View Full Version : Various hints!
When operating from a building in a rural or third world environment rather than using "house power" provided from a generator or commercial source, use batteries, a designated generator for the radio only or turn out the lights. Many commo sites have been compromised from the blinking of the lights while sending.
Team Sergeant
05-01-2004, 12:26
When operating a HF system out of a hotel located in some third world country remember, as soon as you hit the “transmit” key the noise you hear will be coming from everybody watching re-runs of “The Honeymooners” in the hotel and all cussing in unison.
With the exception of specifically ungrounded antennas such as di-poles and vehicular whip antennas, antennas need a good ground to effectively radiate. Inside, a cold water pipe is considered the best. Note, I said "cold" water pipe. Outside, using the ground stake as a target for urinating works and if all else fails a counterpoise works.
Jack Moroney (RIP)
05-07-2004, 15:10
Originally posted by Team Sergeant
When operating a HF system out of a hotel located in some third world country remember, as soon as you hit the “transmit” key the noise you hear will be coming from everybody watching re-runs of “The Honeymooners” in the hotel and all cussing in unison.
My folks used to use low pass filters and AC line filters to prevent this.
Jack Moroney
Team Sergeant
05-07-2004, 15:34
Most of the interference we were seeing was due to RF from the antenna. We were operating from DC power just because of what you stated above. It’s very difficult to mask RF off an antenna, unless you’re transmitting on very low wattage.
TS
Every good commo man knows that if he can;t make contact it is because of sun spots, atmospherics, RF grabbing mineral deposites in the ground or a screwed-up wave propagation section which assigned the wrong frequencies and/or times.
Even though the above is an indisputable fact, we can overcome the obstacles by being flexible and knowledgeable. Make changes, many times a slight change in antenna height, orientation or type will overcome the evil problems listed above. A change in site may also be in the books.
Don't stand around stamping your feet and blaming things beyond your control. Make changes to things that are under your control.
CommoGeek
05-08-2004, 15:18
Originally posted by QRQ 30
Don't stand around stamping your feet and blaming things beyond your control. Make changes to things that are under your control.
THAT seperates a good commo guy from a bad one.
Handheld radios/satphones/GPS's don't work well in armored vehicles...that's why they make external antennas.:D