TopBand: high noise level (unsual!)

[Scott A Long]

Thanks to Bill W4ZV for allowing me to take up some bandwidth here.

To all our Topband friends and "experts" on noise.  I have been
experiencing some very unsual high noise level since the end of October. 
First off to explain my station, Yaesu FT-890AT and Inv-L (direct 50-ohm
feed & 1.4:1 swr) with about 10-12 radials, 4 or 5 are 100 ft long,
others are 50-60 ft long.
 
(Please, this is for the noise problem I'm having.  I realize that my
antenna needs more radials.  At the present time thats all that I can get
on it.  If you feel that it will reduce my noise level then your
suggestions are welcome.)

Back to my original thread.  I live in the city with power lines that are
close to my QTH/shack.  My noise level has been running about S7 since
about the end of October.  
I've only seen in drop to S5 a couple of times and thats at sunrise.  In
October the band was nice and clear with the noise level around S4-5
after sunset.  I worked VK's and even T32 with no problem in October. 
Now I don't hear any Oceania stations except our KH6 friends.  With this
noise level I can't even catch a whisper of an EU station.

Here are some of the trouble shooting that I've tried so far:

1. Turned everything off in the house except the rig. (TV, PC's, lights,
etc..)

Nothing changed except on on 1848 khz.  When I turned off the monitor on
the family computer a buzzing noise vanished.  The monitor is a Mitac
model 1564G 15" SVGA.
Thats the only frequency that I could find a problem with it.
	
2. Drove around the neighborhood listening on the AM broadcast band.

Couldn't hear anything unusual.

3. Checked and cleaned my grounds.

Nothing changed.

4. Drove under street lights that are nearby.

Couldn't hear anything unusual on the AM broadcast band.

I have had a couple suggestions as far as noise killers that are on the
market.  Of course different equipment works different for each of us. 
The JPS ANC-4 and MFJ-1025/1026 have been suggested to me so far.

I realize that it will probably come down to me purchasing something to
get rid of this noise.  I know that last season the noise level was not
this high.  I would like to know what you have experienced and what the
your source was.  Also let me know what you used to kill it!

Please email me direct, DO NOT send to the Reflector, lets keep the
traffic down.  I will be glad to summarize later for everyone that may be
experiencing high noise levels.

73, Scott K8SM
K8SM@JUNO.COM

(Noise noise noise and more noise!)

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