This is not the "olde days," Jim. This is 2020, and there are new tools
available to diagnose problems. I've been contesting since my high
school days (the late '50s) when I logged on paper, kept paper dupe
sheets, sent with a paddle. RX and TX were two different boxes. Ten
years later, the paddle was replaced with an electronic keyer, the radio
was a transceiver. In another ten years, the keyer had memories and
could send CQ, and the exchange with a serial number. 20 years later, my
computer sent all the CW via its serial port, I typed what my ear/brain
copied into the computer which kept the log, checked for dupes, and sent
all the CW except fills.
I own two dedicated spectrum analyzers, an HP3590D and a Rigol DS815-TG,
and five receivers that provide spectrum displays with waterfalls with
FAR greater resolution than the HP or Rigol. I also own a very capable
vector network analyzer. And I've got a lot of mechanical tools. For any
given job, I try to choose the most appropriate tool for the job, and
for identifying the fundamental nature of noise, a receiver with
spectrum display and a good waterfall is the best tool. Once the nature
of the noise is known, portable RX, with or without spectrum and
waterfall, and various antenna types are the tools for chasing it down.
But until you know WHAT KIND of source you are chasing, it's a waste of
time to chase it with the wrong tool, and listening on the wrong
frequency(ies). I am not stuck in 1955 when I got my first license, or
1964 when I finished my EE.
73, Jim K9YC
On 2/21/2020 5:10 AM, AA5CT wrote:
In the "olde days", Jim, we would tune across the band
and note any similar buzzes at xx kHz apart IF indeed we
could find any more 'buzzes'.
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