[OKDXA] Radios and noise

Tue Jan 24 10:43:17 EST 2017

Hi Coy,

I am using a dipole somewhat similar to a G5RV on the lower bands, and a
TGM Communications Miniquad on 20 and above.

73 John AF5CC

On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 at 3:11 PM, Coy Day <n5ok at arrl.net> wrote:

> John,
>
> I still haven't seen what kind of antenna you are using.  Verticals are
> inherently noisier than horizontal dipoles.  Noise for the most part is
> vertically polarized.
>
> Coy
> --
> Coy Day, N5OK
> 20685 SW 29
> Union City, OK 73090
> 405-483-5632
>
>
>
>
> John Geiger wrote:
> > Hi Kim,
> >
> > I will try that, thanks for the suggestion.
> >
> > 73 John AF5CC
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 23, 2017 at 8:12 PM, Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> A new radio is unlikely to effectively deal with the noise you hear.
> >> There
> >> could be many sources: it could be a plethora of small switch-mode power
> >> supplies (SMPS) in your own home. If you can manage it, kill power at
> >> your
> >> house at the main breaker and see if the noise decreases. If it does,
> >> you
> >> can then look for the various possible sources.
> >>
> >> You didn't mention the antenna you use, but I know that on 40 m, I often
> >> see noise levels like what you describe on my 2 el yagi up ~50 ft when
> >> the
> >> band is open. You'll likely see variations between day and night. Here's
> >> a
> >> quick way to determine if your RF environment is quiet (little man-made
> >> noise): record your daytime noise level on a low band (80 or 160 m),
> >> then
> >> do the same at night (ou don't need a resonant antenna for this check).
> >> If
> >> you hear more noise at night than in the day, you're in a quiet place.
> >> Why
> >> does this work?  Sferics from lightning will propagate at night but be
> >> absorbed in the daytime. If you can hear them at night based on an
> >> increased noise level, you're in a pretty good place.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >>
> >> Kim N5OP
> >>
> >>
> >> On 1/23/2017 7:07 PM, John Geiger wrote:
> >>
> >>> 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
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>> OKDXA mailing list
> >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>> Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
> >>>
> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>>
> >>>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Kim Elmore, Ph.D. (Adj. Assoc. Prof., OU School of Meteorology, CCM, PP
> >> SEL/MEL/Glider, N5OP, 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, GROL)
> >>
> >> /"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in
> >> practice, there is." //â€“ Attributed to many people; itâ€™s so true
> >> that it
> >> doesnâ€™t matter who said it./
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> OKDXA mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > OKDXA mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> OKDXA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>