[OKDXA] Radios and noise

[John Geiger]

I know if you buy a more expensive radio, you get a receiver that (usually)
has better dynamic range and handles QRM conditions better, generating less
IMD products and blocking when the band gets full of signals.  Does the
same hold true for QRN and electrical crud?  I know that some radios have
more tools than others, like noise reduction, notch filters, stuff like
that.  Do more expensive receivers get less affected by RFI and other junk,
and by atmospheric noise?

Here is my situation:  I was having some bad powerline noise from a pole
close to my house. The noise blanker in the radio I have took out the buzz,
but I am seeing a S6 noise level on 40m SSB and on 20m SSB sometimes.  I
figured some of that came from the line noise, so I didn't think about
doing much until the line noise was fixed first.  Well the power company
came and fixed it today. The buzzing is gone!  The noise level still is
there, though.  I am using a Yaesu FT100D which has a great noise blanker,
and does have AF DSP, but it is a cheap, mobile type HF/VHF/UHF radio.  On
40 meter SSB I see a S5 or S6 noise level when on SSB, and that is with the
preamp off.  On CW it is much less because I put the 500hz CW filter in
line.  20 meters is sometimes the same, but sometimes on SSB the noise is
much lower, which I think is probably from urban crud. I live in an older
neighborhood where the houses are maybe 8 feet apart, if that much. I am
sure many neighbors have switching power supplies in all sorts of
electronics.

So, is this 40 meter noise level pretty typical for most people?  Would a
more expensive radio like a Kenwood TS590 (which is supposed to have a
great receiver), Yaesu FTDX1200 or Icom 7200 be less affected by these
types of noises?  I can't afford much more than that right now,and would
like something that is fairly small enough to still take mobile or portable
from time to time.  I did try a yaesu FT891 which is a mobile sized radio
and it was maybe very slightly better, but not really noticable.  A Ten Tec
Eagle would also be small enough.

Is this one of the compromises you have to live with when you get a smaller
radio?

73 John AF5CC