Topband
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise
From: Michael Tope <W4EF@dellroy.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2020 11:54:29 -0700
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Another pitfall that you have to be careful to avoid with the MFJ-1026 is making sure the level of the QRN you are trying null that is coming out of the sense antenna isn't much lower in amplitude than what is coming out of the main TX antenna (I am talking about levels measured directly from each antenna without the MFJ1026 in the line). For example, if you are getting -100dBm of QRM from the main antenna and only -110dBm from the sense antenna, then you could have a problem. If it is the case that the QRN level from the sense antenna is lower, then you have to use extra gain from the preamp in the sense antenna path or you have to attenuate on the main antenna path to get the two QRN voltages matched so they'll cancel effectively. Either way, you'll degrade the thermal noise performance. In the former case the sense channel will sum-in excess thermal noise, and in the latter case the attenuation added in front of the J310 in the main channel will degrade its effective noise figure.

73, Mike W4EF.................

On 3/14/2020 10:46 AM, Michael Tope wrote:
Steve,

Couple of questions to rule out gain distribution issues:

1) On the sense antenna input do you have the pre-amp turned on or off?
2) Is your sense antenna intrinsically inefficient like a beverage or K9AY loop or is it something efficient like a tribander up reasonably high? 3) Is your sense antenna intrinsically efficient when you include the feed line loss (I assume the feedline loss on your main TX antenna is very low)?

73, Mike W4EF............

On 3/14/2020 9:40 AM, n2icarrl@gmail.com wrote:
This discussion of Hi Z amplifiers has been quite interesting. Excellent information from W1FV and K7TJR.

I have an RX amp question, related but slightly off-topic.

I have an MFJ-1025/1026 noise canceler. I like to use it on the higher HF bands to cancel power line QRN. The noise is typically S3-S4, but I want it down to S0 to hear the bottom layer of stations. My sense antenna works fine, and the QRN is canceled. However, the MFJ-1025 amplifier noise is quite significant, often negating the QRN cancellation. The MFJ amplifiers are J310's. Any recommendations for something quieter ?

73,
Steve, N2IC

_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>