Dave wrote:

Hello All:
I have an Icom R71A, that I am using with a 300' (plus or minus
10-20'). I have the antenna coming straight into the house, hooked to
a tentec antenna tuner and then to the receiver. Both the receiver and
the tuner are grounded. I would like to get some ideas on how to
reduce some of the static and to boost the signal on some of the
weaker stations. All suggestions would be gratefull.
Dave


Corrections welcmed from anyone, but here is what has always been my
understanding, Dave:

SW is amplitude modulation. Noise (and it will be most noticeable with
a longwire) is inherent. Anything that will amplify the signals more,
will equally amplify the noise you are getting with those signals. Net
improvement - nothing.
That said, many posters here like "tunable loop" antennas, very good for
cancelling out noise coming from *other directions* than the one you are
zeroed into with the loop. Look for good links - you can make your own
fairly easily. Others will have links at their fingertips, but a Google
search for "AM loop antenna" is a good start. The trade-off again: The
most distant and faint signals you can receive with your longwire will
probably disappear with the loop - but the signals you still receive
will likely be much quieter. Also, you have to turn the loop for
maximum effectiveness on different signals.

Bottom line: Maximum signal gathering ability, including "barely
theres", and the noise be damned? Stick with the longwire.

(Probably) less signals overall, but quieter reception? Try a loop.
Hope this helped.

I use a longwire, myself.

Tony

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:34:55 -0400, Tony Meloche
wrote:



Dave wrote:

Hello All:
I have an Icom R71A, that I am using with a 300' (plus or minus
10-20'). I have the antenna coming straight into the house, hooked to
a tentec antenna tuner and then to the receiver. Both the receiver and
the tuner are grounded. I would like to get some ideas on how to
reduce some of the static and to boost the signal on some of the
weaker stations. All suggestions would be gratefull.
Dave


Corrections welcmed from anyone, but here is what has always been my
understanding, Dave:

SW is amplitude modulation. Noise (and it will be most noticeable with
a longwire) is inherent. Anything that will amplify the signals more,
will equally amplify the noise you are getting with those signals. Net
improvement - nothing.
That said, many posters here like "tunable loop" antennas, very good for
cancelling out noise coming from *other directions* than the one you are
zeroed into with the loop. Look for good links - you can make your own
fairly easily. Others will have links at their fingertips, but a Google
search for "AM loop antenna" is a good start. The trade-off again: The
most distant and faint signals you can receive with your longwire will
probably disappear with the loop - but the signals you still receive
will likely be much quieter. Also, you have to turn the loop for
maximum effectiveness on different signals.

Bottom line: Maximum signal gathering ability, including "barely
theres", and the noise be damned? Stick with the longwire.

(Probably) less signals overall, but quieter reception? Try a loop.
Hope this helped.

I use a longwire, myself.

Tony
Good advice. Not mentioned are type of feedline, grounding, matching
transformer. I've found that a good ground, coax feedline (using 75
ohm RG-6 as it's cheaper than RG-8 variants and easier to work with)
and an ICE-182A (DC isolated transformer) provides some relief from
household appliances & the neighbors dimmers (a device that is
outlawed in my home as are flourescent lights - real noise
generators). Not much you can do to boost the signal only, just do
what you can to reduce the noise floor. That may mean ferrite chokes
on power cords for computers & televisions, vcr's etc and perhaps
giving up on the motion sensitive outdoor lights. Also, running the
antenna perpendicular to power lines can provide some relief - if that
is possible given your property.

Howard - an inverted L and an Alpha Delta Sloper and proud holder of
WAN (Worked All Noise) Certificate

I keep reading this about fluorescent lights and yes, some are noisy but
most are no problem. I have a four foot, two tube fluorescent in my shack.
No noise from it at all. I have four, four foot, two tube fixtures in the
garage. No problem with them either.

provides some relief from
household appliances & the neighbors dimmers (a device that is
outlawed in my home as are flourescent lights - real noise
generators).

In article ,
"CW" no adddress@spam free.com wrote:

I keep reading this about fluorescent lights and yes, some are noisy but
most are no problem. I have a four foot, two tube fluorescent in my shack.
No noise from it at all. I have four, four foot, two tube fixtures in the
garage. No problem with them either.

provides some relief from
household appliances & the neighbors dimmers (a device that is
outlawed in my home as are flourescent lights - real noise
generators).

Once the old ballast type have started up into a good bulb you will
probably not hear much noise from a fluorescent but the newer high
efficiency switching type can make plenty of noise.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote
Once the old ballast type have started up into a good bulb you will
probably not hear much noise from a fluorescent but the newer high
efficiency switching type can make plenty of noise.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

How about the new Xenon (flourescent-type) fixtures - we're getting ready to
put these under cabinets in a new kitchen. Anybody have experience with
interference from them?

Thanks,

Jack

In article k8l3d.28$cN6.22@lakeread02,
"Jack Painter" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote
Once the old ballast type have started up into a good bulb you will
probably not hear much noise from a fluorescent but the newer high
efficiency switching type can make plenty of noise.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

How about the new Xenon (flourescent-type) fixtures - we're getting ready to
put these under cabinets in a new kitchen. Anybody have experience with
interference from them?

I would need more information from you on the model. I would get a
report on the fixture before I bought it. Basically it comes down to how
the current for the bulb is regulated in the amount of EMI generated.
Some RFI is generated by the bulb plasma when conditions are not good
for the bulb. You might want to just buy one unit and test it with a
radio. The problem is that things may change as the fixture ages. The
unit unit might not be a problem until later in its life.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote
"Jack Painter" wrote:

How about the new Xenon (flourescent-type) fixtures - we're getting
ready to
put these under cabinets in a new kitchen. Anybody have experience with
interference from them?

I would need more information from you on the model. I would get a
report on the fixture before I bought it. Basically it comes down to how
the current for the bulb is regulated in the amount of EMI generated.
Some RFI is generated by the bulb plasma when conditions are not good
for the bulb. You might want to just buy one unit and test it with a
radio. The problem is that things may change as the fixture ages. The
unit unit might not be a problem until later in its life.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Thanks, I don't know any specs about them yet, as the first sets we got
turned out to be plug-ins and we need the hard-wired type. They are
expensive, and purportedly have advantages that the XYL's like. Fwiw, I
never experienced anymore than barely noticeable interference from
flourescent lights new or old, incl one within inches of my equipment. But
dimmer switches and sodium (security) lamps can sound like a buzz-saw.

73,

Jack