Topband: High noise with Rx antennae

Guy Olinger K2AV olinger at bellsouth.net
Thu Nov 29 16:19:07 EST 2012


You may want to take this onto the Elecraft reflector, but I would
definitely check all the K3 sub RX mini coax connections and make sure they
are seated properly and firmly.  All you need is for one of the shields not
to be properly connected because the plug is not in all the way.   Been
there, done that.   Gak.

73, Guy

On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 2:12 PM, Gary Smith <Gary at ka1j.com> wrote:

> The problem is apparently within the K3 & the antenna.
>
> Used an adapter to run the BNC connected Rx antenna into the main
> antenna and there's a night & day difference.
>
> Now to contact Elecraft for their thoughts on the matter.
>
> & thanks to Lee from Hi-Z who contacted me to help me figure out
> where the issue is coming from.
>
> Gary
> KA1J
>
> > yes it is, although the quietest directions are to the N, NE & NW
> > which would make those directions the worst if it were the rail lines.
> >
> > I'm finding that the Rx triangle has more noise than the 160 Inv-V and
> > that doesn't make sense to me yet. I don't use a pre on the low bands
> > & sometimes use an attenuator.
> >
> > Gary
> > KA1J
> >
> > > Is that rail line electrified?
> > >
> > > Carl
> > > KM1H
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Gary Smith" <Gary at ka1j.com>
> > > To: <topband at contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:52 AM
> > > Subject: Topband: High noise with Rx antennae
> > >
> > >
> > > > I'm hearing a lot of noise with my triangle array. I was hearing
> > > > it close to the house so I relocated 100' away albeit 10-15 feet
> > > > lower. Unfortunately I can not put it in a clearing and there are
> > > > trees around it, I cut down several that were within 10' of the
> > > > elements. I am using flooded coax and the snap on terminals. I
> > > > replaced all the terminals but this did not change the problem.
> > > >
> > > > I am getting directivity and to the south along the road I hear an
> > > > increased background noise where home electronics may be a source
> > > > of noise. What I hear sounds like electrical noise, nothing
> > > > digital sounding but moving the antenna didn't help much. By
> > > > necessity, the transmit antenna is 75' away and some of the  130'
> > > > radials on the ground run fairly close to the Rx array. I find the
> > > > inv-l to be sometimes less noisy but the triangle will often pick
> > > > up a signal the vertical does not (albeit with greater background
> > > > noise).
> > > >
> > > > I'm using a K3 with sub Rx and the AF control is rarely turned
> > > > more than 15 degrees. Playing with Rf levels, AGC, noise blanker,
> > > > noise reduction seems to help overall and Sometimes I run with no
> > > > AGC at times too but it doesn't deal with the high background
> > > > noise. I'm wondering if shortening the elements would have a
> > > > positive effect on reducing the noise level?
> > > >
> > > > Here is a view of the QTH. My house is the last one, at the end of
> > > > the road & next to the rail line. I am sandwiched between two
> > > > state parks. Other than Amtrak being beside the house and the
> > > > people on the road south of me, there is no other house or signal
> > > > generation within a mile. http://tinyurl.com/cy7zv7h
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for any suggestions.
> > > >
> > > > Gary
> > > > KA1J
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Topband reflector - topband at contesting.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----
> > > > No virus found in this message.
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> > > > 11/29/12
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Topband reflector - topband at contesting.com
> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Topband reflector - topband at contesting.com
>


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