Thanks to Eric N2EPE, I recently learned about W4DD’s neat program for radio frequency interference (RFI) mapping named, helpfully, “RFI Mapper.” I emailed him for a copy and got a quick reply with clear instructions. Thanks Jeff! Note that this is a Windows program.
Helpful links to learn more:
– https://www.qrz.com/DB/W4DD
– https://www.gars.org/presentations/2020-02-11 – Locating Power Line and other RF Noise – Jeff Stuparits W4DD.pdf
While testing with my home station, and IC-7300, the only issue I ran into was that the radio would key whenever I ran the program. That makes it hard to measure and creates QRM! The cause was that I have RTS keying set up, probably something to do with Winlink and/or fldigi.
Anyway, here’s how to get to the RTS setting in case you (or me in the future) need to:
- Menu (physical button)
- Set
- Connectors
- USB Send/Keying
- USB Send
- Off (neither RTS nor DTS)
The program covers several models of radio, but the IC-7300 is the only one I have a cable for at the moment. This type of thing is intriguing from a “how many ways are there to do this” perspective, which gets my gears turning. For example, KA7OEI did a similar project back in 2001: http://www.ka7oei.com/ft817_rptmon.html (and props to Clint for keeping a website up these last 23 years!). Could we do it with an SBC or an Arduino? Could we do it with a QMX? Sounds like fun…