[ETO_Alpha] Birds from Alpha 87a

[Sante - IK0HBN]

Hi there, 11 years ago I wrote what now I report below. Since then, 
problem was never resolved.
  Due to the lack of sunspots, on 10 meter was not a really trouble 
during the past decade, but NOW, that even 10 meter band begins - at 
last - to open, the bird I continue to listen at 14008.5 and 28017 
(2nd armonic, I presume), has become  quite inacceptable...
May I hope to see these birds resolved? I am almost a CW only 
Operator, so the frequencies involved are very often used by 
Dx-expedition, so my hope it's that things seem to be more stable at 
Alpha to have chances to be listened...
Thanks
Sante, IK0HBN
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On 26 April 2000 I wrote:
"Hi,
this is the preface:
till yesterday I got a IC765 and it had been the radio which saw my 
Alpha 87a coming home in far 1994. I have always been plagued 
by  strong birdies at 28017 KHZ and less at 14008.5 KHZ. I always 
thought they were some spurious from CPU or PLL of my 765. They were 
strong enough, that if they didn't move much the needle of S-meter, 
surely they prevented me using those frequency...-((

Today, or better yesterday: Finally I changed radio. My choice has 
fallen upon an FT1000MP that reflectors says going very well, 
specially with Inrad filters..
I spent all the weekend re-routing cables and at last the station was 
fired up. On the bands heavy traffic for SS from States, so I decided 
to see if any Py's came here on 10 meters bands...
Surprise, bitter surprise: the 28017 birdies was there, even stronger 
than I could remember with IC 765.

My 2 cents thought was:" I could admit with one radio, but with 
another of different brand is quite strange. At first I thought at 
some qrn from any electric stuff at home, so I became disconnecting 
everything from main power...Refrigerator, fax, TV set (for that my 5 
years old child cried 2 minutes....it's time of cartoons..hi), but 
nothing of nothing.....the birdies (I had also found the 14008.5 one) 
were there.....
Even if only shack were powered at home, I could easily excluding 
neirbors as they are far 300 meters from here...(that was also one 
reason made me choicing this house...hi).
After a more distant research, I became disconnecting stuffs inside 
my room...power supply, monitor, computer, antennas selectors, 
tnc...and Alpha 87.....
MY God !!! As soon as I unplugged the amplifier, the birdies came 
away. The most astonishing thing is that the amplifier does the 
birdies even if it's switched off, with only the zip cord plugged.
Of course as something remain powered....(as 87a's permits also fire 
up tru a RS232 link) that had made me crazy for half an afternoon, 
and worse let me discouraged about the fixing....
Any idea?
Thank you.....
ps. I note that the birdies come into radio tru the cable which links 
RF from radio to 87a and they starts as soon as the Alpha 87's main 
power plug is in the outlet, even if the amplifier is yet switched off.
Of course I tried also changing outlets but no changes....nor minimum....
73's Sante
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Glenn, above my message. The replies were several and about the 25% 
of Alpha customers did have that problem. I guess for the lucky 75% 
they got a more fresh version of amplifier.
Only one reply was very bad: one guy who worked for Alpha several 
years ago and he said that no way to fix the problem as Dick wanted 
spare money keeping things cheap....eg not insulating digital from 
analogical parts in the 87a. His suggest was to change amplifier and 
get another brand..-(((((((((

Thanks again for your attention and please keep good job high.
73's Sante
ik0hbn at libero.it"