Re: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH
I also have an issue with noise on top band. In my case, it's crud from a local AM BCB, KEES 1430. Took forever to figure it out, but when it starts, I put my 160m top band receiver in AM mode and can hear faint modulation. With my HiZ 4square, ( you know, the one that's not supposed to work since the 4 verticals are on opposite sides of my house? ) I can clearly tell it comes from the SW direction, and it only appears when KEES goes QRO at sunrise. Switch to NW, it goes away; ditto NE, SE..and, of course, I NEED to look SW at s/r for skew path new ones !!! By looking at the panadapter on my flex 6500, I can see KEES; they're not even THAT strong, (around -40 dbm) but the crud is definitely there, only down about 30 db from the main signal. It takes multiple phone calls, emails, mean facebook posts, and text messages to KEES and the FCC to get anything done about it. Same thing happened couple years ago... 73 good luck, W5XZ, dan, Longview, Texas On Saturday, November 8, 2014 4:33 PM, Agelos-SV3RF via Topband topband@contesting.com wrote: ps...It seems no links allowed. Anyway I found the radio under 3 different brand names. FUJION F-2000A, ROYAL GUIDE RG-705, and, AQUAGUIDE-705. This belongs to my previus post. 73' s de SV3RF Agelos From: Goldtr8 (KD8NNU) gold...@charter.net To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Saturday, November 8, 2014 7:33 PM Subject: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH Dear Topband Group, I need to make a noise finding antenna that I can take in my vehicle to look for a source of noise on 160m and 80m bands. My google searches have not yielded much information on something I can use on these bands or what I found was not clear to me on how to make one. My plan would be to make something and then use my mobile setup to drive and try to find the source. Please any recommendations will be highly welcome. What I do believe is that its something that gets turned on in the night hours as its not there during the day and there are times at night when it goes away. Thank in advance for your help. Cheers Don ~73 Don KD8NNU 2014 3905CC Top Gun :-) -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..- _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH
Well I made some progress tonight on the way home. I used my mobile rig with hamsticks to listen while driving on the way home from work. I tuned to 3.902 which is a very strong frequency that gets trashed at the home QTH and used a 40m hamstick as the receiving antenna. The idea for this setup was to be able to attenuate the signal as I got closer to it. Anyway while driving home with the pre-amp on the IC-7000 when suddenly the noise was present and strong less than 1 mile from my house.I drove around until it got real loud and turned the pre-amp off and it went away. I then drove around with the pre-amp on until it was at about an s7 on the meter then turned the preamp off as I was close and then drove around until there was about 1 s-unit showing on the meter. I could hear the noise with the pre-amp off when close and the s meter small reading confirmed that I was real close. The noise is clearly in one subdivision close to my house but I can not tell what is the source at this time. I also know the noise does not show up on the AM radio in the car although bad power poles do show up. So to me major progress has been made, now I need to identify where in the subdivision or maybe what house this trash is coming from. Next short term step is to listen to the links several folks have sent to me to see if any of them match what I am hearing so I know what I am looking for. I will keep the list updated as I learn more about the problem. Cheers and thanks for the tips so far. Don ~73 Don KD8NNU 2014 3905CC Top Gun :-) -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..- -Original Message- From: Jim Brown Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2014 3:22 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH On Sat,11/8/2014 9:33 AM, Goldtr8 (KD8NNU) wrote: I need to make a noise finding antenna that I can take in my vehicle to look for a source of noise on 160m and 80m bands. Several useful tools. 1) Tecsun PL380 -- a nice AM/FM/Shortwave portable, DSP IF, has built-in loopstick antenna. About $45. 2) A ham talkie that has wideband RX. My Kenwood TH-F6A does that and has a built-in loopstick antenna. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: JT65 to EU?
I'm about half way to DXCC on 160 and looking for any way to move the needle. Most of my EU 160 has been CW but I've been wondering if any have had luck using WSJT modes either JT65 or JT9. If so is the 1838 segment where this occurs or do EU DX call in the DX window? 73 jim ab3cv _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH
Be careful. It could be grow lights from an illegal pot operation. On Nov 10, 2014, at 6:41 PM, Goldtr8 (KD8NNU) gold...@charter.net wrote: Well I made some progress tonight on the way home. I used my mobile rig with hamsticks to listen while driving on the way home from work. I tuned to 3.902 which is a very strong frequency that gets trashed at the home QTH and used a 40m hamstick as the receiving antenna. The idea for this setup was to be able to attenuate the signal as I got closer to it. Anyway while driving home with the pre-amp on the IC-7000 when suddenly the noise was present and strong less than 1 mile from my house.I drove around until it got real loud and turned the pre-amp off and it went away. I then drove around with the pre-amp on until it was at about an s7 on the meter then turned the preamp off as I was close and then drove around until there was about 1 s-unit showing on the meter. I could hear the noise with the pre-amp off when close and the s meter small reading confirmed that I was real close. The noise is clearly in one subdivision close to my house but I can not tell what is the source at this time. I also know the noise does not show up on the AM radio in the car although bad power poles do show up. So to me major progress has been made, now I need to identify where in the subdivision or maybe what house this trash is coming from. Next short term step is to listen to the links several folks have sent to me to see if any of them match what I am hearing so I know what I am looking for. I will keep the list updated as I learn more about the problem. Cheers and thanks for the tips so far. Don ~73 Don KD8NNU 2014 3905CC Top Gun :-) -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..- -Original Message- From: Jim Brown Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2014 3:22 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: New RF interference killing RX at my QTH On Sat,11/8/2014 9:33 AM, Goldtr8 (KD8NNU) wrote: I need to make a noise finding antenna that I can take in my vehicle to look for a source of noise on 160m and 80m bands. Several useful tools. 1) Tecsun PL380 -- a nice AM/FM/Shortwave portable, DSP IF, has built-in loopstick antenna. About $45. 2) A ham talkie that has wideband RX. My Kenwood TH-F6A does that and has a built-in loopstick antenna. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: JT65 to EU?
Yes Jim, there is plenty of JT65a activity on Top Band at 1.838. I've worked 24 DXCC and completed 160m WAS JT65. VK6 has been fairly active in the mornings this season even with the generally poor conditions so far this year. JT9 guys usually hang out on 1.839 so don't be shy about getting on and calling CQ. Take advantage of the gray line propagation each day and soon the DX will start adding up. Good luck, CU on Top. 73 Jeff W7JW -Original Message- From: Jim Miller Sent: Monday, November 10, 2014 9:12 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: JT65 to EU? I'm about half way to DXCC on 160 and looking for any way to move the needle. Most of my EU 160 has been CW but I've been wondering if any have had luck using WSJT modes either JT65 or JT9. If so is the 1838 segment where this occurs or do EU DX call in the DX window? 73 jim ab3cv _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Balun or no balun
I have put up a 160 meter horizontal loop fed with 30 feet of 450 ohm feed line to my tuner. I have a Radioworks 4 to 1 balun. I am considering splicing into the feed line at 10 feet so I can run 20 feet of coax into the shack. Thoughts? I run a qrp plus on 160. Kirk W3AW Illinois _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: FW: Balun or no balun
That loop might do better for DX if you fed it 1/2 way up one end. 73, Charlie, K4OTV -Original Message- From: Charlie Cunningham [mailto:charlie-cunning...@nc.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 12:54 AM To: 'W3AW' Subject: RE: Topband: Balun or no balun Why the 30' of ladder line? Why not just run coax to the loop and put a 1:1 current balun at the feed point. A bit of VSWR on the coax wouldn't produce any significant loss in 50' of coax at 160m! Of course, if you want to use a balanced line tuner , that's another matter. 73, Charlie, K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of W3AW via Topband Sent: Monday, November 10, 2014 11:47 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Balun or no balun I have put up a 160 meter horizontal loop fed with 30 feet of 450 ohm feed line to my tuner. I have a Radioworks 4 to 1 balun. I am considering splicing into the feed line at 10 feet so I can run 20 feet of coax into the shack. Thoughts? I run a qrp plus on 160. Kirk W3AW Illinois _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
