[UK-CONTEST] 2nd 1.8 - Keep your ears open!

[Steve Knowles]

Hi Roger

Have suffered from the same sort of problem (S9+ noise) on Top Band for 
several years and so have eschewed the band ... UNTIL LAST WEEKEND.

Desperate (for private reasons!) to get on for Club Calls, I built a small 
tuned receiving loop, based on the design by K9FD.  Result - fantastic.  The 
incredibly sharp (and deep) notch takes out all the noise and leaves the 
vast majority of the signals unaffected.  With a diamond loop of just 5ft 
per side I get enough signal for the FT1000MP to handle without needing a 
preamp.  It's mounted just 10ft agl but last night I heard UA9 and VE2 which 
were perfectly Q5 on the loop, but under the noise on the main antenna.

I appreciate you may have two noise sources, where I have only one, but it 
must be worth a try.  It took about four hours to make for the cost of 20ft 
of RG213 coax and £25 for N-type (waterproof) plugs and sockets, a tuning 
capacitor, a box to put the bits in and the timber to make the frame ... 
best money I ever spent!  Should have done it years ago!

73

Steve


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger Cooke" <g3ldi at yahoo.co.uk>
To: "Mark G4MEM" <2nd160.logs at rsgbcc.org>
Cc: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 2nd 1.8 - Keep your ears open!


> Hi Mark.
>
>  From my point of view, the main problem is my permanent noise on top 
> band. It emanates from the HV
> power lines. I have two passing within a mile of me, one 11kV and the 
> other I think is 132kV.  If I am lucky
> and it's a dry day and evening I will only be hearing S-7/8 of noise. 
> However, if it's raining, it rises to S-9 + 10 to 15 dB.
> Imagine listening to that for four hours! You have to be a masochist to 
> operate under those conditions and the
> only stations I can hear are S9+ signals!  That's why I am normally 
> limited to "dry DX-ing" on top band!  So you can pass
> that to our VE3 friend! I hope to hear him if it's dry.......  Anyone else 
> in this boat?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Regards from Roger, G3LDI
> Swardeston, Norfolk.
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Mark G4MEM <2nd160.logs at rsgbcc.org>
> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
> Sent: Tue, 17 November, 2009 20:10:59
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] 2nd 1.8 - Keep your ears open!
>
> All
>
> Below a response from VE3 to my reminder to previous competitors about the
> 2nd 1.8Mhz CW (this weekend, 21st Nov, starting at 2100z)
>
>
> "One point of interest, however (and I realize that this is completely &
> utterly out of your control): so many "G" stations have such outstanding
> signals during these contests, that I am left to wonder why the same 
> doesn't
> always apply to their ability to *hear* respondents to their CQs to the 
> same
> level, particularly respondents on this side of the Atlantic. It is very
> frustrating to copy what is to me many a "new face" on 160 with a 579-589
> signal, only to be "doubled" right in the midst of my call with a repeat 
> "*CQ
> Test*" from this same station..."
>
> 73
> Mark
> G4MEM
> 2nd160.logs at rsgbcc.org
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