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Author Topic: Static issue with 2 meter setup.  (Read 393 times)

N5RZX

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Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« on: March 27, 2023, 05:43:32 PM »

I've been having a static (?) issue with my set up, which consists of 2 Yaesu Mobile units, one for 2M one for 70cm and a comet Dual band fiberglass antenna mounted to a satellite TV type mount, bolted to the brick on my north wall. The noise I get is on the 2m radio, and is exactly like the squelch breaking in and out, and almost always shows about 2-3 bars on the meter. The squelch knob has no effect on the noise, and it is noisy both on clear and rainy days. I have shut the power down in the house and used emergency battery, and still have the same issue, so I've ruled out anything in the house. This noise will stop the unit from scanning, and is not limited to any particular frequency. I have 34 presets, and it will randomly stop on any of them. Could this be some kind of antenna ground issue? I checked my cable, cleaned all my connections, and no changes noted. The only time it is reduced is if I use a small 1/4 wave mag mount on a cookie sheet in the room with me. This interference has been going on for a good year or two, but has gotten worse to the point that it is making having the radio on a not so great experience. I am out of ideas. I have a simple station which has served me very well for the last 8 years. The power supply was swapped out, to no effect, as well. The UHF radio doesn't seem to be suffering like the 2M is. Some static at times, most of the time its pretty quiet. Any suggestions?
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KF4HR

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2023, 06:14:53 PM »

Assuming you have an internet and TV cabling entering your home, if possible trying disconnecting this cabling outside your home and see if that makes any difference in your noise level.  You also might want to try using a MFJ-856 Directional Noise Finder to help locate the noise source.

KF4HR 
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K1VSK

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2023, 06:15:06 PM »

Are we correct in assuming the noise you describe is more than normal background noise when listening to FM with the squelch wide open?
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N5RZX

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2023, 07:54:52 PM »

Assuming you have an internet and TV cabling entering your home, if possible trying disconnecting this cabling outside your home and see if that makes any difference in your noise level.  You also might want to try using a MFJ-856 Directional Noise Finder to help locate the noise source.

KF4HR
I do not have cable. I am over the air.
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N5RZX

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2023, 07:55:32 PM »

Are we correct in assuming the noise you describe is more than normal background noise when listening to FM with the squelch wide open?
Yes, its like someone randomly turning my squelch open and closed variably.
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K5LXP

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2023, 08:25:02 PM »

So it's not doing it on 440 so that's a clue.  Do you have any other radios on other bands you can listen with?  It seems it's just noise but likely AM, and an FM receiver will usually just render that as squelch noise.  If it's wideband noise, the lower you go in frequency the stronger it will get.  Or it could be some strong adjacent or out of band mixing products.  A 2nd receiver would help narrow the type down.  Having a spectrum analyzer (TinySA, et al) would answer both the bandwidth and amplitude questions right away.  Depending on the frequency and amplitude of the noise it might require some filtering, or if it's a mixing product, a different receiver.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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W0RW

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2023, 06:27:56 AM »

Check out this article,
https://www.eham.net/article/44529
Paul  w0rw
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AJ8MH

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2023, 05:04:41 PM »

You're probably picking up something being radiated by a neighbor since the signal is weak on the quarter-wave mounted in the shack.  You already said you killed power in the house, but make sure you don't have anything that is running on battery.

Our house has remote monitoring of water (runs on battery) and electric (runs on the power company feed).

A hand-held radio or scanner would help you locate the culprit.

Reminds me of a sheriff that complained about the install of his police radio in his new car.  Seem his scanner would lock up at times.  It was his digital clock in the new car.  The power cable to the clock was radiating when certain digits were displayed.
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N5RZX

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2023, 07:30:40 AM »

We have no battery powered items in the house. I’ve ordered some chokes to see if that will help, as I can’t find anything outside directly causing it, at least within a 250 foot area
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WA3SKN

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2023, 08:45:01 AM »

You have a local noise source.  You will need a receiving directional antenna to locate it.
Take two dipoles and space them 1/4 wavelength apart.  Connect them out-of-phase... simple window line turned over will do.  Feed on one end.
There will be a cardiod pattern with a null opposite the coax feed. Rotate til you see the null.  Move location and get another reading.  Where the lines cross is the noise location.  More readings at more locations will locate it.
Then you get to shield or filter it!

-Mike. 
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N5PNZ

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2023, 06:18:56 AM »

Check for a nearby flashing LED or Neon sign that matches the sequence.  An elementary school a few blocks away from me put up a 3 foot square LED sign that obliterates 2 meters in my mobile when close by and causes high static for my base when I swing the antenna in that direction.  Haven't filed a complaint yet but will soon.
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N5RZX

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2023, 06:02:46 PM »

I think maybe it might be my neighbors pool pump motor. That's the only thing around. I did put a choke setup on my Coax and the interference is about 90% gone now.
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W9WQA

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Re: Static issue with 2 meter setup.
« Reply #12 on: Yesterday at 12:01:08 PM »

hope u dont mind.

i often redo looong paragraphs so i can read them !!

yours...

I've been having a static (?) issue with my set up, which consists of 2 Yaesu Mobile units, one for 2M one for 70cm and a comet Dual band fiberglass antenna mounted to a satellite TV type mount, bolted to the brick on my north wall.

 The noise I get is on the 2m radio, and is exactly like the squelch breaking in and out, and almost always shows about 2-3 bars on the meter. The squelch knob has no effect on the noise, and it is noisy both on clear and rainy days.

 I have shut the power down in the house and used emergency battery, and still have the same issue, so I've ruled out anything in the house.

 This noise will stop the unit from scanning, and is not limited to any particular frequency. I have 34 presets, and it will randomly stop on any of them.

 Could this be some kind of antenna ground issue? I checked my cable, cleaned all my connections, and no changes noted. The only time it is reduced is if I use a small 1/4 wave mag mount on a cookie sheet in the room with me.

 This interference has been going on for a good year or two, but has gotten worse to the point that it is making having the radio on a not so great experience. I am out of ideas.

 I have a simple station which has served me very well for the last 8 years. The power supply was swapped out, to no effect, as well.

 The UHF radio doesn't seem to be suffering like the 2M is. Some static at times, most of the time its pretty quiet.
 Any suggestions?
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KF4HR

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