I have been using an active mini-whip antenna (PA0RDT) at approximately 20 feet on a non-conducting mast. The PA0RDT is clean and rarely overloads, even with Broadcast AM, with the Yaesu FT-950. What could be causing the noise across all bands with the RA0SMS? All things are equal with the exception of the antenna and power feed unit. You can see the noise spikes in the first three photos, and the lack of noise with the second set of three photos.īelow is a comparison on of the two antennas switched through an Alpha Delta 4 position coax switch. The noise is visible and is rendering the antenna unusable. The RA0SMS produces noise approximately every 10 KHZ - the noise is present from LF all the way through HF. The 12v power supply is choked with snap-on ferrites. The radio is a Yaesu FT-950 with an RSP2 as a panadapter. I recently bought a RA0SMS active mini whip from Anton Gavrilov and having major noise issues.īoth the PA0RDT and RA0SMS are powered by a 12v wall wort (same model #), on a non conducting mast 20 feet, and fed with 50 ohm coax. Clean and able to pull in signals that a 260 foot loop and various long wires cannot. I have been using a PA0RDT active mini whip from Roelof Bakker for about a year now. Mine is not grounded it is not performing as efficiently as it could yet it runs circles around the Pixel mag loop.ĭoes height above ground affect the Pixel?Īm I incorrect to assume that the Pixel mag loop should outperform the PA0RDT? Why would the PA0RDT mini whip outperform the Pixel mag loop? The PA0RDT should be grounded to improve signal and lower noise. STANAG signals were very pronounced and strong w/the PA0RDT while the Pixel was pulling in the signal, it was much weaker and very evident in the waterfall display. Greece beacon "SVO" likewise was strong and very audible w/the PA0RDT the Pixel was non-existent. Shannon Volmet was easily understood with the PA0RDT with the Pixel, it barely produced a signal in the waterfall. Changing the orientation of the loop made no difference. While tuning through the HF dial last night, all signals were significantly stronger with the PA0RDT. 50 feet of 75 ohm coax connects the antenna to RSP2 SDR w/HDSR software. The PA0RDT is ~20 feet off the ground, mounted to a PVC pipe, no grounding, sitting on a wooden deck, about 5 feet from the house. The Pixel is ~5 feet off the ground, mounted to a tripod, isolated properly (per instructions), sitting on a cement patio, about 5 feet from the house. I bought a 2nd-hand Pixel RF-PRO-1B antenna and unimpressed thus far when comparing it to a PA0RDT (Roelf Baker made) active mini whip.
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January 2023
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