[CQ-Contest] Urban noise levels

[Steve Root]

Count your blessings!  I live in a first ring suburb and my noise levels are
considerably higher.

73 Steve K0SR


----- Original Message -----
From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>; <dx-list at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 8:47 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Urban noise levels


> I am wondering what I should expect as "normal" for a
> noise level in todays world.  Here is my situtation:
> I live in a 1942 built neighborhood, with houses 10
> feet or so between each one, and a 120 foot long lot.
> Power lines running behind the property.  My radio is
> an Icom 756 (non pro) and antennas are a 2 element
> mini quad and a G5RV type dipole.
>
> WIth the rig's preamp off I generally see a S3 to S4
> noise level on 80 and 40 meters.  Putting the narrow
> CW filter in line cuts down on this greatly.  On 20
> and higher the noise level is very low with the preamp
> off, but when the preamp 1 is on, I see anywhere from
> a very slight increase at times to almost an S4 level,
> with the latter especially occurring on 15 meters.
> Again, putting the CW filter in line really drops the
> noise level.  I am not sure how sensitive the rig is
> with the preamp off, but it doesn't seem too deaf
> (unlike the 706 original I also have).
>
> Are these levels fairly normal in todays urban living
> areas, or do I need to really start looking around for
> noise sources?  The power company has been out here
> before and really couldn't find anything specific.
> Things were a little quieter a few weeks ago when it
> was raining all of the time.  There is also a very
> busy city street about 4 blocks to the north of me.
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
>
>
>
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