Wind Turbine Interference?
Hi all, Sorry if this is off subject. I just found out that our city in suburban Detroit is going to install a 150 foot wind turbine about a quarter mile from my qth. I was wondering if anyone has experienced any problems working satellites, due to turbines. I'm only using a Arrow antenna and a handheld. But hope to upgrade the station in the future. I'm not questioning the need of turbines. But am just wondering if I'm going to have problems in the future. 73 and Thanks in advance. de Doug KA8QCU
--- Doug Kuitula [email protected] wrote:
Sorry if this is off subject. I just found out that our city in suburban Detroit is going to install a 150 foot wind turbine about a quarter mile from my qth. I was wondering if anyone has experienced any problems working satellites, due to turbines. I'm only using a Arrow antenna and a handheld. But hope to upgrade the station in the future.
Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce large Blind Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause problems to RF signals.
See this item that appeared on the Amateur Radio RSS news service a couple of years ago:
Effects of Windfarms on Radar http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm
Nearly 20 years ago a Wind Farm was installed on the remote Orkney Islands in the United Kingdom. The TV transmitters had to be resited because the Wind Farm blocked the TV signal.
The RF effects of a wind turbine was covered in this document. http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/factsheets/pdfs/buildings_factsheet.pdf
The original link no longer works but it may still be availble on the WayBackWhen machine at http://www.archive.org/ - it'll be worth trying.
I should have a copy on my hard drive somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.
Of course Wind Turbines cause significant damage to wildlife by slaughtering migrating birds and produce very expensive electricity - just work out the true cost, taking into account the cost of build it and high maintainance costs.
If it's generating electricity for somewhere in the middle of nowhere without access to coal, oil, gas or nuclear generated electricity then sure it's a cost that has to be paid because there's no alternative. I must admit I hadn't realised that suburban Detroit was that remote - would I be right in guessing it's being funded by Tax Payers dollars ?
73 Trevor M5AKA
___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html
Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce large Blind Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause problems to RF signals.
Effects of Windfarms on Radar http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm
Trevor,
That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a second...HEO's may take a little longer....
This is conjecture based on my HS physics...I would appreciate comments from any of the many engineering experts we have on here...
73, Dave [email protected] Disagree: I learn....
Pulling for P3E...
Well I copied signals that were back scattered from a farm windmill in Texas on 10.368 GHz SSB. Distance was about 30-miles. I believe that the power being used was about 1-5w. I was portable on a 100-foot high hill in the Texas countryside. Direct path did not produce a strong signal.
Ed - KL7UW
At 03:28 PM 11/4/2007, Dave Guimont wrote:
Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce large Blind Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause problems to RF signals.
Effects of Windfarms on Radar http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm
Trevor,
That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a second...HEO's may take a little longer....
This is conjecture based on my HS physics...I would appreciate comments from any of the many engineering experts we have on here...
73, Dave [email protected] Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [email protected] ======================================
--- Dave Guimont [email protected] wrote:
That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a second...HEO's may take a little longer....
It'll all depend on proximity of the receiving station to the turbine.
The Wind Turbines on the Orkneys killed TV reception for the local inhabitants, hence the need to resite the TV transmitters. If high power TV transmitters can't get through them will weak signals from Amateur satellites fare any better ?
Agreed for a LEO the affect may be shortlived but I'd say it would be more than just a second.
73 Trevor M5AKA
___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html
At 16:28 11/4/07 -0800, you wrote:
Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce large Blind Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause problems to RF signals.
Effects of Windfarms on Radar http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm
Trevor,
That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a second...HEO's may take a little longer....
This is conjecture based on my HS physics...I would appreciate comments from any of the many engineering experts we have on here...
73, Dave [email protected]
?????????????????????????????????????????????? WB6LLO,
1. I have to admit I do not understand your term "reflection potential from any satellite". I would greatly appreciate an explanation of this effect and how to calculate its magnitude on a received satellite signal.
2. How do you calculate the "shadow time" (of this QRM?) to be less than a second?
73s de AA1YE
PS: Checking your QRZ entry and your bio reminds me that I learnt to fly "Stringbags" in WW2. But the war ended before we were deployed to a carrier. I should have been older or declared a false age to join.
At 10:26 PM 11/4/2007, you wrote:
At 16:28 11/4/07 -0800, you wrote:
Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce
large Blind
Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause problems to RF signals.
Effects of Windfarms on Radar http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm
Trevor,
That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a second...HEO's may take a little longer....
This is conjecture based on my HS physics...I would appreciate comments from any of the many engineering experts we have on here...
73, Dave [email protected]WB6LLO,
- I have to admit I do not understand your term "reflection potential
from any satellite". I would greatly appreciate an explanation of this effect and how to calculate its magnitude on a received satellite signal.
- How do you calculate the "shadow time" (of this QRM?) to be less than
a second?
73s de AA1YEPS: Checking your QRZ entry and your bio reminds me that I learnt to fly "Stringbags" in WW2. But the war ended before we were deployed to a carrier. I should have been older or declared a false age to join.
Hi John,
Well, I guess I missed the point of the statements made, and ASSUMED one was talking about hamsat xmissions, not higher powered stations...not the first time I've screwed up! My apologies....
I just loved landing on carriers...did it in from 1943 until I retired. ....Landed on a carrier on 31 Jan 1967, as I remember USS ORISKANY, returned to NAS Alameda on 31 Jan and retired on 1 Feb after 24 years .. Every time I see or "hear" a two plane section go over, I get green with envy!!
73, Dave [email protected] Disagree: I learn....
Pulling for P3E...
participants (5)
-
Dave Guimont -
Doug Kuitula -
Edward Cole -
John -
Trevor