Posted: 1/11/2016 9:25:09 AM EDT
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Got a new Yaesu FT-857D.
A new MFJ-971 manual tuner And a RigExpert AA-170 antenna analyzer. First thing I did was throw an 84 foot random wire into a 35 foot tree in the back yard. Noise floor was horrendous and I only got a few stations (only listening for now) Next day I whipped up a 20 meter dipole stuck to my fence about 6 feet high. Again, noise floor was bad and the only thing I could get a was a net run out of California. I could hear the net control clearly but the check ins were barely above the noise floor. I'm using a basic center insulator for my dipole http://www.amazon.com/Center-Insulator-making-Dipole-Antennas/dp/B00G06DXXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452516113&sr=8-1&keywords=dipole+center+insulator Would a balun help? I built a dipole using this for the 11 meter CB band this summer and was getting amazing results with an old Cobra sideband radio. I was listening to guys in Alaska, New Zealand, Japan and several states around the US. so I would think I should be able to play radio here. I eventually want to build a hex beam but not sure about how high I can mount it. I've got power lines on the south side of the property, they shouldn't be a problem but I've got the drop line to my shop only 32 feet from the best place for any kind of tower. http://www.hex-beam.com/ I also want to try building a 40/80 Meter Inverted V dipole to cover bands the hex beam won't but I need to figure out how to test the coil with my RigExpert. The only thing I know how to do with it now is check SWR. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgIbWafVnSc |
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These are to be done in no particular order:
Unplug all consumer electronic devices. Those switching power supplies can wreck havoc on HF bands. Don't overlook aquarium heaters. Other sources are any appliances with electronic controls; Ranges, washer/dryers, water heaters, heat pumps, furnaces. Trip the breakers on these to try to find the guilty party(s). If that fails, walk around with a portable radio and try to isolate external sources. If it turns out to be the power line, let the utility know. Noise is caused by corona discharges and arcing, which burns up power and lowers their profit margin. Is the noise continuous or only on at certain times? Got any hippy/FSA scumbags nearby? Grow lights, especially cheap ones, can be a big problem These are starting points. Others will chime in with more suggestions. |
| To rule electronic interference I put my FT-817 on the antenna (battery operated) and pulled the main breaker in the house, noise remained at S7 to S9. It's probably just the current atmospheric noise level. I will say this, the Bhi DSP is a miracle device when it comes to noise. |
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Quoted: To rule electronic interference I put my FT-817 on the antenna (battery operated) and pulled the main breaker in the house, noise remained at S7 to S9. It's probably just the current atmospheric noise level. I will say this, the Bhi DSP is a miracle device when it comes to noise. I ran the same experiment and got the same results. :-/ |
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I took an old hand held CB around the house and found a walwart for my netbook making a bit of noise. Nothing else seamed to be making much noise.
I put the 11 meter dipole back together, noise floor on 10 and 11 meters was very low and I picked up a few stations back east but much weaker than this summer. How much, if any, does time of year and or weather play a role in HF propagation? Does weather raise the noise floor? |
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skeeterh, out of curiosity, what part of Washington are you in? Seattlelite here. Quoted:
skeeterh, out of curiosity, what part of Washington are you in? Seattlelite here. Spokane but I'll be in Seattle tonight. Quoted:
I can't see the images. What images? |
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Congrats! They are great little radios. Don't forget to turn on IPO on 160 - 20m bands. Turning IPO on disables the RX preamplifier. It's not needed on those bands. You'll notice significant noise reduction and will hear all stations just fine. Same rule applies to FT817 radios.
Also try adding a 300Hz mechanical filter if you like to operate CW. You won't believe your ears. |
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Quoted:
Congrats! They are great little radios. Don't forget to turn on IPO on 160 - 20m bands. Turning IPO on disables the RX preamplifier. It's not needed on those bands. You'll notice significant noise reduction and will hear all stations just fine. Same rule applies to FT817 radios. Also try adding a 300Hz mechanical filter if you like to operate CW. You won't believe your ears. That did it.!!!! 
Thank you. |
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Spokane but I'll be in Seattle tonight. What images? Quoted:
Quoted:
skeeterh, out of curiosity, what part of Washington are you in? Seattlelite here. Spokane but I'll be in Seattle tonight. Quoted:
I can't see the images. What images? The ones you didn't post of your new toys. |
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The ones you didn't post of your new toys. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
skeeterh, out of curiosity, what part of Washington are you in? Seattlelite here. Spokane but I'll be in Seattle tonight. Quoted:
I can't see the images. What images? The ones you didn't post of your new toys. It went over his head. He doesn't know the rules. He will learn. |
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Quoted:
It went over his head. He doesn't know the rules. He will learn. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
skeeterh, out of curiosity, what part of Washington are you in? Seattlelite here. Spokane but I'll be in Seattle tonight. Quoted:
I can't see the images. What images? The ones you didn't post of your new toys. It went over his head. He doesn't know the rules. He will learn. I didn't realize people would want to see pictures of another FT-857D and a cheap tuner. They pretty much all look alike. They aren't set up in a fancy shack or anything. I just have em sitting on an end table for right now. But I'll get pics as soon as I can. Sheesh, it's not like I said dinner or wife or something... 
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PM me if you want to get on 40. I have a full wave loop on 40 that works like a dream. Congrats on the AA170. I have the 54 and it's awesome. I wish I had yours for the 2m antennas. You mean, actually talk to real people? On the radio? Sounds scary. Seriously, I'd love to try but it'll have to wait till this weekend. I work 18:45 to 07:30 or later during the week. If you're close enough you'd be welcome to use the 170 to work on your antennas. |
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Quoted:
I took an old hand held CB around the house and found a walwart for my netbook making a bit of noise. Nothing else seamed to be making much noise. I put the 11 meter dipole back together, noise floor on 10 and 11 meters was very low and I picked up a few stations back east but much weaker than this summer. How much, if any, does time of year and or weather play a role in HF propagation? Does weather raise the noise floor? During the summer months the higher bands say 20-10 meters are more active. Winter months the low bands are more active due to a lower noise floor. This solar cycle is winding down so propagation on 10 meters is fading away. 
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Quoted:
You mean, actually talk to real people? On the radio? Sounds scary. Seriously, I'd love to try but it'll have to wait till this weekend. I work 18:45 to 07:30 or later during the week. If you're close enough you'd be welcome to use the 170 to work on your antennas. Quoted:
Quoted:
PM me if you want to get on 40. I have a full wave loop on 40 that works like a dream. Congrats on the AA170. I have the 54 and it's awesome. I wish I had yours for the 2m antennas. You mean, actually talk to real people? On the radio? Sounds scary. Seriously, I'd love to try but it'll have to wait till this weekend. I work 18:45 to 07:30 or later during the week. If you're close enough you'd be welcome to use the 170 to work on your antennas. |
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Sorry I didn't get a hold of you. Had a bit of a rough weekend, didn't have much time to play radio and what I did do just frustrated the hell out of me.
I did get a picture of my new toys. 
Dig that old 3 amp Radio Shack power supply. I bet I could pump some wattage outta my cottage with that eh
Don't worry, I was just using it to listen and familiarize myself with the radio. I have a 65 amp power supply out in the shop. And here's my QTH that's giving me fits trying ti figure out antennas. 
I had the 85' wire in the tree by the shop but it wasn't doing well at all so I tried to rehang it. My efforts were comical at best. I had the 20 meter dipole strung along the fence on the north side of the property, can't get much of anything on 20 meters but 40 and 80 were coming in good. Heck I was hearing guys from Chicago on 27,025 but 20 meters on a dipole cut for 20 meters was dead.
Next I think I'll cut one for 40 meters and try putting on the roof of the shop. |
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Quoted:
PM me if you want to get on 40. I have a full wave loop on 40 that works like a dream. Congrats on the AA170. I have the 54 and it's awesome. I wish I had yours for the 2m antennas. I run I90 to Seattle and back Monday through Friday nights if you want to meet up for a few minutes to pass off the analyzer. Can you tell me about this full wave loop? Or, does anyone have suggestions for a small space antenna to work 40 and or 80 meters? I can't get this random wire antenna working worth a damn. The 20 meter dipole stuck to my fence receives much better on all bands than the long wire. 
Another question. reception being rather poor I assumed I'd get far more CW than phone. That hasn't been the case. I've been picking up far more phone than CW. could this be indicative of something? |