So I have some RFI Issues at QRO-level powers (50 watts and above).
Using my attic 9:1 EARCHI
- Bosch oven turns on.
- This is my highest antenna and I think statistically I have made the most DX QSO’s (FT8) on it at QRO (100 watts max). I do have a FT240-43 with the coax wrapped 10 turns, but that’s way at the distal end of the coax right before it goes into my tuner.
- Operating at less than QRO seems to help but since my operating position using this antenna is upstairs and the oven is downstairs, its hard to experiment a lot.
Using my 49:1 in the Front Yard
- On 10 meters I seem to be able to open my 2nd garage door. Probably similar frequency.
- On 10 meters (at 75 watts with a 3 foot coax from the transformer on my window sill into my LDG IT-100 tuner) on my iCom 7100 my desktop hard drive keeps “unplugging” from my Mac. I seemed to have kind of cured this by adding an Amazon clip on ferrite 1/2 way along the power wire with 2 turns of the wire and then a ferrite on the USB cable straight through. This took a little experimenting as I thought only the USB cable was the culprit but it turns out the power lead is at least part of the issue. Calling CQ on FT8 at 30 meters, now I only randomly get “Disk Not Ejected Properly”. I wonder if the randomness is due to calling CQ vs responding to a CQ. Next thing is to put 10 turns of a 240-43 on a longer coax in the shack and/or adding a 0.05 wavelength counterpoise. But I don’t know where I’d put the counterpoise since the radiating wire runs through the window and outside. I don’t want the counterpose nearly parallel to it and I don’t want it inside (which it pretty much is right now except its 3 feet!). Hmmm.
Using my Kenwood TS-180 + Micronta SWR Meter at the kitchen table
- I can turn on my Bosch Oven and put it into cleaning mode!
- There’s something strange with that 30 old SWR meter which is probably the culprit. The Kenwood also puts out 200 watts. This happened in front of my XYL so you can guess she put the kibosh on that combination.
- I haven’t tried to cure this RFI although I stopped using the SWR meter. Its been difficult to make SSB QSO’s so I’m not sure if the problem is resolved.
Using my Superantenna MP1-C in the back yard
- No RFI in my house yet. The antenna is placed well away from the house.
I haven’t observed any RFI using my 705 at QRP yet.
Regardless, my antennas (except the MP1-C) are embarrassingly compromised.
