Windfarm Developers: Amateur Operators Can Use 'Alternative Frequencies'.

[K0RGR]

As far as I have been able to determine, the blades are largely fiberglass or fiberglass composite. I do not know if the carbon fiber used in parts of the blade could have any radio reflection/absorption properties, but the fiberglass would not. Older windmill blades were aluminum, and some use aluminum in the structure. I still can't see anything more than a neglible effect unless the windmill is extremely close, and over here, they usually aren't built that close to residences. The machine simply doesn't occupy enough space to be that great a disturbance, even if the blades were made of metal.

Our Air Force put a moratorium on wind turbine construction out of fear that they could interfere with our defense radar, but that seems to have evaporated. WInd turbines are becoming a cause celebre for NIMBYs and conspiracy theorists everywhere. Perhaps you'd rather have an oil refinery or a coal burning power plant upwind of you?

[AJ0EB]

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/windfarm.htm

This may be of interest as it shows that the blades have an effect on Doppler radar.

[N6SXR]

As far as I have been able to determine, the blades are largely fiberglass or fiberglass composite. I do not know if the carbon fiber used in parts of the blade could have any radio reflection/absorption properties, but the fiberglass would not. Older windmill blades were aluminum, and some use aluminum in the structure. I still can't see anything more than a neglible effect unless the windmill is extremely close, and over here, they usually aren't built that close to residences. The machine simply doesn't occupy enough space to be that great a disturbance, even if the blades were made of metal.

Our Air Force put a moratorium on wind turbine construction out of fear that they could interfere with our defense radar, but that seems to have evaporated. WInd turbines are becoming a cause celebre for NIMBYs and conspiracy theorists everywhere. Perhaps you'd rather have an oil refinery or a coal burning power plant upwind of you?

At least the coal plant will be putting out consistent power. I live off grid and it is NOT all it is cracked up to be. I do like it but I live in N. Idaho and during the winter I burn a lot of propane in my genny to keep the systems running. During the summer I burn off power. I know, shut down the radio but that isn't going to happen. I DID get rid of the satellite TV as it is a brain drain. Point is, the wind farms are only good when the wind blows and they exist mostly for the Obama tax credits. Right now there is NO alternative to the BTU equivalent of oil based fuels. And peak oil is a scam.

[KE7VZW]

time to install tons of 0-EPZ mini-nuke plants everywhere and get rid of these polluting monstrosities. I had no idea how much radio pollution they caused, but i guess I'm not surprised given that it's an army of gigantor coils and magnets whirling about in the sky. Worse still, their effect on avian species. I digress. The "solution" for amateur radio operators is no surprise as written either.

[KA1BSZ]

well then don't use uhf or vhf or just don't aim your antenna toward the wind mill!

[K2WH]

I think we are not using the proper wording in your description of "Interference". Interference normally when applied to radio signals is about an object that is radiating a signal (RF). Windfarms do not or at least are not supposed to emit any signal(s). Perhaps you are talking about structural or optical line of sight interference.

If so, you ever try to operate in the center of Manhattan NY? Perhaps a solution is to request the windfarm owners, permission to use their 300' towers for repeaters.

K2WH

[AE5YF]

The interference they cause is the same as a MRI scanner in sort off. It is electrical and magnetical in origin. Those windmill parks a just a single tower is actually the same as your DYNAMO or ALTERNATOR in your car but only much bigger. If you hafe a rig installed in your car you know what I mean with the noise interference it causes. The Electrical Companies know this is a certainty and thry to bully the HAM Radio Operators out buy taking a firm stand. They simply take a bold standpoint and know that if we will file an action Class suit they have bigger pockets and the politicians in their as well. If it ever reaches a courtroom the judge will tell us guy's it is for the greater good and the majority rules. Thats quite simple it has been this way all the time and it is not going to change anytime soon...

If we stand on our stripes a file a court case, the consumers such as we included are going to be paying for the suit and eventueally pay more as per KWH that we use. Those HAM's with those big amplifiers do you actually realize how much electricity use use when you transmit for an hour at approx 1 to 1.5KW ? Make the calculation and it will knock your socks off so we better try something thats not going to hurt us in the long run. I know it, now you know it, and believe they knew it all the time before they released that statement. RWE is German, the are cocky and arrogant enough to push it through our troaths.

And no I do not work for an Electric Co. never did and never will I'm currently retired, but know of the Wind Energy Farms because I live in two parts of the world in Texas and Europe, Belgium.

[KK4KCU]

If we stand on our stripes a file a court case, the consumers such as we included are going to be paying for the suit and eventueally pay more as per KWH that we use. Those HAM's with those big amplifiers do you actually realize how much electricity use use when you transmit for an hour at approx 1 to 1.5KW ? Make the calculation and it will knock your socks off so we better try something thats not going to hurt us in the long run. I know it, now you know it, and believe they knew it all the time before they released that statement. RWE is German, the are cocky and arrogant enough to push it through our troaths.

About $0.12USD per hour of use around here (and we are in the middle of Florida Summer). Not that bad when you think that in an hour there probably not going to be talking all the time maybe 20-30 min and the most hardcore person could only use it say 14 hours a day so a total of 7-10.5kw/h max (average person much lower). Shoot all the computers I have use WAY more than that 2-5kw/h and there on almost all the time.

Fun Fact: The average hairdryer uses about 2kw/h. And a 3 ton AC unit uses just less than 3kw/h

[K0LGI]

There is plenty of information about this subject in the U.S. by the National Weather Service via this link:

http://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E...&commit=Search

K0LGI

[W5TTW]

These ugly turbines...

Those "ugly" towers are vital for emergency service. When all else fails, there's always the wind.