Constant white noise

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I brought in my Galaxy 99 from my mobile and hooked it up. I would say the 99 receives 25% better than the Galaxy 2517 I primarily run. I found some locals on base stations talking way off that were right at the noise level. I compared the radios between the 2 on the same antenna, the 2517’s static is “louder” than the 99. It’s like on the 99 I can hear the words of what the guys are saying completely to where on the 2517 it’s static mixed in “more” and it’s difficult to pull out what the guys are saying. It’s hard to explain but the static between the 2 radios “sound different” making the 99 the better receiving radio. May look into some receive mods on the 2517.

The 2517 might need an alignment.

 

[loosecannon]

I think Shadetree Mechanic might be on to something here.

we've been looking for commonalities with your antenna setups, coax, etc. but haven't thought about the radios because you said that it happens with different radios.

however!
the two radios you listed are pretty much identical on the inside and both of them are notorious for being aligned wrong, meaning for maximum noise as opposed to maximum signal.
this is very easy to do in this style of radio that includes pretty much every galaxy, connex, etc. out there.

so, were both of these radios purchased from the same place?
was it the same tech who did the alignments on your radios?

if so, it is probably the alignment of the radios that is causing your problems, which would account for the fact that it happened at your old location also.

could there be anything to this?
LC

 

[Onelasttime]

Do you have an old pole transformer on the power pole feeding your home?

If your mobile is fine that tells us it is either the power to the home or it is your antenna and coax.

You said it was the same at your old home that is all you need to figure this out.

You also said you tried other radio's and it is the same.

Hello! Nail in the coffin time hook your DX 2517 up in the mobile and if it is fine that is it antenna and coax.

If it was a bad pole transformer your mobile would pick that up on your property. Same thing for plasma tv or internet over power lines etc...the mobile would pick those up too if on your property same for computer or UPS backup.

 

[Blackcat630]

Do you have an old pole transformer on the power pole feeding your home?

If your mobile is fine that tells us it is either the power to the home or it is your antenna and coax.

You said it was the same at your old home that is all you need to figure this out.

You also said you tried other radio's and it is the same.

Hello! Nail in the coffin time hook your DX 2517 up in the mobile and if it is fine that is it antenna and coax.

If it was a bad pole transformer your mobile would pick that up on your property. Same thing for plasma tv or internet over power lines etc...the mobile would pick those up too if on your property same for computer or UPS backup.

Usually it's not the transformer that causes problems it's a faulty epoxilator/insulator.

 

[007_man]

I think Shadetree Mechanic might be on to something here.

we've been looking for commonalities with your antenna setups, coax, etc. but haven't thought about the radios because you said that it happens with different radios.

however!
the two radios you listed are pretty much identical on the inside and both of them are notorious for being aligned wrong, meaning for maximum noise as opposed to maximum signal.
this is very easy to do in this style of radio that includes pretty much every galaxy, connex, etc. out there.

so, were both of these radios purchased from the same place?
was it the same tech who did the alignments on your radios?

if so, it is probably the alignment of the radios that is causing your problems, which would account for the fact that it happened at your old location also.

could there be anything to this?
LC

I bought the 2 radios used from different places. I am about to have my shop go through the receive on my 2517

 

[M0GVZ]

On CB I get pretty much S5 of white noise anywhere in town. Driving down my street it rises to S7 in a couple of places. I drive onto the bypass literally several hundred yards from the town and it drops down to S0. Here in the UK at least you're going to get a good few S points of interference in an urban environment, even a small village.

 

[Slowmover]

I’ve learned I can follow three CH 19 conversations at one time. DSP of the audio makes that a reality when past the outskirts of a major metro at night. RF Gain wide open and Squelch essentially Off.

However, waaay back in the woods it can be more. Far more. RF Gain has to go from wide open to less than half to keep the crowd noises distinguishable. A touch of Squelch.

About midway between OKC and DFW has this been most pronounced. On that line running towards AR. US-60. Seems mostly local (versus Skip).

No question that Skip can be overwhelming. Several times from far NE New Mexico and down thru White Sands to El Paso early summer of 2018 I just had to give up.

DSP is your new best friend (for those who haven’t answered the knock at the door).

Were I running a base station I’d be trying an MFJ-784 (as limits exist for antenna, location, and gear for the present & likely future) since primary interest remains 11-Meter.


.

 

[Slowmover]

Did a stock location Uniden 980
Radio install today in my 579 Peterbilt (see Uniden 980 Sale thread)

— Added a Workman 28A Coax Static Bleed ($7.95) out of the radio before the coax.

— Ran a 10-awg ground wire to the Peterbilt negative binding post.

I show no S-units of static with ANL only, Squelch off and RF Gain wide open. This single addition killed more stand-around-and-wait STATIC than I’d have believed.

This is with an RM Italy KL203 in line and On. There’s also a PALOMAR CMC Choke on this end, plus a multi-ferrite choke at the other end. I’ll be swapping them in and out this week per effectiveness.

The WM Radio ClearSpeaker handles whatever else comes up.

Tomorrow may be a different story (it will be a different state or two), but sitting here since 1500 local with radio on is near silence between transmissions by truck drivers on 19.

Sure, my mobile antenna won’t match what a base offers, but it’s a cheap experiment recommended to me by Clays Radio Shop (Walcott also has it as recommendation in mobile).

Pretty happy right now. I’ve backed the DSP filter down hard. Still playing with volume control on radio & speaker to find best balance.

I’ve also added a BHI GroundBreaker to the speaker.

We will see how it does after dark.

I pulled down closer to the road here at the Amarillo Petro truckstop. Now about 40’ from residential height power lines and a transformer on the pole in front of me.

.

 

[DXman]

I actually have been looking at these! I didn’t know how well they worked. The ones that are good piece away from me, I’d say 80% of them are right at the noise level and I can make out bits and pieces of what they’re saying. The other 20% I can’t hear at all because of the static.

I have one on the base here "Clear Speech", been hooked up since 2005, works very well for me.