N2GZ identifies fatigue is an important issue. A sort of acoustical psychosis sets in if you listen to a static crashy band with the same narrow filter for hours at a time. One advantage of having mu
Doug - Your FT-747 only has one antenna input. It does not have a second receiver. It doesn't even have a receive-only antenna input. You cannot transmit and receive at same time. Why do you need a "
Tom - Maybe we should say "backwards T/R relay" when we mean the reverse, of what we did with real T/R relays when I was a kid. All of my rigs used 120VAC outboard relay coils! FT-747 is indeed notor
I felt conditions were really good to EU last night on 160M. But look at these S/N numbers below that came from reversebeacon. I know that due to measurement to measurement jitter that we have to rej
Pete, I certainly understand that the skimmers can overestimate S/N based on applying a broadband noise model to what is really a nearby carrier. And my gut feeling is that 40-67dB S/N's on a NA to E
The opinion expressed in the Flexradio editorial about noise blankers being completely harmless, is not an opinion, it is even false. What Flexradio says: ""With a noise blanker, we remove thousands
I have used Orions and agree, the NR (not noise blanker) is remarkably effective for marginal, below the noise level, signals on SSB. This was definitely DSP techniques. Other more modern DSP rigs (e
Jim - Is this noise on 160M only, or all ham bands? Is 160M the worst, but all bands afflicted? You said your noise blanker works well on the noise, which is one clue. Another thing you can do: Turn
I find the same at my QTH - utility RFI is worst in cold dry weather and goes away in damp or warm weather. Tim N3QE _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
I assumed the "central point" Jim was referring to, was a central point for the plumbing. For the electrical side, this is a no brainer, it has to be the entrance panel. I have observed in my neighbo
I have examined the RFI situation at some local apartment-bound ops on 40M and I swear when they work into their loop that it is their apartment wiring that is radiating, and not the loop antenna. It
Many DXpedition organizers on oceanfronts speak highly of vertical dipoles or arrays of vertical dipoles for 40M/30M/20M. I'm not sure I've ever seen any of these have the advantage of a cliff to do
The pattern-searching I think can help with the guys/entities that are on 160M more than one night a week. In the winter this'll get you to several dozen entities on 160M just working the regulars. I
I'm waiting for the NOVA episode on how Howard Hughes will mine these iron-rich nodules from the ocean with the world's largest seagoing vessel. Tim N3QE _________________ Topband Reflector Archives
Jim, since you bring up QRP on 160M, I would like to promote the upcoming NAQCC 160M QRP sprint. 0130Z-0330Z January 13 2016 (which I think means it's our Tuesday night). http://naqcc.info/sprint2016
Rich, you comment on the "combat zone" aspect of ARRL 160M in past years and how it's not so bad this year. I agree that past couple years it was brutal but last night, not so bad. I don't feel activ
I would like to concur with SM0MDG's comments about receive coax connections. I betcha the OP's system is leaking in at levels way higher than the Ewe actually produces. I know everyone loves to detu
Louis - If you try to call someone in the same country and they do not hear you, I would not assume they have a receive antenna problem. They could have an 8-circle and simply be listening in the wro
My one concern, is the F-connector chassis-mount jacks. The jacks themselves seem rather impervious to moisture when a good F-plug with O-ring is kept plugged in. But the nuts for the jacks seem to r