Question about static on FM reception.

63.233.139.42

Posted on January 23, 2014 at 14:17:44

cootcraig
Audiophile

Posts: 116
Location: SE Colorado
Joined: October 23, 2005

I am getting good reception from my rhombic antenna aimed at a
transmitter group with a number of stations. However, I hear
static from the classical station that is main reason for the
antenna. For lack of a better description I would call it a
frying egg type of noise. I hear this for blocks of time most
days, other times I do not hear it. I have not come up with a
noise source in the house so far. I am using twinlead for
the downlead and will be changing to RG59 for the downlead. I do
not hear the noise on any other frequency. Specifically the noisy
frequency is 88.7MHz and on 90.5 I do not hear this. I have
also noticed that the 88.7 station will be off the air for an
hour or more several times a week.

Any thoughts on this? Do you think the rg59 downlead will make a
difference?

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have you contacted the station affected yet?

Timbo in Oz

13:17:59 01/25/14

Emailed them. Got no response.

cootcraig

08:26:32 01/29/14

Try calling them on the telephone, can't hurt.

Timbo in Oz

22:54:27 01/29/14

...

Show full thread outline!

have you contacted the station affected yet?

Timbo in Oz

13:17:59 01/25/14

Emailed them. Got no response.

cootcraig

08:26:32 01/29/14

Try calling them on the telephone, can't hurt.

Timbo in Oz

22:54:27 01/29/14

RE: Question about static on FM reception.

Awe-d-o-file

08:48:23 01/25/14

RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better. Static? I don't think it's your antenna system

Timbo in Oz

16:43:09 01/23/14

6

Yes RG6 is what I'll use. was Re: RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better.

cootcraig

20:36:58 01/23/14

5

RE: Yes RG6 is what I'll use. was Re: RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better.

zako

11:11:38 01/24/14

4

It doesn't happen all the time, which is significant, at least to me.

Timbo in Oz

13:29:28 01/25/14

3

RE: It doesn't happen all the time, which is significant, at least to me.

openmind

07:45:29 01/27/14

The three station's / txers Cootcraig mentioned don't seem to show up on that site

Timbo in Oz

13:03:32 01/27/14

RE: The three station's / txers Cootcraig mentioned don't seem to show up on that site

dxho

15:00:35 01/27/14

RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better. Static? I don't think it's your antenna system, posted on January 23, 2014 at 16:43:09

Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002

Twisting the twin-lead could also help with shielding but it will shorten it a bit.

It comes and goes? That's why I don't think it is your set-up.

See below.

Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

Static, does it happen at night? when Arc Lights may be on a

Yes RG6 is what I'll use. was Re: RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better., posted on January 23, 2014 at 20:36:58
cootcraig Audiophile Posts: 116 Location: SE Colorado Joined: October 23, 2005	I mis-remembered. I have a 3 way coax antenna switch ordered with F connector adapters. I'll pull the RG6 with the twinlead and cut to fit. I want to clean up the hole in the wall that lets the antennas in. And have a handy switch for the antennas. ( 2 rhombics and a dipole)

RE: Yes RG6 is what I'll use. was Re: RG 6 Quad shield woudl be better., posted on January 24, 2014 at 11:11:38
zako Audiophile Posts: 935 Location: Mo. Joined: March 29, 2004	If the station is broadcasting in HD,,,Your tuner is picking up an artifact called SELF NOISE....

RE: Question about static on FM reception., posted on January 25, 2014 at 08:48:23

Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004

Does your tuner have a signal strength meter? If so how do the readings vary between both times of day and other stations? Reception can change with conditions. Also what happens if you switch from stereo to mono? Is it quiet in mono? Switching to coax may or may not help. Coax will help with noise generated within your building but "generally" twin lead w/o a balun will get more of the signal to the tuner. Adding that switch may detract. Let us know what happens.

ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

have you contacted the station affected yet? , posted on January 25, 2014 at 13:17:59

Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002

Always a good idea.

Note that IF you have tried switching to mono and the noise didn't go away then it isn't caused by HD.

IF they do also broadcast in 'Hybrid Digital' - and it goes in mono. Then? I'd pay someone to add a sharper filtering regime to your tuner's RF/IF section to get rid of those sidebands so you can listen in stereo.

If it turns out - not - to be caused by HD - for either reason above - I'd also ask them are there any arc-lights near that antenna that faces towards your area. Why? IF the several transmitters are on a shared tower/s there are very likely some arc-lights which come on at night.

If any one of those is close to an antenna - and it's in decline - you will get crackle.

Warmest,

Tim Bailey

Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

It doesn't happen all the time, which is significant, at least to me., posted on January 25, 2014 at 13:29:28
Timbo in Oz Audiophile Posts: 23221 Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia Joined: January 30, 2002	The station would have to be transmitting only occasionally with the HD stuff turned on, for it to be the cause. I would think that was highly unlikely. Unless they are currently just testing it. Warmest Tim Bailey Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

RE: It doesn't happen all the time, which is significant, at least to me., posted on January 27, 2014 at 07:45:29

openmind
Audiophile

Posts: 183
Location: Phoenix
Joined: November 8, 2008

To see whether they are broadcasting HD, contact the station or look at the web site below. If it is intermittent, they may indeed be testing or installing it. Good luck!

http://hdradio.com/

The three station's / txers Cootcraig mentioned don't seem to show up on that site , posted on January 27, 2014 at 13:03:32
Timbo in Oz Audiophile Posts: 23221 Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia Joined: January 30, 2002	I used the national stations tab, and searched on 'All' and on 'Classical' - with no result. I may not have exhausted the search options. One of them could still be testing HD and hasn't yet committed. Warmest Tim Bailey Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

RE: The three station's / txers Cootcraig mentioned don't seem to show up on that site , posted on January 27, 2014 at 15:00:35
dxho Audiophile Posts: 86 Location: Virginia, the colonies Joined: September 24, 2006	hdradio.com is out of date. Several listed stations in my area dropped HD years ago.

Emailed them. Got no response., posted on January 29, 2014 at 08:26:32
cootcraig Audiophile Posts: 116 Location: SE Colorado Joined: October 23, 2005	I guess I'm a crackpot whiner. I should log the problems and times. I don't expect the RG6 downleads will help with the noise, but they will plug into the 3 way antenna switch I have ordered. Also I will switch to RG6 with F connectors for the 2 tuners I'm currently using.

Try calling them on the telephone, can't hurt. , posted on January 29, 2014 at 22:54:27
Timbo in Oz Audiophile Posts: 23221 Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia Joined: January 30, 2002	;-)! Warmest Tim Bailey Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

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Question about static on FM reception.

63.233.139.42