Topband: Fwd: BCB Interference

[Tom W8JI]

The first thing I would do is find out if it really is AM BCB stuff, or SW 
BC, or what it actually is.

BCB filters won't help if it is a 3 MHz SWBC, or something just above 80 
meters. Filters also will not help if it is rectification in the antenna 
system, or a real signal from mixing or a parasitic somewhere else.

I've  had broad spectrum noise like that from AM transmitter issues, some 
from Georgia and some from other states, and some SWBC station WWCR.

I had one AM station in Georgia licensed to run just a few watts at night 
that was running a kilowatt, and the transmitter also had a wide parasitic 
that went from 1600 kHz up past 3 MHz. I had to drive halfway to Savannah to 
locate it.

One thing happening now is AM stations share antennas, and SWBC stations 
nest antennas close together.

Generally what I do is listen to the distorted QRM audio on one ear,  and 
start at the low end of the AM BC and work my way up through shortwave 
looking for a signal match. Almost all of the time I find the match, and 
some of the time it isn't even stuff from the AM band.

Usually, but not always, mixing is on spot frequencies. Usually, but not 
always, real wide stuff is arcing or parasitics at the BC station.

Almost always a 10-30 dB filter cleans up a receiver. If the transmitter 
were right next door, you might need 50-60 dB. If you are sharing a feedline 
with them, then you need in the 100 dB range of filter. One port mixers with 
signals all through the same port are not linear with padding. If you can't 
hear a significant change with 10-20dB attenuation, the mixing is probably 
not receiver side of the attenuation.

Before throwing too many bypasses or filters at things, I'd try to get some 
idea what it is.

73 Tom