Better HF Receiver Performance - Zero Cost

[@claytonmoore9530]

Being licensed after the pandemic started, I missed having a decent Elmer to show me the way. This is the first time I’ve come across a discussion on these controls. Thank you for the excellent explanation!

[@hegemanc]

This should be titled "102 level Class: How to use your HF rig" - filled with useful information I didn't know previously. Thank you.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! 73 Peter

[@patriot9455]

Decades of advice from those who have learned is more than worth the time, especially when I am setting up my station now. So many times we, as operators, new and experienced forget the simple things because technology sounds so good when we are bragging on what we did in our shack. The hand over the speaker idea, make it a cup or plastic glass cut in half, then you can use both hand to run the radio, lol

[@watersstanton]

Many thanksfor yiur input. 73 Peter.

[@Ged-711]

Some great tips and advice Peter. Especially the correct use of the RF gain by matching the meter deflection with the background noise. I'll certainly be utilising that from now on. 73's 👍

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! 73 Peter

[@thormusique]

This is the all-around best advice for HF audio reception I've heard! All brilliant points. Thanks so much for sharing! 73, Robert K1RSK

[@watersstanton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@peteradely885]

Wow, nice video. Very nice equipment from past and now. As a Novice Ham in 1950's I got on air with very basic receivers. I was KN2MHP then. I did not have funds to buy Collins so a Command receiver BC454 was my 80M receiver on CW. Well its 2020 now and I truly appreciate a very good receiver. I have a Icom 7600 and a Icom 7300. Its ability to shape receiver bandpass and AGC action is remarkable. Plus turn on or off NANNY'S that help me receive signals better. Its only a exercise when actually doing it. Gotta have hands on. Its so much fun. 20 years ago I visited the Antique Radio Museum in Holcombe NY. Saw a spark gap in operation. Touched a Collins 75A4 receiver. It was wonderful. Proud to say a 60+ year life member of ARRL. Short wave and Amateur Radio been apart of my life forever. Thank you. Peter W2HP

[@reallybadaim118]

Enjoyed it very much. Still can't tell you what all the knobs and buttons do on this radio but it's fun turning them!! Thank you for your video.

[@jamesbonanno3359]

This was very well done. It took me years to figure out the items that were stated in this simple video. Mine was done by trial and error.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@smiffykuk]

Nice to see one of the emporiums giving good solid advice instead of advertising their kit... I have to say I have been guilty of dismissing new operators who don’t know what the RF gain does... but you made a good point... who has told them of its use in mitigating noise? I will run through these operating procedures at the club when possible, with hands on demos.. Us old folk who were brought up on old valve kit, learnt by trial and error.. will pass on these gems of information. Thank you for another accurate video Peter.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks Martin.

[@Scif64]

Some very good advice Peter, i see far too many people with fully open RF gain that it's painful to listen to. 73s

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

All good advice Peter, thank you. When I started out, I certainly didn't understand why comms receivers had RF gain controls until an old timer explained it to me - "Back off that RF gain sonny, why are you listening to all that noise".

[@watersstanton]

Glad it helped

[@cwguy8960]

I have a friend who - when I visit his shack - gets dismayed when I use his rig and turn down the RF gain! Of course, he runs with no cw filters either.... Those tools are there for a reason. Great advice - nice video - thanks!

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks for this useful video Peter. I'm a returner to amateur radio and this was very useful as a refresher, you make some good points.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! 73 Peter

[@dontcare563]

Interesting tip on the RF gain control and it makes total sense. This is basically what we do when setting up Tower Top Amplifiers and padding attenuation in so you burn the excess gain and don't amplify the noise.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrGohunter]

Excellent advice Peter. I was brought up on valved ex-services receivers in the 1960's. I was always advised by the old timers to educated me in the hobby, that you should rarely have the RF gain control at 100%, and that you could leave the AF gain alone for much of the time and use the RF gain as a volume control.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing

[@adrianoragazzo1321]

Firmly aimed at newcomers You said....nay . I bet alot Ham radio operators of "these days" didn't knew about the rf gain / volume "trick" hehe...I use all the times, both on my boat anchors and or new rigs. You Sir , You deserve a subscription and a thumb up because this is the spirit : sharing the knowledges ! Please stay safe yourself also, '73 de Adriano IZ3SVI

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for the info

[@SpeakingArrow]

Peter, Great idea to cover these points on what one is doing while tuning a receiver. I have been licensed for more than thirty years and playing with radios longer. Studied all manner of issues but I am sorry to report I never conserved how to employ receiver controls properly. I had learned to use controls by hit and miss but never had the actions explained in the way you did. Now I know why I turn down the RF gain and how to find the proper alignment for noise floor using the S meter. Thanks, de N4NRL PS have watched other of your videos and found them informative thanks for the time. Compared to you I am a newbie even after more than thirty years. hi

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks

[@9bar7and9bar8]

Excellent advice Peter. Setting the preamps in the correct bands really helps. Eg The IPO for Yaesu or AIP in Kenwood.

[@1fanger888]

At 4:22, I have got a styrofoam tray taped to the back of my speakers. They do exactly what you show. The quality of audio is amazing. Thanks. KC3BXZ Joe 73

[@ianxfs]

Good tips for those new to the hobby 👍🏻

[@elwood.downey]

Excellent, many thanks. I might add Noise Blanker can help with noise that consists of brief impulses such as auto ignition and electric fences.

[@sydei3ieb204]

That was a very useful video. I'm saving that one. A lot of information there I was not aware of. Thank you for making it. 73's de Syd

[@bahathir_]

Yes, my first thing to do is to control RF gain, especially when monitoring BBC broadcasts, at 3.X MHz and 6.X MHz, and I got +50 dB over S9. Yes +50 dB over S9. Next, I use the TWin Pass Bnd Tuning, to 'focus' the weak signal. I enabled Noise BLanker and set Notch filter to auto. Sometime there is RFI from electronic devices nearby, and try to find and 'elimanate' it. If eveerything is not working, the best thing to do is to switch off the rig .. No more noise.. :) Thank you, and cheers, 73.

[@myleswilliamson5177]

Thanks again Peter. Was very rusty but your videos have been great to get rid of my rust. Always used Jay Cee and still miss Bills help and advise. Myles MM0MYL

[@TheCherokee28]

Good tip about that museum.Thanks.I have passed it many times when on holiday in Blakeney but never thought to go in.I'll be there in September,CV19 permitting so will certainly have a look

[@tincanblower]

Sadly the radio group is no longer there. I used to love it there! 73, M0PTO

[@de_w8tam]

Great information for new folks! When I learned to turn the preamp off, it was amazing. When I learned to turn the RF gain down, another eye opening day. Hope to catch you on the air as the sunspots return. You earned a new subscriber with this video. 73 de w8tam

[@watersstanton]

Thanks Thomas

[@steveroberts3512]

Useful video, these missing controls are still present on many homebrew analogue receivers.

[@watersstanton]

Yes, true 73 Peter

[@tombaffa9374]

Great video, thanks! I had a room full of old equipment that I would rotate through weekly on AM and CW. But I eventually pared down to a smaller QTH. I did keep my Johnson Ranger, Heathkit Cheyenne, Loudenboomer amp, NC 183D, National 2-40D, GPR-90 and Hallicrafters S-20R (my first rcvr in 1962). Icom 9300 is my daily “driver”. BTW, love the artwork on your wall

[@mikepeirson1150]

Cheers Peter, more learning to cram into my head.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks Mike.

[@edwardlittle9362]

About that sunspot cycle. I'm a relative newcomer to amateur radio and a complete newcomer to operating on HF (although I am an SWL from way back). I have to use a coil-loaded whip antenna to hide from my homeowners' association. Nevertheless, I'm making CW contacts all up and down the west coast of North America. To my way of thinking, if I'm bouncing my signal off the ionosphere and having fun under conditions that are as bad as they'll ever get, then the coming months and years should be a blast. 73 and thanks for the videos de W6KSR

[@gregmihran8616]

Well done! I have always turned the RF Gain down on my IC-7300 SDR until the noise level shows an S1 while turning up the AF Gain to a comfortable listening level. Combine that with a AGC Slow setting and you get the maximum dynamic range of that sensitive HF receiver. I rarely use the pre-amp (1 or 2) or the attenuator (except on very local stations). The only time I use an AGC Fast setting is on full carrier signals (e.g. AM, FM). I'm still experimenting with the bandpass IF settings but do narrow them at times to cut-out neighboring interference and/or improve the S/N. 73s Greg KJ6ER Silicon Valley

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Greg

[@G0TLU]

Lots of useful tips there Peter, thank you!

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks

[@aga5897]

Superb advice ! Nice one. I've not yet applied for my Ham licence, but have been building a few receivers, mostly DC at the moment. One idea was to add an RF pre-amp. Looks like i'll be adding an attenuator first, based on your explanations !

[@watersstanton]

Ok enjoythe hobby

[@faustdownunder]

Excellent video. Thanks. I would like to state however, that SSB has now been in use for over 70 years and it is probably high time for something better than SSB. Good attempts at this already exist and these deserve our full support. Example: FreeDV. For RTTY which is another probably rather outdated mode, VARA Chat is a good replacement candidate in my opinion.

[@watersstanton]

Hi there. Yes SSB does go back a long way, but was only embraced by hams from around 1960 - I wa there - Hi, 73 Peter.

[@languagetruthandlogic3556]

Great video - very useful for me personally. Thank you for posting. Your presentation style is excellent - relaxed, informative and great to listen to. Best wishes!

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@neubert500]

Thank you! I learned a lot and need to watch several times! EXCELLENT VID

[@watersstanton]

Nice to hear from you. Glad it was interesting. 73 Peter

[@alanmartin1506]

I've got a ray cow or a 12 17A please can you do a video how to set a line antenna app and the aerial tuning unit and anything else what may benefit reception

[@davidevans6432]

Excellent video on receiver piloting. 10/10

[@watersstanton]

Much appreciated!

[@johngolby1]

As I understand it, turning the RF gain counter-clockwise reduces the gain of the receiver strip from the early stages. Reducing the overall gain does nothing to the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal (especially if the noise is QRN). That means it's little better than an RF volume control, so in general it will provide little benefit over the audio volume control, and my guess is that's why so few people use it. However (and it's a big however), decreasing the front end gain improves its linearity and resistance to intermodulation distortion ("intermod") - and that can be a big deal, especially when operating in a high-signal and high-noise environment. On the lower bands that's going to be the case because of high noise and broadcast stations nearby, as well as strong amateur signals in-band.The fewer intermod artefacts your front end projects into your signal passband, the better. And since intermod reduces at 3dB for every 1dB of amplifier stage output reduction, even a small cut in RF gain causes intermod to reduce dramatically. Remember - it's generally signal-to-noise (or signal-to-interferer) ratio that counts for intelligibility, not absolute signal strength, so you might well find a sweet spot in setting the RF Gain (improving the signal-to-intermod ratio but reducing the signal volume) versus the Audio Gain (compensating with an increase in signal volume). It all depends on what level of clutter and noise is hitting the front end of your radio. John ZS1ZC.

[@watersstanton]

John maybe you did not fully understand, Reducing the RF gain so that the noise floor is just at the point AGC kicks in was what Iwas talking about. That makes a significant difference. I was NOT talking about s/n ratio.

[@johngolby1]

@@watersstanton Yes, I re-ran the video and to be fair, you did say "the noise that you'll hear BETWEEN syllables" - my mistake. I did some quick research on this, and there used to be a use case for RF Gain to counteract the intermod effects of old-style product detectors and poor amplifiers (i.e. reducing the distortion generated within the receiver). But what you're describing is going to be possible where, in effect, we're shifting the AGC characteristic so that the combination of signal and noise sits on a part of the AGC-controlled Pin/Pout curve that has a greater slope - this means that there is less compression between the level of the audio signal and the level of the noise between syllables (so the audible difference will be greater). And a slow AGC means that the AGC level set for the syllable carries over into the noisy space between and attenuates the lower-amplitude noise more than if the AGC were set by the noise alone. I just tried it on an analogue receiver on 40m SSB (S7 noise) and it does diminish the bursts of noise between syllables that would otherwise be jarring to listen to. However, it seems to be a narrow sweet spot and needs readjustment for other operators' signals (possibly annoying in a net). Thanks for the video, it's alerted me to RF Gain being more than just an attenuator for strong signals.

[@180mph9]

Great photos, appreciate your advise.

[@patchy1231]

I trained as a special telegraphist on the RA17in 1981, great radio.

[@watersstanton]

Nice to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@rjinnh3933]

As always, great info and an excellent presentation. Many good points. Some new to me. Many decades ago my Elmer clued me in on the RF Gain method of reducing noise. My implimentation was/is to turn RFG to zero and AFG to max and then raise RFG to a level that allows best sig copy on my 590SG. It's effective but now I must try the RFG adjusted to S-Mtr noice level, as soon as I get my 40Mtr, being extended to 80Mtr, EFHW arial reassembled tonight. HaHa Sir, I Like/Save every vid of yours.......... 73 OM de KA1RUW in So NH BTW: You are one of the most valuable HAM assets on YT..........

[@watersstanton]

Always good to get your comments. 73 Peter

[@DrDante221]

Man, I love those old boat anchors! WA2GVA

[@BruceNitroxpro]

If you look at new topologies, such as my new SDR radio, an Icom 7300, many of the controls are set from menus. However, many of the OLD style controls are still there, but are COMBINED. {Such as audio volume, RF gain, and such.} de KQ2E

[@watersstanton]

Thanks Bruce.

[@MauriatOttolink]

Thanks for the Memory lane trip. Fondly reminiscent! Some years ago I had access to my employer's pro signal measuring etc,. apparatus. At the time I had an AR88 and what was then, the first use by Icom of the Flagship. IC 751. I was able to measure, on a pro test set the properties of both sets. Whilst the AR88 didn't have a the accuracy, stability et al of the Icom, it didn't have the decency to fail on sensitivity and S/N ratio at 21/28 Mhz! Sinad, Streuth, I could pick up 3 Icoms but needed a good meal and an Olympic training session to move the AR88 to a new position on the bench. Don't know how my HROs would have figured because by then I'd parted with them! 73 de G3NBY

[@andy2E0JIU]

Great video Peter!! Added to my saved list too👍👍gotta rush off to change a couple of settings now

[@eureoma578]

Very helpful, thanks very much, I'm new to ham radio and indeed didn't know these things. Greating from Germany DD4AB

[@needhelp2453]

Thank you Peter. This was very helpful.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! 73 Peter

[@manuelfernando6393]

Peter, thanks! So important, very usefull. I will be tuned for your video about the phasing control for noise problems,73 de ct1bxx

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stationmanager6455]

Nothing like a couple of well tuned dipoles for 40M and 20M. We have the luxury of aerial tuning technology which really makes the difference,.

[@watersstanton]

I think you mean "matched." You can't tune a dipole with an ATU or for purists, we should call it an AMU.

[@stationmanager6455]

Sorry.Spend to much time tuning a Dominator aerial for 87.6MHZ your so right.

[@cardboardboxification]

a little trick i done is take a plastic water bottle that has smooth sides, cut the top off at the largest bottle diameter ..... then turn it upside down over the speaker on top of the radio.... it will cut the hash and Bring out the voice .. and i also used silicone RC fuel tube and cut a slice the length of the tube and put it around the edge of the bottle

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Bill

[@Heinooke]

A very interesting pic was that Racal station with the clock unit , someone build a lot of cool homebrew stuff in those racks :P (yes... i love them old Racal 17s :) ) 73 and take care de PD0Q

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for the info

[@AmishSpecialForces]

I’ve found that my Collins 75A-4 can keep up with almost anything made today. I haven’t found anything yet that can make me switch to a modern radio.

[@MrGohunter]

I agree with you. I had a modern FT-950, sitting side by side with my early 1980's FT-101ZD, simply switching the antenna between them. Nothing much to choose between them on the receive ability, but the audio from the 101ZD was much more pleasant. Also, I was much more likely to be heard on the first shout on the 101ZD than the 950 by a distant station. Both were using the fist mics that came with them. After a few months, I sold the 950 and still use my 101ZD today.

[@AmishSpecialForces]

That’s how I did it as well, put them both on the same frequency, then switch back and forth. Between the 75A-4, TS-830S, and a FT-DX3000, the older radios are far more “listenable” to my ears than the new ones.

[@watersstanton]

Probably the valve line-up helps as well

[@AmishSpecialForces]

I agree, plus there's something about valves that just makes you feel like you're operating a real radio and not a toy.

[@riottaba]

Use as litle Rf gain as possible is a my rule of thumb specially for CW. Also regard AGC as a limiter rather than a producer of constant audio level. Just my two pennorth. Al G0KMC

[@watersstanton]

Yes I agree

[@riottaba]

@@watersstanton I should have said keep RF gain to a minimum

[@graemedavidson499]

Best thing I did was to do away with my power line adaptors (Ethernet over mains) and fit a mesh WiFi system instead. Prior to that, it was virtually impossible to receive without relying on the various SDR radio noise blanking algorithms. Whilst they greatly improved audio, they were detrimental to digital modes. Using a Wellbrook loop antenna, I’m now able to cancel out most of the remaining household noise sources, albeit the laptop itself can be a noise source.

[@watersstanton]

Graeme many thanks.

[@graemedavidson499]

watersstanton Having turned to SDR radios completely, I miss being able to employ RF gain in an intuitive way. On stronger signals, I’ve found that tweaking the AGC threshold can drop the audio noise floor albeit at the cost of weaker signals. One day, I must compare how well modern SDRs perform against older radios like the Collins R390A (I have a couple that have not been used for over a decade!).

[@zahedalsawadi7084]

Thank you for the information. Very useful.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks

[@alanread6596]

Excellent advice very helpful.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulclark7664]

Great video. Good Rx is an art !!

[@StreakyP]

re RF gain control... on the old BC348 rx wasn't the "Volume" control actually RF and AF gain ganged together as one ... not as impressive with just one knob on the front panel but it seemed to work well nevertheless. Talking of keeping signals down to not distort front ends the one I always laugh at is "nice signal... your 1kW is coming through here 5/9+30"... so if he backed his 1kW off by 30dB and only transmitted 1W he should still be 5/9 (but cause significantly less blocking to other users of the band elsewhere in the world).

[@watersstanton]

Thanks Ian.You may well be right about the BC348. 73 Peter

[@alanjones3873]

Given me more to play with as my antenna limitations cant improve. If I had started at this part of cycle I would not be doing HF

[@imaflatpicker3066]

Very good information. Thanks!

[@watersstanton]

Our pleasure!

[@Bernard-John]

Hi, good interesting video and also I learned something new, thanks from Rotterdam 73

[@watersstanton]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@IrishvintageTVRadio]

What about Hi-Fi SSB? This is one a fella was telling me about lately, I told him he should go AM! Interesting video and all good points. 73's EI8HNB

[@watersstanton]

The only downside is band space taken up, but that should not be a problem in most cases. 73 Peter.

[@nr3rful]

always interesting,,, thanks

[@drahtfunker]

Thank you, Peter. Good points. 73 de Dee Em One Kay Double-U

[@watersstanton]

Thanks. 73 Peter

[@Roddy1965]

Very useful.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnmetcalfe3922]

Nice to se. cr100. Racal. Ra 17. Beautiful old receiver. I recently. Purchest an Ar8600mk 2. Ruddy impossible to. Understand but. For. Suctch. Small radio not bad. Audio quality. Could been made better but I use one of those phone amplifiers reachable. It worth trying the audio quality is mutch better in joyed the video swl JM

[@watersstanton]

OK John. Nice to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@dtmdoew]

i am preaching the same things over and over again but they just dont wanna listen, and instead they keep doubling and misunderstanding and so on, just bc they are so happy to big signals on there s-meter. once you've shaken off vanity to see 9+40 you living/listening more easily . So many tools today in modern transceivers, RF gain, ATT, Filter edges, roofing filters, moving preselectors etc .. I dont drive my car as it left the factory neither, i adapt to my needs and conditions... 73, DO8WA

[@watersstanton]

Nice to get the comments. 73 Peter

[@ricardoferrero4816]

73 saludos de Argentina excelente LU3VLL

[@watersstanton]

Hi there. Many thanks. Peter

[@michaelsimonds2632]

Thank you!! DE NZ5H

[@watersstanton]

Nice to hear from across the Pond. Visited Dayton for the Shows until this year! 73 Peter.

[@g13flat]

All you need to do is wear a hooded cloak and I shall call you Obi-Wan! :)

[@watersstanton]

Ha ha, 73 Peter

[@ЗЛОЙИгорь]

TKS , 73 ! RN4W

[@watersstanton]

Nice to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@AliReza-zx8km]

❤❤❤

[@markg6jvy135]

👍

[@watersstanton]

Thanks. Peter

[@johnmetcalfe3922]

Nice. To se crloo.

[@watersstanton]

Yes indeed. 73 Peter

[@robertallbright]

Always excellent and very useful Thanks Robert G3RCE