Thanks to all,
I have just swapped out the coax with new RG-6 and it makes a world of
difference. On 160 mtrs there isn't hardly anything to judge by since signals
if they are there are so low. I tried the broadcast band and the beverage is
now working. Just how well is hard to tell.
One 80 mtrs I was copying a qso between two stations, one who was about
59+10/15 over. When I switched in the beverage he went way down to about S-1
to S3. I could still copy the stronger of the two stations but the S-9 one I
could not copy at all on the beverage. Just going from background of S-7 and
switching to the beverage I go down to S0/1.
I think I'm going to try a preamp on this beverage. Think my 35-40 dB preamp
for the Waller-Flag might suffice if I cut the gain back a ways.
But the bottom line is the problem appeared to be old RG-6 coax. Like Gary is
saying, it will take some time to be sure. If I can hear the Europeans on
3.799.0 tonight you can bet I'll have a smile on my face. As usual this job
took me about 5 times as long as anyone else. My building antennas or about
anything seems to work out that way. But I'm retired, what else do I have to do
with my time. Right?
Thanks for the help.
Terry
KI7M
> On January 13, 2018 at 4:18 PM kd9sv wrote:
>
>
> Terry, if the antenna hears noise it should also hear signals. I must
> admit
> the 160 meter band has been almost completely void of signals much of the
> time. Listen the last weekend of Jan during the 160 contest and you will
> get a different opinion I'm sure although pointing the beverage north is
> not
> a good idea since signals rarely come from the north. 73, de gary, kd9sv
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com
> mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com ] On Behalf Of terry
> burge
> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2018 5:01 PM
> To: Lee STRAHAN; topband@contesting.com mailto:topband@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: My beverage only hears static?
>
> Hi Lee,
>
>
> The only thing I've noticed are some pops going on some of the receive
> antennas that I think may be an electric fence or some power line arcing.
> They are about 1-2 seconds apart. I see them sometimes and I can see it
> causing the AGC on fast to cut back the gain on the receiver. But that
> does
> not sound like the constant static I hear.
>
>
> Just bought some new RG-6 coax from Norvac to replace this old stuff and
> make sure it's not that. Also got some resistors and 'gators' for checking
> my 4:1 and 9:1 XFMR's like Tree was telling me. Also got some fence post
> and
> 1 1/2" PVC to put up a NE beverage that I hope will reach at least 400
> feet
> or better.
>
>
> Terry
>
> KI7M
>
> > > On January 13, 2018 at 11:50 AM Lee STRAHAN wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hello All,
> > I may not have seen all of the posts on this topic but will comment
> >
> > > anyway.
>
> > > Two things come to mind about this noise. Number one is you do not
> >
> > > want to connect the shield of the coax going to the receiver to the
> > ground
> stake for the antenna. It's important that the transformer you use has an
> isolated winding for the output to the cable leading to the shack. The
> other
> comment is you may have some local arcing or digital noise that the Tx
> antenna does not hear. The best clue to checking for this is to use the AM
> mode on your receiver and listen for the characteristic hum from a power
> line or switching supply.
>
> > > Good Luck
> > Lee K7TJR OR
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com
> > mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com
> >
> > > mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com
> > mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com ] On Behalf Of terry burge
>
> > > Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2018 11:09 AM
> > To: David Olean ; topband@contesting.com
> > mailto:topband@contesting.com mailto:topband@contesting.com
> > mailto:topband@contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 181, Issue 16
> >
> > Hello Dave and Group,
> >
> >
> > I had responded directly to Martin and will include my comments to
> >
> > > him. Right now I hesitate to pull the tape off the coax at the XFRM
> > but will
> do that ASAP to check it out. When I took it off the old spool it had not
> been used but it is donated to me from a junk yard lot. I also got a 4
> foot
> spool nearly full of 1/2" hardline I'm planning on replacing my ground run
> of LMR-400 with. 75 ohm but it should work if I can build the connections
> to
> the LMR-400 PL-259's, etc.
>
> > > Disconnecting the ground as well as the BOG (in this
> case) from the
> >
> > > XFRM causes the noise to drop down to about S-1 to S-2.
>
> > > With ground connected to the XFRM I get about S-5 noise level
> without
> >
> > > any antenna.
>
> > > Per my note to Martin you can read my other test. Right now with
> the
> >
> > > 550-600 ft. beverage hooked up along with ground of course, I get S-5
> > noise
> level and can't hear an S-9+10 over signal on 7.235 Mhz.
>
> > > Terry
> >
> > KI7M
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------
> >
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