When I changed towers from 15 meters to 25 meters I also noticed that I
picked up more noise, certainly mine is directional to the east. I am sure
mine comes from being higher therefore picking up a wider net of local noise
from Plasma TV.s etc. I have noticed noise has got worse since the electric
company added "Smart Meters" in the area, you might check that if you have a
smart meter on your electric supply that it is not a cause, something that
cannot be switched off.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Pete F5VNB
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 7:05 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Noise puzzle (longish)
I would appreciate any observations on the following:
My antenna is a 3 el SteppIR mounted on a 22.5m telescopic tower.
The rx noise floor is direction dependent: beaming ~120 deg from JN04BK
it can be 8dB higher than the reverse bearing (A/B checks are quick
thanks to the SteppIR). The differential appears to be highest on
18/21MHz, and not there at all on 50MHz. Rig is a K3, no premap except
50MHz, measurement uses a 200kHz wide spectrum display with the
averaging set to 10secs.
OK, I think, this must be a noise source out in that direction and since
it is on a line from the tower and through the QTH (~100ft separation)
it must be something in the house. So, transceiver hooked up to battery,
the power switch is pulled - and the noise is the same.
Hmm, inverse square law says it should be something pretty obvious and
not too far away - except that I live in the French countryside and
there is nothing in that direction except for woods, fields, a vineyard
or two and then a house every mile. But there is a power pole ~150ft
away that sends the underground feed to the house. All other power lines
are between 0 and 120 degrees bearing and ~750ft away.
So out I go armed with a HT on 21MHz am, wandering around looking for an
increase in noise. Down the drive, across the lane, into an empty field
and there is no obvious increase in noise.
Bear with me, this gets a bit more interesting now: there are gusts up
to 100kph forecast for today so I lower the antenna to about ~30ft.
Back at the rx, the noise floor differential has disappeared; on 21MHz
it may have even slightly reversed.
I am puzzled; is the noise now lower because the main lobe is now more
elevated and the source is close to the horizon, ie it *is* a long way
off. Or could it be something common mode that appears when there is
more feeder/tower in the air?
What does the team think?
Pete, F5VNB
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|