Improved Receiver Performance at No Extra Cost | Ham Radio

[@jimdavis5230]

I made huge improvements to my receive capability on 80m and 40m. My receive noise levels were high so I tracked down the source of the noise. The source was the overhead cable bringing broadband internet into my house. Obviously the balanced line from the pole was out of balance and therefore radiating broadband noise. I changed internet provider that ran optical fibre into my house. Noise problem solved completely. I can now copy very weak signals I couldn't hear before.

[@Stingmni]

3:01 I use a 90 degree 4" PVC elbow on top of the speaker window. Works perfect

[@l.a.2646]

good video Peter , lots of folks don't use the RF Gain , those of us who grew up without DSP in our radios , the RF Gain was our best friend. learning to ride the noise with the attenuator engaged and the AF . with these new radios using all of these with the DSP NR makes listening to weak signals a breeze ! I have my old Yaesu FTDX-3000 and it still blows me away how it can dig out really weak signals out of the noise. I'd love to get my hands on one of these FT-710's or FTDX-10's - fantastic! 73 de N3TGY

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks. There is a fundamental difference between those two radios. FT-710 is fully SDR whereas the FT-DX10 has a superhet front end.

[@l.a.2646]

@watersstanton if I had my druthers, it would be the FT-710 because I'd like some experience with the 100% SDR . The only experience I have using SDR is with the dongels , of which I'm impressed, I got a second on that is on the IF output of my FTDX-3000- to scout out the band im working and as a panadapter. So having one baked into the rig would really be a treat methinks. 73

[@l.a.2646]

isnt the FT-710 is 100% SDR and the FTDX-10 is a hybrid? Either way FT-710 would be difficult to pass up. If I had the money, I'd pick one up, but my XYL would put me in the doghouse! Lol

[@johnrowe4907]

To my 60+ year old ears, 'throwing' the sound forward gave me the largest and most noticeable improvement. I did this by cutting in half - from top to bottom, one of those plastic tubs that small Christmas puddings come in. When placed over the speaker, this improvised 'dome' worked an absolute treat. Thanks for the video.

[@watersstanton]

Great to hear!

[@dekcap503]

Your knowledge of all things ham, and the wonderful advice provided through your many well-produced videos is so much appreciated Peter. Thank you!

[@watersstanton]

My pleasure.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

A hard copy whether on an old valve receiver or a new SDR, at some point comes down to training the brain to sort out the noise. If takes practice to get a good ear.

[@Scif64]

Nice video Peter. I see way too many people not using the RF gain and I hate listening to a wall of noise that makes me stop watching livestreams and videos. 73 de G0LQP

[@watersstanton]

Agreed.

[@aw7425]

This is very helpful, thanks and 73

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonhowell5362]

Good informative video as always Peter, i use RM noise reduction and i have to say it is very good, give it a try you will be quite amazed.

[@mikesmith5139]

Hi Peter. What an excellent video tutorial! One of the very first things that was impressed upon me, as a newcomer all those years ago by Dave G0MJY, my wonderful tutor, was to back off and 'ride' the RF Gain control. It really is, I still think, one of the most important knobs on the front of the radio. Superb advice! l always look forward to your videos. 73, Mike, M0MTJ

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Mike.

[@David-km8in]

Hi Peter, you have covered the subject in a earlier video. Saying that I have taken your advice and I will say listening is now more pleasant. David M0DUU

[@watersstanton]

Glad that videos have helped.

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

Great video, many, many thanks!! Robert K5TPC

[@tsdelaney]

Thanks for the ideas, Peter! It’s been in the low 30’s here in Nova Scotia, Canada. Cheers!

[@watersstanton]

Oh wow! We have only hit 30 for one day 5his year. Mid to low 20s.

[@ronsworldnl]

Thank you Peter, as a new ham radio operator I was just starting to fiddle with these settings on my FT991A. Looks like I was on the right track. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 73 PD1CDB

[@watersstanton]

Glad it helped

[@johnmarron1944]

That's why I love the ftdx10 the dnr is a game changer

[@brian-g4dvb384]

Try the RM Noise program and be prepared to be very impressed !

[@daveengstrom9250]

This is some good stuff. Thanks for making this video. I am 71 and I DO have some hearing loss. This helps.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it helps. I am 10 years ahead of you!

[@KingLoopie1]

Thank you!

[@brian-g4dvb384]

Peter, Another great video, Thank you. I am surprised that you've not used the free AI RM Noise program - It knocks spots of the MJF / Chinese Noise filters. Give it a try and make a video on your thoughts !

[@watersstanton]

Unfortunately I have no access to fibre internet and get regular drop outs.

[@brian-g4dvb384]

@@watersstanton - I had the same issue until I invested in a Starlink Internet Connection - Low latency and up to 300Mb/s speed. I also have an EE 5G router that provides up to 650MB/s (£15 per month) - Keep up the good work with the videos..

[@Dennis-uc2gm]

I liked the part about reading the manual 🙂 I did that once and was amazed some of the things I didn't even know my transceiver was capable of. I probably had it for a couple years before that happened . 👍 73's

[@ralfkruse7565]

Nice video, and in a noisy area, town or industrial it helps to to put down the amplification of the radio, ( you had S9 Noise) But in Rural area without neighbours and QRM no need for. With S3 Noisefloor on 80m the Noise is determined by atmospheric propagation. If there is a solar storm you hear it. In a crowded Band it can be helpful to turn down the RXbandwidth to 1khz, but leave the TXbandwith on 2,7khz helps to keep the QRM away. Lol.👍🏻😊🇫🇷

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@giffjim55]

Thank you. Great ideas.

[@Billygoat60]

Thanks peter great video always very interesting.

[@watersstanton]

Very welcome

[@LuisPozzi]

Thank you very much for this video and the channel. I learn a lot with the videos. I´m going to change my 991A and buy a 710. We have low propagation and the city where I live i´ts contaminated by RF noise. 73 de LU1CBQ.

[@johneckert1690]

Peter. you are a wealth of knowledge and experience and I look forward to each and every video you produce. I got my general class license here in the states last month and being I live in an apartment I decided to get into POTA. and just use an END FEED HALF WAVE at home The suggestions you mentioned will surely help me as I just completed my Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for head and neck cancer and the radiation treatments effected my hearing and my speech. I'm 66 years young and I plan to be around for a long, long time. BLESS YOU and 73. KK7UAG

[@watersstanton]

Hi John, so nice to hear your story. My wife is half way through radio therapy for mouth cancer. She has had 2 ops and this is the final treatment stage. Another two and a half weeks to completion. Take care and enjoy this great hobby. 73 Peter.

[@johneckert1690]

@@watersstanton Peter. I'm sure I will enjoy the hobby and if it's alright with you and your wife I will pray for her swift recovery. 73's to both of you. KK7UAG. John

[@sbrutcher]

Hi, Peter! Thanks for another great video! I've never actually tried minimizing noise, other than hitting the IC-7300's NR button. You've another way... I didn't understand one thing you said, though. "What you really want to do is to turn the RF gain control back until the S-meter rests at roughly the signal strength of the station." In your first example, how did you know to set the S-meter at S9? Were you going by the *perceived* signal strength of the station - i.e., "Seems really strong, I'll make it an S9?" Or were you looking at something else that I'm not getting (meter, spectrum scope)? Thanks again for your excellent work. You're my go-to radio guy on KZbin!

[@georgeetherege8347]

That threw me a curve also. I think I’ve got it: On my IC-7300 if I leave the RF gain control set for maximum gain the S-Meter indicator (the bar graph format on the IC-7300) varies from a minimum of zero, to some S- number (S-7, S-9, S-9+some number of db, and so forth). As I lower the RF gain the lowest figure at which the bar graph will rest starts to rise-it’s not “zero” anymore. The lower the RF Gain setting, the HIGHER the “resting point” of the S-meter display with no audio modulation. So Mr Waters is advising, if you have a station coming in at S-7, lower the RF Gain until the S-meter rests at S-7 without modulation. According to Mr. Waters, that configuration produces audio that is adequately robust while keeping the noise at a Les irritating perceived level. I’m going to try it next time I’m on 20 meters SSB.

[@watersstanton]

The IC+7300 s-meter works in a different way. Try tuning away from any signal and reduce RF gain until you hear a reduction in noise. Thats a good starting point. If you are listening to a station reduce RF gain until you perceive a reduction in the signal, then increase it a smidge.

[@sbrutcher]

@@watersstanton Thank you, sir! I'll give this a try.

[@sbrutcher]

@@georgeetherege8347 Thanks, George! I never noticed that effect on my S-meter before. I'll take another look tonight.

[@jamesemery1]

loop on the ground is a brilliant receive antenna and doesnt pick up a most of the noise

[@paulsengupta971]

Something that I do, on 40m I seem to have a low rumbly noise. Rather than reduce the bandwidth of the signal, what I've been doing is to use the manual notch filter and turn it pretty much all the way down to the lowest frequency. It then cuts out the bulk of the noise without affecting the bandwidth of the signal too much. I guess I could narrow and upwardly shift the band pass filter as an alternative, but the notch filter is fairly easy to switch in and out.

[@watersstanton]

Yes it’s all about exploring the receiver capability and what works for you. Well done.

[@pa3byw]

I often use for cw an old-fashioned audio peak filter which mostly gives me a better audio than an narrow dsp filter setting on th rig

[@watersstanton]

Yes, agreed. Actually the FT-710 dies have a built-in audio filter which I didn’t mention.

[@ChrisMichael-x8j]

Dear Peter, I purchased the 710 specifically because it allowed an external monitor. I see from your video, however, that you can control the radio with a mouse. How did you achieve that? Cordially, Chris. KF0KEO

[@watersstanton]

Just plug a mouse into the USB port.

[@ChrisMichael-x8j]

@@watersstanton The USB port of the monitor or the radio? I assume I am using the DVI ports for the monitor.

[@MartinMulligan-e8y]

N4HNH covers all the audio setting

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@brianfields4479]

Thanks for sharing Peter. All great advice. I use my rf gain control only and have my audio set in one spot all the time. It make a big difference. 73 zl3xdj

[@w8lvradio]

Just a 90 degree PVC pipe works sitting on top of the radio. 73 DE W8LV Bill.

[@watersstanton]

Yes great solution.

[@bobr6555]

Really bugs me when receivers are not tuned correctly to the received frequency. Why not make sure you are right on the frequency, not 40, 60 or whatever hertz off? Then you don't have to play as much with your IF shift.

[@watersstanton]

I suspect that hearing loss can cause difficulty in correct tuning.

[@charlieoscar09]

I think this is a sticky plaster video....The best advice is to deal with the main problem,shack noise. Everyday is a different in regard to atmospheric noise and is virtually uncontrollable from the Shack.

[@mariemccann5895]

You seem to be confusing two different issues. If atmospheric noise is virtually uncontrollable from the shack then you need to know how to optimise your receivers setting in order to get the best out of it any given situation, which is as you allude to, variable. Shack noise is a separate issue.

[@watersstanton]

Yes, if you cannot control it you need to minimise its impact.

[@charlieoscar09]

@@mariemccann5895 I think you are missing the point.....Most receiver's these days are subject to massive overload from the home and local surroundings. Huge gains can be had dealing with this first. In fact deal with your noise floor and you already have an improvement with any receiver. Atmospheric noise is not in your control hence deal with the Man Made problem first to improve listening performance and comfort. i hope that makes sense to you.

[@XXXJAB]

@@charlieoscar09Peters video is about improving receiver performance at no extra cost. He has outlined a few ideas on how one can improve receiver performance. I don’t think he said it is “All and Everything”. His videos are useful to me and many others. If you would like to share your thoughts, please direct us to your KZbin channel. Otherwise walk on.

[@multilecful]

Great video Peter, most folks buy gear and never know how to use it. My tip for the speaker is cut up a tennis ball and place it over the speaker, great for outdoors. Think Sydey opera house. Nigel ZL1NAY

[@watersstanton]

Nice idea.