As is know, there is a wide band noise source at Hidden Valley High School, apparently only during class hours.
I have taken Monday 14 to go to the school and find this vermin.
I have been able to borrow (may nothing happen to it!) a HP 8594A Spectrum Analyzer.
The problem is I need some form of directional antenna for doing the search.
I thought of a loop antenna, but everyone seems to have a different idea on how to build it. I also thought about the telescoping antennas on a cross brace that looks like a "H" when used.
Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated as time is short.
Morning Fred, Well I think you're on the right track, but I think you would be better with a Yagi type antenna on this. A 3 element type would be best, if yo can get hold of one of te Arrow type sattilite antenna you would be in good shape. I don't have anything here or I would bring it down today for you. (12/10) Hope you find the problem.
73 Russ Abbey KG4MAV U.S. Navy retired, woodworker extraordinaire, student, avid reader, Enjoying life! Member ARES Floyd County, Floyd amateur Radio Society, RVARC, New River ARC, Franklin County ARC, American Legion, DAV life, PVA life, Navy Together We Served.com, ARRL, NRA Life, VSSA,
Russ, The big problem is the field intensity is through the roof. I expect we will have problems because of reflections and such. I have to come up with something by Monday. I will probably use the telescoping antenna from my scanner, collapse it as I get nearer to the source. I looked at HF fox hunts but do not have the time to build their antennas. Also, I would have a hard time getting it down the halls unless classes are in session. I will "MAcGyver" something!
Good Luck Fred, I know you will need it. you know after thinking about this, the feed horn on the spectrom anailizer should be alright for this. Let me know how this turns out, I am always interested in finding noise. :) 73 Russ KG4MAV U.S. Navy retired, woodworker extraordinaire, student, avid reader, Enjoying life! Member ARES Floyd County, Floyd amateur Radio Society, RVARC, New River ARC, Franklin County ARC, American Legion, DAV life, PVA life, Navy Together We Served.com, ARRL, NRA Life, VSSA,
Ron and I spent nearly the whole day yesterday looking for the noise desensing the receiver. We found a transmitter at 7.489 MHZ (out of band but wide as a barn door) that never gave identification. We think it is a feed to radio stations for later broadcast. Then it was gone. Then we searched for the wide band noise. Rolled the spectrum analyzer down the halls on an rolling chair, got some really strange looks and some questions. Finally narrowed the area to a corner at the front of the building. The noise was 30db above the average and had lots of positive going spikes adding another 15db. The signal disappeared after 3:30. Can we say defective clandestine heating unit? We took the spectrum analyzer to the roof and had a higher noise floor. It peaked near one of the variable frequency drives for the HVAC blowers. But, they were on and we had no noise. Mostly used a telescoping whip so we could vary the length to reduce the signal. The spectrum analyzer does not have the audio option so we could not listen to the noise. I will let Ron add the rest of what we did, actually, what they did. At the end I was beat! But, there was the thrill of the chase. We related this to fox hunting to the radio club.
How cool that you have been able to find it. Yes, this would make a great article for the Club's Log and please get it to Kennie so he can publish it. Hope you can get this fixed so you can operate more. 73 Russ KG4MAV U.S. Navy retired, woodworker extraordinaire, student, avid reader, Enjoying life! Member ARES Floyd County, Floyd amateur Radio Society, RVARC, New River ARC, Franklin County ARC, American Legion, DAV life, PVA life, Navy Together We Served.com, ARRL, NRA Life, VSSA,
