Not Satellite related, but people often ask about any RFI from my solar arrays at home. Interest stems from an RFI issue in April QST and my letter in Sept 2016 QST.
Well, FINALLY, the jury is in. For the first time since installing solar, I finally got all my full-sized dipoles up in the air again. And listened with the arrays on and off.
Yes, I have inverter noise about 12 dB above the noise floor every 38 kHz on 80 meters,. But couldn't really find anything on 20 meters. I did not do a thorough search, but enough to finally say, "yes, there is some noise..."
I post this because my 16kw of arrays are conventional series string arrays and much quieter than the "optimizers" on every panel all over the roof noted in the April QST article. I always thought my string array was quiet, but now I have some data noted above. This could easily be fixed with some clamp-on ferrites down in the basement on the wires going into the inverters...
But for my rare HF operating, the solar AC disconnect switch is about 3 feet from the kitchen door. Easy enough to pull if I want HF silence. I could also install a 40 amp disconnect relay from a switch in the shack... But with my rare operating style, I'll probably do nothing. Of course it is perfectly quiet at night ;-)
It took me 6 years to get around to this test, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to add some clamp-on filters to the inverter wires and see what that does.
For those into solar, come join us on [email protected] Bob, WB4APR