Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[Mike Waters]

I eliminated the noise from my electric fence charger with a few ferrite
beads slipped over the wire near the charger. They were Amidon FB-73-801
beads. I forget the Fair-Rite part number. It was as good as unplugging it.

If I had uncooperative neighbors, I might just quietly install those beads
myself at the right time and without saying a word to anyone. :-)

When I have line noise, I can usually eliminate it by either yanking on the
pole guys or tapping the pole with a 10-pound hand sledgehammer. Gently!

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 2:04 PM, Ed Stallman  wrote:

> I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy .
>
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Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[Ed Stallman]

Thanks for  all the reply's

From the questions I was ask via e-mail , I'm thinking what I have may 
be power line noise ! The power Co. is scheduled  to repair the pole in 
question but the repair doesn't happen as fast as when the meter stops 
turning .

What has me puzzled, why the noise is strongest on 160

Thanks everyone , Ed N5DG




On 3/12/2016 2:04 PM, Ed Stallman wrote:

Hello Topbanders

I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and 
Destroy


This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a 
HI-Z receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other 
directions are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad 
and SW is somewhat OK.   The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises 
quickly to its peak at 1820 Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 
1880 Khz and slowly drops to nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a 
screen shot of my panadapter for y'all to see, I'll be happy to send 
JPG file off list !
I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z 
uses, this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the 
coax  using the 20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the 
RG6 anyway but thinking of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see 
if the noise is still there . Was going to run the beverage anyway in 
hope of hearing Heard Is .
At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a 
144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but 
gone today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me!


Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my 
K3 I'll move to different locations and see how that works out .


Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's 
that we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see 
the S meter rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band .


I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy .

I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run 
the beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax .


Oh and I also tried a BCB filter ..

Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ?

Thanks Ed N5DG


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Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[donovanf]

Hi Art, 


If its any of your suspected sources you should be able to observe 
spectral shape (signal strength variation vs. frequency) on a 
panadapter or by simply turning the dial on your receiver. 


If its a plasma TV it shouldn't present 24 hours per day, it will follow 
some kind of human life pattern. Computer power supplies, wall 
warts, and battery chargers are common problems too, but they all 
have distinct observable spectral shapes. 


I once had intense RFI from an electric fence a mile away with 
its fence charger stuck ON (not pulsing). It sounded just like AC 
power line RFI except for the peculiar characteristic that it was 
extremely intense on 160 meters and couldn't be heard at all on 
any other ham band. 


Good luck! 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

- Original Message -

From: "Art Snapper" <a...@nk8x.net> 
To: "Ed Stallman" <ed.n...@gmail.com> 
Cc: topband@contesting.com 
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2016 8:24:32 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem 

I am trying to track down a similar issue. Some of it may be the neighbor's 
plasma TV, but I also suspect DSL or Cable TV leakage. I have wandered 
around with an FT-817 with a bcb loopstick antenna. No luck so far. My 
noise has peaks in the 1823-1829 range. And, yes I hear it on both the 4sq 
and the bog in the NE direction. Fortunately it isn't terribly strong. 

GL de NK8X 
ᐧ 

On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 3:04 PM, Ed Stallman <ed.n...@gmail.com> wrote: 

> Hello Topbanders 
> 
> I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and 
> Destroy 
> 
> This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a HI-Z 
> receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other directions 
> are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad and SW is somewhat 
> OK. The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises quickly to its peak at 1820 
> Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 1880 Khz and slowly drops to 
> nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a screen shot of my panadapter for 
> y'all to see, I'll be happy to send JPG file off list ! 
> I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z uses, 
> this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the coax using 
> the 20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the RG6 anyway but 
> thinking of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see if the noise is still 
> there . Was going to run the beverage anyway in hope of hearing Heard Is . 
> At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a 
> 144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but gone 
> today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me! 
> 
> Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my K3 
> I'll move to different locations and see how that works out . 
> 
> Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's 
> that we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see the S 
> meter rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band . 
> 
> I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy . 
> 
> I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run the 
> beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax . 
> 
> Oh and I also tried a BCB filter .. 
> 
> Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ? 
> 
> Thanks Ed N5DG 
> 
> 
> --- 
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. 
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> 
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Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[Art Snapper]

I am trying to track down a similar issue. Some of it may be the neighbor's
plasma TV, but I also suspect DSL or Cable TV leakage. I have wandered
around with an FT-817 with a bcb loopstick antenna. No luck so far. My
noise has peaks in the 1823-1829 range. And, yes I hear it on both the 4sq
and the bog in the NE direction. Fortunately it isn't terribly strong.

GL de NK8X
ᐧ

On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 3:04 PM, Ed Stallman  wrote:

> Hello Topbanders
>
> I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and
> Destroy
>
> This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a HI-Z
> receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other directions
> are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad and SW is somewhat
> OK.   The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises quickly to its peak at 1820
> Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 1880 Khz and slowly drops to
> nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a screen shot of my panadapter for
> y'all to see, I'll be happy to send JPG file off list !
> I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z uses,
> this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the coax  using
> the 20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the RG6 anyway but
> thinking of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see if the noise is still
> there . Was going to run the beverage anyway in hope of hearing Heard Is .
> At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a
> 144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but gone
> today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me!
>
> Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my K3
> I'll move to different locations and see how that works out .
>
> Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's
> that we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see the S
> meter rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band .
>
> I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy .
>
> I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run the
> beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax .
>
> Oh and I also tried a BCB filter ..
>
> Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ?
>
> Thanks Ed N5DG
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
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Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[Lee STRAHAN]

  Greeting top-banders and Ed,
   You could simply disconnect the elements from your Hi-Z amps at each
element. This will tell you if the noise is being generated in the system or
coming in the air.
My guess from experience something some distance from you is following your
power wires. 
Good luck
Lee   K7TJR

Hello Topbanders

I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and Destroy

This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a HI-Z
receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other directions
are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad and 
SW is somewhat OK.   The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises quickly to 
its peak at 1820 Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 1880 Khz and
slowly drops to nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a screen shot of my
panadapter for y'all to see, I'll be happy to send JPG file off list !
I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z uses,
this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the coax  using the
20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the RG6 anyway but thinking
of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see if the noise is still there .
Was going to run the beverage anyway in hope of hearing Heard Is .
At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a
144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but gone
today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me!

Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my K3
I'll move to different locations and see how that works out .

Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's that
we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see the S meter
rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band .

I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy .

I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run the
beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax .

Oh and I also tried a BCB filter ..

Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ?

Thanks Ed N5DG


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Re: Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[donovanf]

Hi Ed, 


Its very suspicious that your RFI peaks right at 1820 kHz. 
Can you hear the RFI on your transmitting antenna? 
Can you hear the RFI on a portable receiver placed immediately 
adjacent to your 4-square elements? 


With your radio set to AM mode, does the RFI sound like 
white noise, with no trace of an AC buzz sound? D oes the RFI 
have any other observable characteristic on your panadapter 
other than the spectral shape you already described? 


As you mentioned, DC and RF are a serious problems if 
water or any other contaminant is present in the connectors 
or any other place where both RF and DC are present. Just to 
be sure, suggest you disconnect the four Hi-Z elements and 
reconnect them one at a time and observe to results on your 
panadapter. 


I had a very similar problem a few months ago that turned 
to be a malfunctioning 10 watt Highway Information 
Service transmitter on 1700 kHz. 


Good luck 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 










- Original Message -

From: "Ed Stallman" <ed.n...@gmail.com> 
To: topband@contesting.com 
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2016 8:04:37 PM 
Subject: Topband: A 160m Noise problem 

Hello Topbanders 

I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and Destroy 

This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a 
HI-Z receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other 
directions are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad and 
SW is somewhat OK. The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises quickly to 
its peak at 1820 Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 1880 Khz and 
slowly drops to nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a screen shot of 
my panadapter for y'all to see, I'll be happy to send JPG file off list ! 
I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z uses, 
this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the coax using 
the 20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the RG6 anyway but 
thinking of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see if the noise is 
still there . Was going to run the beverage anyway in hope of hearing 
Heard Is . 
At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a 
144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but 
gone today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me! 

Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my K3 
I'll move to different locations and see how that works out . 

Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's 
that we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see 
the S meter rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band . 

I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy . 

I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run 
the beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax . 

Oh and I also tried a BCB filter .. 

Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ? 

Thanks Ed N5DG 


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Topband: A 160m Noise problem

[Ed Stallman]

Hello Topbanders

I would like to explain my noise issue to get opinions on search and Destroy

This noise is covering the 160m band only, 80m is good ! I'm using a 
HI-Z receive 4 SQ and the NW direction is as quiet can be . All other 
directions are noisy with the NE being the worst , SE almost as bad and 
SW is somewhat OK.   The noise starts at 1780 Khz and rises quickly to 
its peak at 1820 Khz ! from there the noise levels off to 1880 Khz and 
slowly drops to nothing at 2070 Khz ! Wish I could post a screen shot of 
my panadapter for y'all to see, I'll be happy to send JPG file off list !
I was thinking maybe water in the RG6 and with the Bias T the Hi-Z uses, 
this may be my problem but disconnecting and testing all the coax  using 
the 20meg scale ... all checks good ! I may replace the RG6 anyway but 
thinking of running a beverage at 165 degrees and see if the noise is 
still there . Was going to run the beverage anyway in hope of hearing 
Heard Is .
At first I was thinking power line noise , I checked for noise using a 
144Mhz AM receiver and 3 el yagi . I did find some noise to my NE but 
gone today after the big rain . 160m noise is still with me!


Now I have parts ordered to build a small 160 loop . With that and my K3 
I'll move to different locations and see how that works out .


Yes I have unplugged everything in the house and no switching supply's 
that we leave plugged in . With computers off and using VFO I can see 
the S meter rise and lower sweeping through the 160 band .


I've ask 2 of my neighbors to disconnect their elec fence with no joy .

I have to give my pasture a couple of days to dry out , then I'll run 
the beverage and replace the RG6 on the RX 4 SQ with new flooded coax .


Oh and I also tried a BCB filter ..

Any Ideas what could cause the 160 only noise ?

Thanks Ed N5DG


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