Thanks for all the great replies, I think I've found the largest noise maker it turns out the local authority have placed one of these automatic street lamps outside my house when it turns on the noise levels goes skywards good thing is it seems to be on a timer so it switches off around midnight and hey presto the noise drops.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

I'm starting to agree that noise cancellation is the road to go down. All the noise goes if I unplug the antenna.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

The antenna is connected to coax then to ladder. The tuner is an LDG Z11Pro with no balun it has some kind of center connector on it obviously but there is no earth from the antenna. No the noise doesn't vary with or without earth, the ferrite on the antenna is one thing I have not done will get a large ferrite tomorrow as I've got RG213/westflex coax so the ferrite would need to be pretty big.

I went round the house locating noise making objects, i found the TV and the DVD machine were the biggest noise makers of all.

If I wander around the bands especially 10 and 11 I get some horrid amounts of noise from whatever source up to 9++ on the radios meter

I'm starting to think an external DSP system is going to be the answer even though it's not going to lower the meter reading


Charlotte 2E0BSS

Totally removing the noise levels I don't believe is possible. The noise goes away when I unplug the antennna though and the later it gets/earlier the noise will drop to an S4-6

Some times it gets so bad I can't use any band other than 10m otherwise I'm fighting S9/9+ noise levels

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Yes I've got PME and yes the noise goes away when I unplug the antenna.


Charlotte 2E0BSS

I read here on the forums and other forums that people talk through Satellites and to the ISS my question is how?

Ive got some Satellite software a dual band radio, all be it a hand held and if it's a HF satellite a dual band all singing all dancing Radio I check the software see which satellite/ISS is near me then turn on and hey presto nothing not a sausage I don't even hear others talking to the ISS just hiss and crackle if I'm lucky most of the time nothing at all

What am I doing wrong? I even take into consideration the +/- Hour for the software etc I check AMSAT to see if the satellite/ISS is functional if it is still nothing


Charlotte 2E0BSS

I'd say the Yaesu FT 857 or 897 definately not the 817 too small, as I've never used anything but Yaesu guess I'm biased

Charlotte 2E0BSS

I've started to check the house for noise on 135.9 AM with my handi unit so far the following noise levels

TV 4Bars
Radio itself 4 bars.(need more advice on this)

Computers 1 bar
Broadband modem USB Cable 4 bars
Lights just make a click with no apparent noise levels

Will do a complete check tomorrow as I live in a modern semi detached block I'm thinking that there are going to be underground power lines as apposed to over heads which are causing some of the noise.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Ok starting to check finding some very interesting noise levels on 135.9 AM

TV 4 bars
interestingly my Yaesu FT 857D is creating a noise level 4 bars (need advice on this one)

Lights just click so guessing theyre ok

The USB cable from my broadband and only the USB cable is causing noise levels around 2-3

Still checking but TV/Radio seems to be a higher level of noise even the central heating isn't making as much noise as radio and tv

Charlotte 2E0BSS

That's cleared up some issues, as I was led to believe that adding an earth would cut my noise down, now I know different, wondered why nothing happened. I have some serious noise as I live in a small block of flats, two one up and the one below where I live, the noise could be coming from anywhere.

What kind of things are noise makers and how would I go about locating them? I've got ferrite filters on the fridge, radio psu and radio power cables, fish tank main line and heater, also filters. The antenna which is a half size G5RV is on the roof, this is the only place for it and it's non moveable or negociable due to local authority regulations.

I've daisy chained the ATU/PSU/Earth cable again no difference. You say an 8 foot earth rod my be better than a 4? I don't believe we have an earth rod code as you do if we do where would i find this out, 4 foots are the standard though.

If I start to think it's now not my earth but some external force creating noise I need to start thinking what's the noise cause.

Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.


Charlotte 2E0BSS

Hi I have a slight problem with earthing my radio station. I've tried the multiple earth in the house alongside an external earth cable and there is no difference in the noise level or S points

I suffer with S9 on 80m and 40m 7-9 on 20 6-7 on 17, 15, 12 and 1 on 10 I even suffer 2 on 11m with or without the earths

Can some suggest how I can earth and what am i to expect.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

In addition to my question the earth cable is making no difference at all, even if I plug a cable up to the multiple earth in the house there is no difference in noise or S points so I'm guessing something is wrong maybe you can suggest how to put it right.


Charlotte 2E0BSS

How do I know if my earth connections are working? I have a 4foot copper plated earth rod pushed into the ground with a length of heavy cable connected to it then connected to my ATU, I've been told I should see a difference in the signal strength/noise level but Im not, infact I'd say the noise level has gone up, the noise is constantly at S7-9+ unless I switch on at 2am gmt then it's only S6 or use 10m which no one uses.

I'm planning on connecting the earth cable to the atu then a second cable to the radio not sure if this is going to do anything.

Can someone suggest a sensible way of checking the earth and not just sticking the earth into the plug socket and see if it powers the house (this does not seem a sensible option)

I know I'm going to have to live with a bit of QRN/QRM due to my location and the only way of being able to errect an antenna but im fairly sure with your help I can lower the noise to sensible levels

charlotte 2E0BSS

I have another question which I'm sure you'll have a reply for me.

I have a yaesu 857D UK spec and want to run CW mode I've put the radio in CW and finding it's going to a completely different frequency to which I listen to standand USB/LSB mode also all I hear is static with the occasional morse but it's not continual.

I'm guessing I haven't set the radio up (Setting the set up is a long winded process) Why do I have CW/CWR mode on the set if A: I cannot hear morse on the modes but LSB/USB What am I doing wrong?


Charlotte 2E0BSS

Great information folks. I'm in the process of having the unit serviced by an expert (someone who knows these things and fixes them professionally) upto now the set isn't doing to well it's off transmitting frequency by 6.75kc's and it's receive frequency isn't much better either ok that's only out by a variable 3-6 depends on the frequency used.

As for RF power well that's not too good either it will push 90watts this drops off after a few seconds and if continually used it goes to around 10 watts.

I'm having the set serviced because it's what I consider amatuer radio (seeing a set like that some 30 years ago gave me the radio bug)I'm not a fan of all these new base stations which glow all pretty colours plus the FT101E's sound is better than the lot oh that was one thing the engineers first report said was ok the receiver is working all be it off frequency.


I'm now looking for the service equipment myself so I can get a dead radio and try to fix it any advise on finding the individual units would be great.


Charlotte 2E0BSS