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De-noising the active magnetic receiving antenna. |
By connecting the antenna PCB ground surface to a lowZ, noise free ground, the PCB mass plane will become low-Z. On the outside of the coax induced common mode noise voltages will see L6 on the antenna PCB as a high value (5.000 to 10.000 Ohms) wide band SERIES RESISTOR (not an inductor !). The resulting common mode current is therefore very weak. AND on top of that, the lowZ antenna mass surface acts as a big ratio voltage devider. Depending on the length of the coax, standing waves could appear onto the outside of the coax screening. This can lead to repeating noise maxima at certain frequencies. By installing common mode chokes every 2.5m distance, no resonance's can occur at frequencies below 30 MHz. See also : Common Mode Chokes |
TIP : A low-Z noise-free ground can sometimes be made, by a connection to the steel reinforcement of concrete structures. |
Ferrite material and application.
This newer version antenna unit
already contains a ferrite ring common mode choke on the PCB. This makes connecting the
coax to the antenna easier.
If the coax line is long, you should put
common mode chokes over the thin RG174 or RG316 coax at regular intervals. The
only best ferrite types for common mode chokes are : |
- Install a ferrite clamp over the coax at the tuning unit.
- Install a ferrite clamp at the receivers antenna plug.
- Install a ferrite clamp at the receiver-output
of the tuning unit.
- Install a ferrite clamp near the receiver over the mains cable.
OR
- If a separate power supply is used, install a ferrite clamp near the receiver over the DC supply cable.
20210202 :
When the coax is longer than 1/4 wavelength for the highest listening frequency
(for instance more than 10m for 7MHz), you should install at least one extra
clamp in-between antenna unit and tuning unit. For even longer coaxes the
distance between clamps over that coax should be maximal 1/8 wavelength. Every
choke needs about 1m extra coax length.
Also
very effective :
- Burry the coax cable at least 10cm deep into the soil.
AND / OR
- Install ferrite clamps every 2.5 m over the coax between the antenna unit and the
tuner unit. This proved to be very successful with my shortwave wideband RXloop.
This seems to be overdone, but the
investment could is worth it.
At your own risk. |