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13-10-2017, 06:16
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#61
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Everywhere (Sea of Cortez right now)
Boat: PSC Orion 27
Posts: 1,377
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot
This morning trying to listen to Chris Parker all I heard was a noise, similar to a Morse code type of noise.
I then tuned a news channel, or two and instead of voice, heard this noise.
It’s similar to a radio with a BFO, with it turned on.
Is there something like a BFO that I can turn off to hear the voice?
To get the radio to tune, I had to discover how to get it to the “open” mode, so I’m assuming I still have a set up problem, but don’t know where to look for the solution.
I tired clarifier, but all it did was shift the frequency of the noise higher or lower, again similar to a BFO
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I have a little tecsun receive only unit, so my opinion may be usless. If my garmin gps is powered up I get a loud ticking, like morse code, probably corresponding with either my depth sounder or gps signal.
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13-10-2017, 06:51
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#62
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
Before trying to receive Chris Parker try WWV (2.5, 5, 10 &15MHz) and see what you get. Also, listen for your local Coast Guard station (it may be sending fax data which sounds like a really fast flute player).
There are many sources of noise on a boat as well as nearby civilization. Try turning off everything in the boat except the radio. If noise goes away turn one thing on at a time to see what is the offender.
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13-10-2017, 07:44
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#63
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
On WWV I get nothing on 2.5, 5,10, but 15 I get the time signal and audio, but weak. 1 bar signal strength, decent but weak modulation.
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13-10-2017, 07:46
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#64
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
Quote:
Originally Posted by goat
I have a little tecsun receive only unit, so my opinion may be usless. If my garmin gps is powered up I get a loud ticking, like morse code, probably corresponding with either my depth sounder or gps signal.
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Actually, I think to a great extent your correct. My KVH TV satellite receiver is noisy and was I believe the source of that Morse code type of noise.
Good tip, thanks.
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13-10-2017, 11:45
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#65
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Grounding Plate for SSB
Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot
On WWV I get nothing on 2.5, 5,10, but 15 I get the time signal and audio, but weak. 1 bar signal strength, decent but weak modulation.
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Ok, that's a start. Noisy or no reception of WWV suggests a few things. It's hard to tell by long distance text messages what is causing it. If you have several bars of signal but can't hear then it's noise usually. If you have zero or 1 bar but can't hear anything that suggests an antenna problem.
Read your operator's manual and make sure you have the receiver at maximum gain. Verify the local/distant feature (if it has one) is not in "local" mode.
Also try disconnecting the coax from back of radio unit. Carefully put a wire in the exposed center hole so it makes a connection (wad up the copper conductor so it fits snug but not tight) and run it up in the air with a halyard to make a long wire antenna. 20-30 feet is enough. Don't transmit with this kludge. Just try to receive WWV. Does it work better? If so, your tuner may be defective or not installed/configured right. If not, suspect the radio itself.
Lastly, find a local HAM operator and see if they will stop by and give a listen to your rig. Sometimes they can quickly identify an issue just from listening and watching.
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13-10-2017, 12:58
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#66
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
I honestly think a lot of it has to do with being in a Marina with a forest fo masts and noise from other boats.
Should I receive WWV strongly?
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13-10-2017, 13:27
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#67
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kentucky
Boat: 1969 Rhodes 28'
Posts: 307
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
1. You should receive the 10 MHz wwv clearly 90% of the time. Being in a congested marina is likely contributing to the noise.
2. I agree completely with all of Transmitter Dan's above suggestions.
3. An external SWR meter is also a great tester if you are can transmit. It's a bit technical, but cheap, and confirms that your radio is transmitting, and the antenna / tuner is working reasonably well. This can also do the same for your VHF.
Chris
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13-10-2017, 15:06
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#68
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Panama City FL
Boat: Island Packet 32 Keel/CB
Posts: 995
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
On Cbreeze almost everything causes noise on the HF. The little motor power module on the frig is worst, battery charger, NMEA 0183 generating equipment, fluorescent lights .... A lot of external noises also, power lines, other equipment in a marina, other boats in a marina. Turn off everything and you should be able to usually hear 10Mhz WWV. Might try motoring out into the clear to see if that helps. Listen on 14.300 Mhz for a little while (Maritime Mobile Service Net, hams only). Wont hear everybody but over 20 minutes somebody will check in in range for you to hear them.
If all that doesn't work demand your money back on that Dynaplate, might be defective
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15-10-2017, 17:13
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#70
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Back on dirt in Florida
Boat: Currently in between
Posts: 1,338
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
Quote:
Originally Posted by transmitterdan
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Absolutely, thanks for that tip!
__________________
SV Bacchus - Living the good life!
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15-10-2017, 18:18
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#71
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Grounding Plate for SSB
I have played with it more, and have even turned off everything on the Boat, to include disconnecting shorepower.
I think to come up with anything conclusive I need to be at anchor or out away from land.
Is there a frequency for radio checks?
My boat is not that noisy, and not all to surprisingly the noise something makes is frequency dependant, seems the lower freqs are harder hit.
I got something last night on 6000 very strong, seemed like a Spanish news report, however I tried again this morning with Chris Parker, and got nothing, zip.
I got the time signal on 2.5 and 5 during the day and 10, 15 and 20 at night, or maybe the other way around but when I got the low freqs I couldn’t receive the high and vice versa.
I have had this receiver since the first gulf war, and then I used it listen to BBC, VOA and other news over short wave, but guess they are not on HF frequencies?
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15-10-2017, 18:28
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#72
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
Oh, one other thing, to get manual tuning on my 802, every time I turn it on I have to do the three finger salute, you know hold down set mode, 2 and xmit when I turn it on, is there a way to make manual tuning default?
I have also heard it called open mode and I believe VFO?
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15-10-2017, 18:39
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#73
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
I get Cuba radio really well, at maybe at 6000. Their report of world news is much different than the USA version.
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15-10-2017, 18:55
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#74
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Panama City FL
Boat: Island Packet 32 Keel/CB
Posts: 995
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Re: Grounding Plate for SSB
After you have opened the radio for broadband operations, one of the keys will toggle between the channel mode and the frequency mode. Don't remember which one but look in the manual. After you toggle it to frequency mode it will come on that way when you push the power button.
Have you tried to hit the tune button and see if you get a tune indication on one of the Marine frequencies.
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15-10-2017, 19:09
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#75
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Grounding Plate for SSB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankly
After you have opened the radio for broadband operations, one of the keys will toggle between the channel mode and the frequency mode. Don't remember which one but look in the manual. After you toggle it to frequency mode it will come on that way when you push the power button.
Have you tried to hit the tune button and see if you get a tune indication on one of the Marine frequencies.
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It’s the clarifier / RX button, and no, mine defaults to open mode disabled every time, maybe it’s a new “feature”
Yes when I hit the tune button, tune disappears, Rx disappears, Tx appears for a second, then Rx and tune re-appear.
Pretty sure that means it keyed the mike for the tuner to tune, and it did.
For awhile there I worried I had left that switch inside of the AT-140 in the wrong position.
I’m still thinking nothing is wrong, just in a marina full of noise and an RF hole so to speak.
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