Speaker
November 23, 2021: Chris Parker AF6PX and Gary Lopes WA6MEM: Identifying, Locating, and Resolving Powerline Noise
PLEASE NOTE: Because our meeting location is unavailable due to the coronavirus situation, this presentation will be webcast on the internet. See the IMPORTANT NOTE at the top of this page.
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the main electric utility for the greater Los Angeles area. The majority of SCE’s legacy electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure was installed in the 1950’s or 1960’s. Due to age and degradation from salt air from the Pacific Ocean, this hardware is quickly approaching end of life. SCE has a robust hardware upgrade program; however, until this upgrade program is complete, much of this old hardware remains and may cause serious powerline noise (PLN) RFI to amateur radio. Using actual case studies, this presentation addresses identifying, locating, and resolving powerline noise with state-of-the-art equipment.
Chris L. Parker AF6PX began his career at TRW, where he worked on analog, digital, RF and fiber optic systems in support of national technical assets. He subsequently moved to his lifelong passion, flying, and now flies business jets worldwide for VIP clients. He obtained his Amateur Extra Class FCC license in 2009. He sometimes operates Aeronautical Mobile from 35,000 feet, where manmade noise is nonexistent, and this started his interest eliminating RFI from his home station. He worked closely with and assisted the RFI Investigator from Southern California Edison for over six years to solve RFI issues in the local area. Chris has been an ARRL Technical Specialist for the Los Angeles Section since 2016. He presented “Locating and Identifying RFI/EMI Sources” at HAMCON 2017. His mission is to reduce the noise floor one dB at a time.
Gary G. Lopes WA6MEM obtained his novice license way back in 1967, followed by his general license in 1968. As Technical Coordinator for the ARRL Los Angeles Section, he helps new and old hams solve technical problems. He likes to work HF DX, VHF / UHF tropo and meteor scatter. He has built radios for 1.2, 3.4, 10, and 24 Ghz. When not building and operating radios, he flies his Cessna 182, having been a licensed private pilot for 37 years. Professionally, Gary spent 43 years working in the high power RF semiconductor industry with TRW, Ericsson, and M/A-COM as a Design Engineer, Engineering Director, and General Manager. He is a member of the San Bernardino Microwave Society, Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club, Rolling Hills Radio Club, an ARRL Life Member, Radio Club of America, Battleship Iowa IE&T, Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association, IEEE and AOPA.