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Topband: Silent Feedline for RX antennas

To: <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Silent Feedline for RX antennas
From: K9AY" <k9ay@k9ay.com (K9AY)
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 11:15:24 -0400
> Actually using fully balanced line won't fix any problem, the
> problems will remain and likely increase significantly.
> 73, Tom W8JI
---------

Tom is right. Balanced line is not a "silver bullet" fix for feedline pickup.
And he is right that it can make matters worse -- any added complexity
introduces new opportunities for problems.

To reduce feedline pickup of noise and extraneous signals, the fundamental
techniques are:

* Reduce coupling between the feedline shield and the antenna due to proximity,
by common-mode coupling through the matching network or via ground currents. All
have been discussed at length on this reflector.
* Reduce coupling to other antennas, towers, power lines, etc. by careful
placement of the antennas and feedline routing, and by improved shielding (e.g.
buried feedline).
* As a last resort, you can increase S/N by placing the preamp at the antenna
end, before the feedline effects are added.

73, Gary
K9AY



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