[Elecraft] KX3 & Chasing local HF noise sources

[K8JHR]

K9YC raises an important issue.  I love my OCF dipole, but only because 
I was very careful in how it went up.

My friend in Germany is making a serious study of common mode noise on 
OCF dipoles, and from his work I know you must bring the transmission 
line away at a 90 degree angle, and use a good 4:1 balun with common 
mode choke, or the OFC Dipole can be an inherently noisy thing - in 
fact, causing its own noise!

I have a very quiet OCF dipole, but I was extremely particular in how I 
assembled and hung it, with a good balun-common mode choke, and making 
sure I did not have have a problematic length of transmission line, etc. 
    Great antenna, I use it as net control of a nationwide net, but you 
must be careful in how you build it.  If the coax comes near the 
elements, even just a little, it can become problematic - affecting SWR 
if not causing audible RFI.

Even if you put up resonant half wave dipoles, follow Jim's advice and 
use a common mode choke.  Some guys put chokes at both ends of the 
transmission line - at feed point and near the shack - and I know of no 
negative or down side from doing that.

In addition to what Jim refers you to, in general, see:

www.dj0ip.de

and in particular see:

http://www.dj0ip.de/off-center-fed-dipole/what-s-wrong-ocfd/

which is all in English, and the author makes the case that many times 
the 4:1 balun is poorly constructed or improperly wound to minimize 
noise and effectuate the proper transformation.   And he uses 2 OCF 
dipoles, himself, so it can be done with good results.   It seems that 
some things called a "balun" are transformers and other things called a 
"balun" are common mode chokes, and sometimes you need both functions, 
and how yours is made matters.  So, read Jim's article, and the other 
references herein, and maybe check out  W8JI's personal web site, for 
good information on this.

Just MY take.


===============  K8JHR  ================================



On 5/2/2014 1:09 AM, Jim Brown wrote:

 > First, dump the off-center-fed "dipole" -- it's inherently noisy. Put up
 > some resonant dipoles (or even fan dipoles) and put a ferrite common
 > mode choke at the feedpoint of each dipole. Study k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf
 > for lots of detailed advice on RFI issues, and how to wind common mode
 > chokes.
 >
 > ________________________________________________________