[Boatanchors] =The_SSSOBs_Inspire_Me_Again?

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi Glen,

I wasn't going to mention this - not the first time I have taken a pass. 
It's hard for people to hear that their kilobuck receiver has feet of 
clay and so do their 'operating practices'. One solid state receiver 
here has a built in step attenuator AND can disable the AGC. Another has 
the manual rf gain that controls the IF block. The front end of that 
receiver (Atlas 180) has no rf amp and does have a high level, double 
balanced diode ring mixer. Just as you have mentioned - reducing the 
signals coming through the radios magically cleans up the other guy's 
transmitter! Ahem...some of them are beyond help.

It seems counterintuitive to insert more attenuation or reduce the rf 
gain and have very weak signals suddenly become detectable. But how 
would anybody ever know that if their radio won't even allow it?

73,

Bill  KU8H


On 04/26/2016 10:37 AM, Glen Zook via Boatanchors wrote:
> Unfortunately, many solid-state receivers overload with strong signals and the received signals appear to be considerably wider than they really are.  This is true of SSB signals as well as AM signals.
>
> The way to see if the received signal is really that wide is to turn off the AGC/AVC, turn off the noise blanker, set the volume control a little bit higher than normal, and then use the r.f. gain as a volume control.  Suddenly, the "dirty" signal cleans up and the interference, wide signal characteristics, etc., disappear!
>
> Frankly, well over 95% of perceived interference is generated in one's receiver and not in the "offending" transmitter.  Most tube-type receivers are not easily overloaded and most solid-state receivers are easily overloaded.
>
> The majority of today's amateur radio operators are NOT familiar with how to use their receivers and, basically, run everything "wide open" which, unfortunately, causes all sorts of problems within the receiver.  Because of this, they complain about the quality of the transmitting station when the problem is actually within their receiver!
>   Glen, K9STH
>   Website: http://k9sth.net
>
>