Topband: 160m Noise Level

[Roger Kennedy]

<It's all about noise on both ends of the QSO>

Oh you're dead right Jim. That's the biggest problem these days.

I have made sure that there is nothing in my own house that produces noise
(by turning off the mains). And I have had OFCOM out 3 times over recent
years to track down offending noisy equipment in neighbours' houses that was
giving me a very high noise level.

However, the general noise level EVERYWHERE here in Britain is around S7
these days - that's on 160m 80m & 40m. That's in an SSB Bandwidth, and with
an accurate S Meter. And because the noise comes from every direction, no
phasing unit or directional receiving aerial will help reduce it.

Anyone who says they have a lower noise level these days probably has an
inaccurate S Meter, or else they live over 10 miles from any other houses or
overhead power lines !

I know this because I operate 160m mobile, and have only twice ever found a
location where the noise dropped to around S3 !

Roger G3YRO