[Lowfer] MP Tonite and Last Month

[Michael Sapp]

John wrote....

>That depends.  I notice that the Argo sensitivity setting is different 
>between the two.  That would account for some of the difference.  Also, 
>while Argo's visual AGC was turned off, was that also true of the receiver? 
>If not, an increase in background noise level would make the later signal 
>level read lower than it actually is.Yes, I always run the radio AGC off. Usually the radio noise blanker is "on" exceptwhen it is very quiet (not very often).  I'm still "fiddling" with ARGO settingsto find the "sweet spot" so unfortuneatly the visual levels are not identical. Those were also different ARGO versions so it is an "apple to orange" comparison.  Last week I ran a test with MP in mid day with a step attenuator between the converterand receiver. I was able to dial in 30dB of attenuation before Mitch's signal was in and out of the background noise. That gave me a way to toy around with ARGO's visual levelsto get a better intuitive feel as to how it responds.  Of course, those visual settingswith the attenautor in line at 30dB were useless at night when going to 0 dB attenuationand having a different background noise level.I do check the DC loop resistances of my antenna-transformers-feedlines combinations every day. I know the baseline DC ohms numbers and apply "sealing current" occassionally when I see the resistance change by more thana few tenths. I keep all the antenna-transformers-feed line connections clean and treated with liquid silicone protectant (thin layer, no excess). Minimizing the light oxidation that can occur on connector interfaces helpskeep intermod signals at bay as I have a high level AM BCB environment...I just have the intuitive perception that either the noise or ground attenuation or some combination thereof is upabout 10dB on 136~137 kHz at my location lately.  Likely a few more years of experience is needed for me to betterunderstand the nature of the 2200m band...73, Mike wa3tts