[PCR-1000] RE:Antenna suggestions wanted (Phuzz)

Wed, 2 Oct 2002 13:55:21 +0200

Hi,

going by my own recent experience what you term "noise" is probably to a
large degree the overload that the long wire antenna signal creates in the
PCR-1000 input stage. I myself put up a loop skywire 2 weeks ago which does
wonders to field strenght and I guess even S/N ratio but it overloads the
PCR-1000 at almost all hours of the day and worst on the bands below 25 Mhz.
The basic reason is that the PCR-1000 has a very poor dynamic input range.

Unless your noise is really only noise generated by your PC, power lines and
welding sets etc. you have these possibilities

1. use the -20 dB attenuator on your PCR-1000
2. use a preselector (there are models from MFJ, sometimes you can pick up a
cheap one on eBay)
3. change your antenna e.g. to a magnetic loop which has some designed in /
built in preselection ability (e.g. ALA 330 from Wellbrook in the UK)
4. buy a second receiver with a igher dynamic range (100dB or more) for all
shortwave bands

Can you test whether your "noise" is generated by the PC (e.g. if you usee
TalkPCR to control the PCR1000 you can stop the program and leave the
PCR1000 playing, even after your PC is switched off) ? What happens if you
put your antenna further away from your house ? There si of course still the
possibility that noise (or better RFI) from your PC or house is picked up by
the outer shield of your coax, travels to the point where your coax meets
the antenna, then radiates back into the coax core and your RX. I have the
same problem and I am now installing quad shielded coax as I read on the net
that one guy solved his RFI problem that way.

But as I said, the first thing to check is whether your noise is not simply
receiver overload

regards
Traugott

Today's Topics:

   1. Antenna suggestions wanted (Phuzz)

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Message: 1
From: "Phuzz" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 10:27:25 -0400
Subject: [PCR-1000] Antenna suggestions wanted
Reply-To: [email protected]

Hello all!

   I have finally got around to setting up a not so long longwire
antenna in the backyard of
My house and have got alot better reception (especially in the lower
frequencies) then sticking
the arial the PCR1000 comes with out the bedroom window. The new setup
is fairly simple, a length
of copper magnet wire about 18 feet long running parallel to the top of
the side fence. It is fed
Into the radio with co-ax attached at the end of the antenna closest to
the house. The radio is also
grounded using thick copper wire and a 3' steel pole rammed into the
ground just outside the house.
With the new antenna however, I am getting a lot of noice below 25 Mhz
and its something I would
Like to try and deal it. So I'm coming to this list for suggestions.
First off, should I go for a better
ground? Should the grouding rod be copper and how deep do I really need
to go. I live in a rented
townhouse so any and all antenna creations must be very subtle and
without any major manipulation of
The yard/house/neighbourhood :) Second, what can I do to improve the
noise resistance of the feed line
Into the house? The coax feed is only about 6 feet from antenna to
radio, but Im wondering if its picking
up a lot of the electrical noise from the house. Would it be better to
move the connection to the antenna wire
To the far end of the line, away from the house and run the coax back
from there? Finally, as I stated, I am
Currently using a straight piece of wire attached to ceramic insulators
at each end. My yard however has a fence on three sides, like a 'U'
shape in behind the house. I am currently only running wire down the one
side. Would it be advantagous to make an L or U shaped antenna that
travels around all 3 sections of the fence? The antenna runs about 5
feet of the ground.
Any ideas/suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in
advance'

PS: I am more interested in antenna ideas for below 50 Mhz....

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