SSB Reception

[goneyachting]

I have an interesting issue with my Icom 710 SSB. when I run my anchor winch the reception on the SSB is vastly improved. Does this mean I have a grounding problem? A friend checked the aerial with his meter which showed all was good there. Any thoughts?

[Dave]

What are you using for a ground or counter poise ?

Dave L38 #38

[goneyachting]

The ground is a sintered bronze plate with 4" foil attached to the tuner.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by goneyachting

I have an interesting issue with my Icom 710 SSB. when I run my anchor winch the reception on the SSB is vastly improved. Does this mean I have a grounding problem? A friend checked the aerial with his meter which showed all was good there. Any thoughts?

Can you explain how it is "vastly improved"?

Noise floor improves?
Less ambient background noise?
Signal strength increases on receive?

Additionally, can you describe 12vdc wiring path and rf out to antenna connections?

Absent that info, we can only guess

[Dave]

Originally Posted by goneyachting

The ground is a sintered bronze plate with 4" foil attached to the tuner.

Not much to go on here....

My guess is supply voltage is affected by the high amp draw of your anchor winch. Somehow for the better. I'd look at voltages to radio and tuner, with and without the anchor winch. See if another high amp device produces the same result.

Dave L38 #38 VA6DBR

[sailordiver]

Hey I have a question related to the installation of an M-710. The transceiver is going to have to be located more than 10 feet away from a house battery bank(about 15 feet), and the owners manual seems to imply that you have to get a new power cable with #6 gauge wire. Can you put #4 cable on the end of it and extend it that way?

[plebian99]

Yeah you can. Its just about minimising voltage drop. The bigger the cable the better within reason. The cleanest way would be to run a fresh run of heavy cable to a junction box. Then connect your shortened transceiver cable to the junction box. Just remember to install a fuse that matches the cables current carrying capacity. This fuse is for protecting your boat from burning in case of an electrical fault. The fuse is not really there to protect the transceiver.

Originally Posted by sailordiver

Hey I have a question related to the installation of an M-710. The transceiver is going to have to be located more than 10 feet away from a house battery bank(about 15 feet), and the owners manual seems to imply that you have to get a new power cable with #6 gauge wire. Can you put #4 cable on the end of it and extend it that way?

[funk-an-bord.de]

Originally Posted by goneyachting

I have an interesting issue with my Icom 710 SSB. when I run my anchor winch the reception on the SSB is vastly improved.

Is you motor running when runing the ancor winch?
And not, when you use the ICOM M710?
The transceiver is designed for 13,6Volt +/-15%.
So, if you transmit with a low battery voltage,
you will get better transmission with the motor running.
Check with a simple voltmeter,
Wilhelm

[fairbank56]

Originally Posted by plebian99

install a fuse that matches the cables current carrying capacity.

The smaller cables current carrying capacity.

Eric

[cptratbag]

I suppose it is possible that the electronics in the windlass controller is generating interference when in standby, but not when in use.

[Paul Elliott]

Here's an unlikely theory: When the windlass controller is activated the controller relays connect the ground and +12V leads to the windlass motor. The extra length of the ground wire acts as a counterpoise (perhaps even tuned to the frequency of interest).

I dunno, but stranger things have happened!

[TacomaSailor]

Maybe I mis-remember all the stuff I had to learn for my EXTRA class ticket many years ago but...

the ground plane does not affect your ability to receive.

However good electrical grounding is essential. Here are two of many articles that explain (in some detail) the grounding issues for HF RECEPTION

http://www.iw5edi.com/technical-arti...nding-concepts
http://www.dxzone.com/dx547/groundin...reception.html

KI9NG

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

Maybe I mis-remember all the stuff I had to learn for my EXTRA class ticket many years ago but...

the ground plane does not affect your ability to receive.

However good electrical grounding is essential. Here are two of many articles that explain (in some detail) the grounding issues for HF RECEPTION

IW5EDI Simone – Ham-Radio | Grounding Concepts
Grounding is key to good reception : resource detail

KI9NG

The ground plane can have a massive effect on ability to receive. An antenna system doesn't really care if it's used for transmitting or receiving -- it has gain and pattern and impedance, regardless. An antenna system that requires a groundplane (or ground, anyway) needs that ground to work. A lossy or un-matched ground will reduce the antenna efficiency.

What is true is that most receivers have more than sufficient gain, and the background atmospheric noise is strong enough that even an inefficient antenna will usually work well enough. But if the antenna is bad enough it can make reception very difficult (unplug the coax from your radio and plug in a coathanger instead -- see what happens).

(I won't throw my credentials at you, but they are more than adequate)