UPDATE ON INTERFERENCE
Just like in all things,
You think you found the culprit, then everything changes again.
Yes, I did locate the interference from the neighbors underground electrical drop at the pole behind our houses out by the alley.
But three days ago it stopped!
The only things that have changed, is the fact that I took off the long ground cable for my radio off of the Mast's ground rod. But I tried that several times before a month ago & made no difference.
The only other thing that has changed for the last 3 days, is the fact that the woman next door has finally turned off her bug zapper that she has been running night & day. I noticed three days ago that this AC crackling hum had completely stopped.
So the night before last, I looked through her garage window, and the bug zapper was off. Yes, she was running it 24/7 even in the winter, inside her garage. Talk about brains.
Well, all I know, is that the crackling hum is totally gone. I am now leaning to the reason of the noise was due to her bug zapper feeding back EMF out to the pole and through all of her electrical circuits.
It's off now, and there is no noise for the last 3 days and nights.
I've never dismissed the bug zapper because it has never been turned off until now. Now it's off, & the noise is gone.
I still called the electrical company to come out & check the pole anyways.
I will be standing by to keep you updated.
I am not looking forward in her turning it back on. Maybe I'll get lucky & she won't do it until springtime comes.
All I know is that I have never gone this long without this AC interference. I'm convinced my antenna was picking it up. Right now, DX'ing has never been so good!
J.