so and is somewhat drifty and exhibits occasional changesThe noise appears only at certain times of the dayThe noise gets significantly better or worse with changes in temperature, humidity and rainThe noise gets louder when the band is open for long-distance propagation

It is not necessary for us to have an audio recording of your power-line noise to proceed, although it is often very useful. Are you able to make a .wav audio recording of the noise so we can analyze it to see if it has the characteristics of power-line noise? The recording is best made using an AM-mode receiver and at least 6 kHz of bandwidth. The recording should be from 10 to 30 seconds in length, with no voice over.

Yes, I can make an audio recording if neededYes, I made an audio recording and emailed it to w1emi@arrl.orgNo, I do not have the ability to make and email an audio recording

Is this noise also affecting reception on the AM-broadcast band?*

YesNoUnknown

Other than the above, have you done any troubleshooting on your own to try and locate the RFI source, and if so, what steps have been taken?

What other information should ARRL know about the RFI you are experiencing?

Would you like help from ARRL staff to resolve the interference problem? If yes, ensure that you provided an email address or telephone number.*

YesNo