This week, we visit a Web site where we listen to an eclectic collection of noise that may be coming out of your radio receiver, too.

Ken Alexander, VE3HLS, created a Web site to assist ham radio operators and shortwave listeners (SWLs) in identifying noise that interferes with radio reception. His VE3HLS RF Noise Page contains samples of noises recorded off the air. Some of the samples are identified, like the electric fence 1/8 of a mile away, while others are mysteries that remain unidentified.

If you encounter unidentified noise in your radio receiver, listen to VE3HLS's RF Noise Page to help identify the culprit.

Ken started his collection with noise he encountered. Later, folks viewing his Web site contributed their own noise samples (a bunch came from Mike Gruber, W1MG, and Ed Hare, W1RFI, at ARRL Headquarters). As a result, Ken's collection now numbers more than 40 noise samples.

The noise samples are Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 audio (MPEG3) files, so to hear them, you will need software installed on your computer that will play MPEG files. Most Windows users already have the necessary software in the form of Windows Media Player. If you don't have such software, you can download a variety of such beasts from a variety of sources for free. In addition to listening to the noise, you can also click on the View Waveform buttons that accompany each noise sample to see what the noise looks like on an oscilloscope.

Ken's noise collection is pretty scary! Noise sources are everywhere and may be coming from completely unexpected places (like a neighbor's treadmill and a local car wash). Seems like we have enough potential trouble without having to worry about BPL, too.

Until next week, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: With two dogs and five cats, Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, finds the noise on 40 meters refreshing. To discuss dogs, cats and Queen-Radio-Nancy, e-mail Stan.

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