D Peter Maus wrote:
Bob Miller wrote:
On 12 Dec 2006 18:06:21 -0800, "N9NEO"
wrote:

I am moving to Rochester NY and am planning on living right in the city
there. I am wondering what the SWL will be like with the houses packed
right on top of each other. My present situation is good with
underground utilities. Will my next door neighbor's computer trash end
up on the power lines right outside my window and destroy any chance I
have to swl? Is there anything I can do to mitigate the noise beyond
sticking antenna in back yard far away from power lines?

I would like to hear how others fare while living in a city
environment.




You'll want to pay particular attention to your antenna installation.

Noise WILL be higher than in the weeds, owing to a greater number
and higher density of sources. You'll get crap from older TV sets, noisy
monitors, dimmers and security lights (which can be the WORST), air
conditioners, garage door openers, and some street lights, and corona
discharges on powerline insulators. In older homes, your own wall warts,
and powersupplies may contribute, because of the way older wiring is
laid out.

And don't overlook trash from broadcasters. In higher, local signal
areas, overload, harmonics, splatter, and digital has can all contribute
to headaches on the SW bands.

Selection of a noise avoiding antenna, like an MTA, by RF Systems,
or loop by Wellbrook, and the like, will help. Proper grounding will
often help, but not always. And installation of the antenna at noise
minima will help.


Take care with your installation, and you can enjoy SWL and what
AMDX remains, nearly as much as you can in the suburbs.

Peter, you and Bob and the other folks have given a good rundown of the
exact set of issues I have to deal with here in the Bay Area. I know I
have a somewhat noisy house, but the real garbage is the incredibly
RFI-rich environment outside. With three local 50kW AM stations at
arm's length, two of which blurt out harmonics up to 6 or 7, a passell
of neighbors with trash outdoor lighting and several noisy powerlines
nearby, it's a wonder anything can get through the mess.

I don't use a Wellbrokk of other loop (I probably ought to try one),
just a DX-Ultra (coax lead-in) strung out as best I can on a small lot,
and a 60-foot plus 20-foot lead-in Inverted L terminated at a matching
transformer outside, with coax lead in. I phase these two together for
noise purposes with a MFJ-1026. The contraption helps in some cases,
not so much in others. The nosie blanker on the radio helps some too.

The single most annoying things, which none of my noise-reduction
artillery can effectively handle, are the malfunctioning transformers
and streetlights in the neighborhood. Once a month, I have to make a
trip around on foot at night to see what is malfunctioning and where,
and report it to PG&E and the County to get it fixed. It's a hassle,
but it's well worth the trouble.

Bruce Jensen