Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Regular Updates Moved to Social Media

Regular updates on the work we're doing has moved to social media:

Twitter: @alberta_hum (https://twitter.com/alberta_hum)

Facebook: Alberta Hum (https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaHum)

We will occasionally use this blog to share information and will maintain this site for the chronological record of our work and recordings. Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more regular information.

Thank you.


Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Man says he's a divining rod for mysterious Alberta hum

The Hum search in #Edmonton and #Calgary is in the news. Thank you to Colleen Underwood of CBC News for researching and writing the article. Be sure to check it out, particularly if you'd like to hear a recording of the #hum.  Click here for the CBC article.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-mystery-hum-1.4942943 >

Monday, March 5, 2018

City council members in Calgary and Edmonton, 2018

People who are hearing a Hum that they cannot explain should be letting their city council members know.  These men and women can only act on your behalf if they know the problems you are experiencing.

To be in touch with your council member in Calgary (2018), have a look at the following site:
http://www.calgary.ca/CityCouncil/Pages/Councillors-and-Wards.aspx

Edmonton city council members (2018) are listed on this site:
https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_organization/city-councillors.aspx

Working proactively with city administrations are one of the important steps to helping resolve the hum issue that's being noticed in the two cities.

Should we include anyone else?  Please let us know in the comments below.

An Edmonton Hum story that may have a happy ending


Hum news out of Edmonton to share. A story that might have a happy ending for some residents in the city: 

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/heres-what-the-hum-in-mill-woods-sounds-like-is-this-what-youre-hearing

New Updates posted to Facebook Page: Alberta Hum and Twitter: @mysterious_hum

People who are interested in staying current with us, please follow and like us on Facebook: Alberta Hum and follow us on Twitter: @mysterious_hum

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Tools for Analysis - one person's experience

A person posted on Home Improvement Stack Exchange the steps they took to identify a hum that was bothering them in their home.  There are some good takeaways for people looking to do something similar at their places.
----- from https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/77804/annoying-vibration-deep-humming-noise-in-home -----
I am experiencing noise and vibration in my home.
I purchased a seismometer (infiltec) that shows there is vibration (below 20 hz). The software allows fast fourier transform giving frequency signature. This tool has limitations in that it is not calibrated and it only detects vibration below 20hz. We humans can feel vibration up to 80 hz ... I haven't identified any low cost tools with which to do that. The Instantel blastmate would do it but it costs on the order of $10k as near as I can determine.
I purchased an infrasonic monitor (infiltec) that measures infrasonic (below 25 hz) noise. The same software is used as with the seismometer.
I purchased a (Tascam) recorder. It has microphones that record noise with a flat response to 20 hz. It also captures noise at frequencies below 20 hz but I don't know where it cuts off.
I purchased (Virtins) software pro version ... it includes a Spectrum Analyzer and an Oscilloscope with bandpass function, all of it on your computer. The software can be used to analyze the WAV file recorded on the recorder.
I purchased two (Behringer) measurement microphones. I mounted the microphones on construction tripods (high enough to avoid ground plane effects) and set them on a 5 meter baseline in my backyard. I connected the microphones to the recorder. I pointed the microphones at a suspected source and made a recording when the vibration was present. 
I was able to spectrum analyze the recording to find the peak frequency. I used a bandpass filter function to isolate the peak frequency. I was able to use the oscilloscope to measure the time difference where the sine wave crossed the axis for each microphone. I was able to determine a direction using the time difference. A second recording at a different location allowed me to triangulate on the source.
The source is machinery at a house being used as a greenhouse to grow marijuana. Unfortunately its licensed under Health Canada MMAR regulations. 
MMAR rules were revoked in March 2014. Unfortunately the MMAR crowd appealed in court and won an injunction until the case is decided. The judge heard final arguements 1 May 2015 and reserved his decision. Thats now 10 months ago ...
Its a real problem because the municipality I live in won't enforce its bylaws. There is no point in going to court ... because the MMAR case judge could make a decision tomorrow.
We now have a government that wants to legalize marijuana and a crowd of people that want to grow their own ...
But there you go ... the vibration is caused by infrasonic and low frequency noise ... noise you likely can't hear. In my case its caused by machinery at a distance over 30 meters away. It could be a faulty bearing. It could be the house acts as a giant speaker due to vibration in the grow op. It could be too much air being forced out of too small openings. etc.
I'd bet similar results would be found for people complaining of smart meters ... where in fact its more likely someones heat pump.
Scotland Government has a good report on Low Frequency Noise. It was produced by Casella 2001 for Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Cost of tools ROM $2000 CAD.

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Do you hear what I hear? The Hum, the Hum . . .

Edmonton and area was anything but quiet according to reports from those who notice the Hum.  The source, or sources, of the Hum causing a low-frequency sound and vibration seemed to have been turned up for the Christmas break.  People noticed the Hum being louder than it had been previously, and other people reported feeling a more intense, non-stop vibration accompanying the Hum.

Perhaps co-incidentally, Epcor and Telus have been doing line upgrading in some of the Edmonton neighbourhoods where this increase in Hum activity has been noticed.

We would like to hear from any Edmontonians - and Albertans - who noticed the Hum being more noticeable these past few weeks.  Please let us know where you are located, and what you're hearing.

Thank you and all the best for a Happy New Year.