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Reviews For: Timewave ANC-4/4+

Category: Receive Accessories

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Review Summary For : Timewave ANC-4/4+
Reviews: 79MSRP: 199
Description:
Antenna Noise Canceller
Product is in production
More Info: http://old.timewave.com/support/ANC-4/anc4.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15794.3
PA0RCL Rating: 2016-08-22
Gave me back my radio fun Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After having moved to an appartment building I found out that there was a lot of QRM coming from various sources in and around the building. The 20m band proved the worst of all with a 5kHz wide S9+ "hiss" every 70 kHz. As 20m is my favourite band I was desperate; should I give up ham radio alltogether?
Fortunately I found the ANC-4. With the aid of a 7 meters long noise antenna I can now null out most of the local QRM.
I'm a happy ham again!

BTW the build quality of the ANC-4 is exemplary: built like a tank. MFJ could take lessons from Timewave.....
K7TAA Rating: 2016-05-21
Excellent results Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm using the ANC-4 with an outside amplified receiving loop as the noise antenna, in an urban location with overhead electrical power wires. There is a very strong broadband noise signal completely covering 75 meters at this location, 24 hrs/day. It measures S9+10 dB with the Elecraft KX3 and halfwave dipole connected, making 75 meter SSB unusable without the ANC-4. With the ANC-4 connected to an SDR receiver, the noise reduction is quite dramatic visually. On a net at 3.975, the Net Control station was S9+10 on peaks on the QS1R, only 5 dB above the noise, and not audible. With the phasing control of the ANC-4, the noise level was reduced to S6-S7, while the NC station was still peaking S9+10 dB. On the QS1R the broadband noise level dropped from -69 dBm to -87 dBm. That meant plenty of SNR to hear Net Control and numerous other stations as weak as S8. For this location, and this noise, 75 meters went from completely unusable to a noise level that is not bad for an urban environment.
K5APL Rating: 2016-01-04
Works Great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using my ANC-4 for about 6 months. My neighbor has a TV (plasma) that tears up the 20M band with my vertical antenna. Many signals go under the noise when she watches TV. I installed the ANC-4 and tried several Noise Antennae. A short dipole, oriented for vertical polarization mounted at eye level outside my shack turned out to be the best configuration. It eliminates the TV
noise so I can have QSOs with weak signals. Without it, I would be dead in the water. It does attenuate the signal, sometimes more than others, but the good news I can actually make a contact. Thats the bottom line for me. I do have to tune the null in different parts of the band for greatest attenuation, but the null is quite broad. My
unit also works on rain static and lighting crashes. It is not plug and play for best noise reduction, but a little trial and error will give wonderful results (Noise Antenna type, configuration, and tuning the controls). I recommend it.
K4KD Rating: 2016-01-04
Best noise limiter I have ever used Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had my ANC-4 for about 8 months. I have a S9 noise when I point my 6 meter beam to the north. The power company has tried to locate the noise but to no avail.
The Anc-4 takes the noise out completely. I only use the wire antenna that came with the unit. I have it in the shack. The receive signal drops too when the unit is on but I am still able to copy 100%.
Any ham should be able to tune noise gain and noise phase controls. Once tuned I have never had to re-tune.
One of the best purchases I have made in my 48 years as a ham.
K5REZ Rating: 2015-06-05
This thing WORKS! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered my ANC-4 and attached a Sony "spool" SWL antenna as the receiving antenna. After moving the receiving antenna around, extending it, etc (in my room) I was able to turn a S-9+12 noise on 40 meter down to an S-7/8!

I'm still attempting to get AT&T to investigate the phone line buried in my back yard, close to my vertical/grounding system.

Yes, you have to twiddle knobs but if you will RTFM and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS then it'll work to help eliminate noise that's interference. A+, I'm very happy to be able to talk with my friends now on 40M.
PY2RN Rating: 2015-02-23
not suitable for high power Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The main issue I found with this equipment is that to be effective it needs to have an external "noise" antenna that receives exactly same noise that your main antenna, it is OK at this point, but it means mostly that you have to install the external "noise" antenna near to the main antenna, if you operate high power you most certeinly will blow several components inside the box due the RF coming back from the noise antenna. It should incorporate a simple protection relay to avoid it, but it does not.
VE3TMT Rating: 2014-08-21
It simply works! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It simply works! I've been plagued by S9+ noise for the last two weeks from what I believe is a neighbors plasma television set. 160, 80 and 40 were a total loss, and 20 usable but very noisy.

My "noise" antenna is an end-fed wire, 66' long, fed through a 9:1 balun and RG212 coax. It runs parallel to my low band sloper about 2' below. It hears EXACTLY the same noise the sloper hears and this is key. If your sensing antenna doesn't hear the same noise as your main antenna, it won't work.

I am able to reduce an S9+10 buzz down to about S3 or so. I am hearing stations you couldn't even tell were there. I don't get the same null on 20 as my beam does not hear the noise the same as the sloper, but the unit is still effective.

Be patient with the tuning, if I tune the NOISE PHASE control too fast, I'll tune right through the null. Alternately adjusting the NOISE PHASE and NOISE GAIN I am able to achieve a deep null.

In my setup I have the ANC-4 connected in the external RX antenna line, so no RF passes through the unit itself. I simply push the RX ANT button on the FT990 and the ANC-4 is on line. I did install a small DPDT relay inside the unit, that is switched when I key the radio. This relay performs two functions. One set of contacts open the NOISE antenna input, isolating it from the unit. The second set of contacts shorts the NOISE input pad on the ANC-4 board to ground. This prevents any RF during TX to get into the ANC-4 and possibly damage components with RF overload. I was concerned about this due to the proximity of the NOISE antenna and the sloper. I sometimes run my FL2100B on the low bands.

This little unit has saved my HF operating. If you decide to try one, remember to be patient and work with a suitable sensing antenna. It will make or break your success.
KI4VH Rating: 2014-05-03
Can be a life saver! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased the original JPS ANC-4 version many years ago. This little unit will do the the job. It takes time to adjust and requires a good "listening" antenna. It is very important to follow instructions. It greatly reduces electronic noise originating from inside my home to even local power line interference. The unit will not reduce general atmospheric noise. I never have regretted purchasing this little gem.
WP3HW Rating: 2014-04-30
Works well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Back many years ago I gave it a 5 review but somewhere along the line it didn't seem to do the job so I replaced it with a BHI in line module which I put away rather quickly because in my QTH it simply didn't help much at all.

After n number of years in storage I took the dust off my Timewave ANC-4 and noticed that it was doing a rather nice job of reducing QRM. Tonight on 40 M SSB I couldn't read the signals buried under the noise. Decided to turn on the unit, fiddle with the settings and to my surprise voices just popped up and became fully legible. NR on my radio just didn't cut it. Was pleasantly surprised and was able to establish a number of contacts. Worked admirably well after bringing it out after many years of storage. Evidently it aged excellently well. Had similar experience with some wines...
W7THM Rating: 2014-01-25
Works as Advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Before the ANC-4, noise at S-9; WITH the ANC-4, noise at S-4. That's just with the inside noise antenna. It cancelled out noise emitted by nearby halogen desk lamp with dimmer and fluorescent lighting. At certain times of the day there are atmospheric noises that push up the QRM, but I plan to install an outside noise antenna recommended by Timewave, which I hope will deal with those. I hear net participants and pick up signals I previously could not hear. I installed the unit first in line from the antenna followed by the tuner, SWR/PWR meter and my TS-870. The ANC-4 is worth the $189.00.