[GCARC] HF RFI - 17m Nasties and Portable Radio Recs

[Christopher Wawak]

Just wanted to reply with a little closure:

Thanks for all your suggestions! I dodged a bullet this time, as even
though I am fairly certain I got somewhat close to the noise source (using
the awful AM receiver on my FT3D), the noise disappeared and I haven't seen
it since. My hunch is it was one of those "laser" led projector lights that
shoot snowflake shapes on your house.

I got great suggestions that I'm keeping for next time, and now I can
search for the perfect cheap portable shortwave receiver should the need
arise again.

73,
 Chris

On Sun, Nov 29, 2020 at 6:14 PM Christopher Wawak <chris at wawak.org> wrote:

> TLDR - need a gadget to track down some gnarly noise on 17m. Can you
> recommend a gadget that will help?
>
> The problem:
> Today at my home around 3PM I noticed crazy S9 broadband noise starting
> around 17m all the way up past 15 and on. ( https://imgur.com/a/6VcmFPB )
>
> Not a lot of noise of this type noticeable lower than 17m, with no noise
> at all below 20m. It repeated every 100khz, with S9 at each 100khz peak.
> Anyone else notice a similar mess today?
>
> The facts:
> 1. I picked up the noise on both an IC-7300 and a yaesu FT-857d. The noise
> only shows up when plugged into the only antenna I have up right now. No
> noise when either radio is unplugged.
> 2, I have a ~90 foot unshielded 4 conductor control cable going from my
> shack to the AH-4 remote antenna tuner, which is connected to a "30m
> dipole". I wonder if this is the culprit. I do have shielded 4 conductor
> cable ready to go if necessary.
> 3. A LOT of neighbors put up xmas lights today. I, a slacker, have not.
> 4. I did a full survey of the house, and absolutely no new electronic
> devices were turned on, brought into the house, or otherwise
> 5. I tried walking around inside and outside with my FT-3D HT tuned (on
> AM) to the frequency, and it just picked up static but nothing like the
> noise I was getting. I noticed no difference in the noise no matter where
> it was tuned, which makes me thing it wasn't picking up the noise.
>
> Next steps:
> 1. I plan to do the "turn everything off and see if the noise is still
> there", but that will have to wait until tomorrow. My kids are afraid of
> the dark.
> 2. Once the rain stops tomorrow, I'm going to try replacing the ATU wtih a
> balun, and see if the noise is still there.
> 3. If the noise is still there, I guess it's time to go hunting. If the
> noise goes away, I'll try the shielded cable.
>
> Questions:
> 1. Other than a few SDRs and that FT-3D, I don’t have a portable HF
> receiver - is there something cheap that I can pick up from HRO or Amazon
> that will let me tune up around 17/15m?
> 2. Is there an antenna that's ideal for finding noise while walking
> around? I have a VHF RX loop which I'm not sure will work in this use.
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Chris
>
>

-- 
-- Chris