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Author Topic: Becoming a Urban Ham what to expect  (Read 499 times)

LNXAUTHOR

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Re: Becoming a Urban Ham what to expect
« Reply #15 on: October 16, 2022, 04:16:23 AM »

"What problems can I expect to encounter."

Noise....lots of noise.  :(
(at least on 160-40M)

yep... qth is in an s7-9 noise environment... indoor reception is through 1) thorough removal of touch lamps or problem dimmer switches, usb chargers, etc. 2) battery power for the 8600, 705, etc. 3) use of LA400 tunable loops 4) ANC4 for tuning out local solar chargers and 5) exterior remote tuned loop for hf ops...

operating /p in local parks or at the beach seems like listening inside the National Quiet Zone in comparison :-)
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KC3TEC

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Re: Becoming a Urban Ham what to expect
« Reply #16 on: November 01, 2022, 02:26:16 PM »

There are numerous ways you install or erect antennas and numerous ways to hide them.
With most hoa's its a matter of cracker box mentality.
Anything large and not normal is an issue
You have flagpole antennas, dipoles along a fence rails, hidden or disguised loops.
Heck ive seen some wire dipoles strung up with christmas lights.
Im not in an hoa but you still have nosy neds and nellies all around you.
Sometimes i find it easy to invite them in and demonstrate the equipment, and help them with technical issues they may be having.
( an old gal next door who had a beautiful old tube radio. I recapped and realigned it.)
Very happy old gal.
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VE3PP

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Re: Becoming a Urban Ham what to expect
« Reply #17 on: November 02, 2022, 09:12:39 AM »

"What problems can I expect to encounter."

Noise....lots of noise.  :(
(at least on 160-40M)

Maybe not.

I live in the city, 60'X110' lot, surrounded by homes, hydro lines etc.

I have a grand total of 517' of wire in the air covering 160, 80,40 X 2.

Noise level right now at 12 PM on 160 is S 4. Not bad considering my location. 75 is noisy today, S7, normally it is around S 4. 40 meters is S 2 which is about normal.

20-15-10 meters on a 2 element yagi S 1 on all bands.

17 and 12 meters, S Meter is not moving and I use two separate raised verticals for those bands. And no, they are not dummy loads as I have worked 100 countries on each band with those verticals. I am sitting here copying a signal that is S 2 with no issues.

At the front of my lot, 27,500 volt lines. Never any issue with noise from them.

So not all urban settings are plaqued with man made noise.

Either that or I am damn lucky! I will admit that once in awhile I get some man made crap on 80 meters. It comes and sticks around for a week or two then it's gone. So someone is plugging in some crappy electronic device in the area.
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SWMAN

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Re: Becoming a Urban Ham what to expect
« Reply #18 on: November 02, 2022, 10:10:57 AM »

 How bout becoming an Urban Cowboy.
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