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write your own review of the Timewave ANC-4.
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K4TB
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 10, 2007 18:50
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Good Against the Right Noise
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have about 3 different noise sources that can come and go and the ANC-4 will work against two of them, but not the third. I've tried several noise antennas but one noise source is a little far away and there's no way to get a noise antenna close enough to it to pick up an adequate noise signal. It seems to come from either a power line insulator or a device triggered by sunlight.
My main antenna is a Tennadyne 6 element log periodic array for 20-10 meters located about 50 feet from the house and my usual noise antenna is a Cushcraft MA-6V vertical attached to the house. The ANC-4 is most effective on some occassional AC line noise from my house or the neighbor's house as long as I adjust the ANC-4 carefully. Of the upper bands, it seems to work best on 20 meters. I don't really have a noise problem with my wire antennas on the lower frequencies, except atmospheric noise which is not what the ANC-4 is expected to handle.
It is interesting that moving up or down the band 50 KHz or so, or rotating the LP antenna several degrees will require some fine tuning of the ANC-4 phase control. Sometimes the ANC-4 will improve the S/N by 20 dB or more, and sometimes it will do nothing. Anyway, when it does cut the noise effectively it is a very satisfying feeling and certainly makes the difference between enjoying listening or being frustrated.
I think the ANC-4 is a useful accessory where you have certain noise problems. It may be a Godsend for some users and do nothing for others, simply depending on the characteristic noise they may have. I'd give the ANC-4 a 5 rating if they had just simply added a PTT mute connection to eliminate the relay chatter. I may add one myself. The relay is pretty quiet and smooth, but I feel that a PTT mute save wear and tear on the relay. If you have a man-made noise problem the ANC-4 is worth a try.
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WB1FPA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2006 07:45
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Works well.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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. I've had my ANC-4 for a month now. Without it I'm not able to hear signals below S9+20. With the ANC-4 online and adjusted, signals above S2 are just fine. It's made a huge difference in a problem no ham deserves. Power Line Noise!
. My noise receive antenna is a remotely mounted active antenna based on the little Ten Tec active antenna kit. Its built into a 1" PVC pipe that's about 2 feet tall.
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VK4APN
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2006 03:11
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You need to persevere - but you will be rewarded!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had mine for over 10 years - under JPS Brand. It does take some patience to obtain the very best results and you may need to try several noise antennas. It does eventually become intuitive. Most powerline noise can be 90% eliminated as well as appliance interference.
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KI0Z
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Rating: 0/5
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Oct 30, 2006 18:13
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Buy a pet rock it's cheaper!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Rcvd it from aes . looks very well built. tried it with several differant antennas with NO results. however it will overload and put a +20db over noise on your rcvr with too large a noise antenna.I only hoped for a reduction in my 240kv 3Phase power line noise ,not a cure. I think the type of noise you are trying to get rid makes a BIG differance, however all i got was a great looking paper weight. I do NOT recommend this Product even if it is a copy of an old collins ckt. I sent it back to aes and got my money back -15% Words cant discribe here what I think of this Product. GL 73
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K1FPV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 23, 2006 09:29
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Outstanding !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned my ANC-4 for over 3 years and it has performed well beyond my expectations. I use it primarily for SWLing, but in tough situations, have used it with my Amateur transceivers. It can take a 10dB over S9 noise signal and reduce it so that I can read an S2 signal below the noise. It is very effective from the BC band up to 30 MHz., but is also usable down to 150 kHz. though not as effective on VLF. I highly recommend it!
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K9YC
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Rating: 2/5
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Jun 30, 2006 07:56
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Useful, but has problems
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The ANC-4 can help a lot with receive noise, but it has two problems. First, it overloads rather easily with strong local signals, especially AM broadcast. When this happens, it's useless. The only good cure is to shorten the sense antennna (a lot).
Second, it creates some nasty key clicks. I learned this when testing for interference with a neighbor ham about 5 miles away. We were dismayed when he was less than 1 kHz wide and I was more than 60 kHz wide on his very good receivers. I turned off the ANC-4, and then I was less than 1 kHz wide at his QTH.
Bottom line -- use it if it's the only way you can operate with nasty local noise, but turn it off when you transmit unless you want to put out a dirty signal that causes a lot of QRM!
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HA5X
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 4, 2005 14:25
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Made 50 MHz usable
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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UPDATE:
6m is not allocated for HAM radio in Hungary. But in August 65 or so stations got an experimental QRP licence. I was one of the fortunate allowed to work on the magic band.
In Budapest there is a 120 kW ERP television transmitter working on the 6m amateur radio band. In fact this station is the main reason for 6m being banned for amateur radio. Can you imagine what noise that station means all through the band? I tell you: S9++.
The ANC-4 however helped a LOT, earning me hundreds of QSOs next to that video transmitter. The most important trick was to have a noise antenna outperforming your DX antenna. Many Budapest HAMs used yagis to pick up the TV signal while only using a GP to work the DX... In my case the noise antenna was a dipole with signal maximum on the TV-station, while the antenna I used for contacts was a GP. The noise yould be nulled out on 95% of the band, and I was even able to work meteor scatter, picking up weak bursts.
The ANC-4 box is one of the best purchases I have ever made.
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N0NV
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 12, 2005 21:58
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From QRT to QRV
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have been troubled by power pole noise as high as 20-over-9 for the past two years. The local utility has been either unwilling or unable to resolve the issue, so I have done the next best thing in purchasing the ANC-4. It has proven to be a godsend for my situation.
The only tricky part was narrowing down the right noise-sensing antenna to use. I ultimately settled on running coax on the ground out toward the offending utility pole, then connecting 6 feet of insulated wire to the coax center conductor, and finally positioning the wire near one of the pole's guy cables.
The ANC-4 requires some tweaking to use but I'm gradually developing a better knack at balancing noise phase and noise gain for the best effect. Sometimes the settings are repeatable for the particular band / frequency in use but most of the time they aren't, probably due to the day-to-day variations of my noise source. The T/R hang time is switchable via an internal jumper from 500 msec to 7 msec to accommodate cw and digital modes.
The results have been dramatic. While the ANC-4 doesn't seem to eliminate more than one noise source at a time, it really helps with the one that's been crippling me the most. Now it's worth buying the transceiver(s) I've been eyeing for so long :-)
73,
Jack - NØNV
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K6IOU
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 4, 2005 17:30
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Interesting!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Well . . . it didn't remove the noise I had hoped it would. I was probably expecting too much. Afterall, atmospheric noise is not the kind any device of this type could cure.
I thought my unit might be defective so I ran a series of tests, introducing artificial noise in the shack. It worked perfectly!
The unit is certainly constructed of heavy duty materials. As others have mentioned, the all-steel case is a welcome change from the plastic crap so many other manufacturers use for ham gear.
All-in-all a nice piece of gear . . . even though it didn't help here. One of these days I will try it in a motel room. I know from previous experience that motels are awash with QRM.
DON
K6IOU
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N3HKN
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Rating: 5/5
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May 30, 2005 08:36
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Effective Noise Reduction
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Given the strength of some noise sources Ham radio is simply not worth it. However, when you can "notch" out the offending noise fun & functionality return. Living in a condo environment with the usual restrictions the antennas (GAP and mag loop in attic) pick up lots of junk. I am able, in most cases, to notch out the noise and enjoy comfortable reception.
The case is made from heavy steel and stays put as well as providing good shielding. I found a used "not working" unit on eBay and picked it up for $70. Replaced one transistor and works as advertised. Cost $0.22.
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