Common mode current induced by radiated sources (plasma TV, routers, computers, transmitters, etc) can be picked up by the outside of the coax braid from the antenna feed point back to the receiver. This portion of the coax braid acts like a receiving antenna, picking up common mode noise signals that override weak signals making them difficult or impossible to hear! The solution? A common mode noise filter with high choking impedance at the receiver end of the coax. Do you have common mode noise on your coax? Here is a simple test (pdf) 1. Remove the coax connector and measure the noise level. Common mode noise suppression with the Palomar CMNF series of filters is typically 25-36 dB which is equivalent to 4-6 “S” units on radios with 6 dB/”S” unit or may be more on radios with 3dB/”S” unit. Note for antenna switch users, perform the above test on each antenna coax lead separately to determine if that particular antenna braid is contributing noise to the receiver – use a coax noise filter on the antennas that have common mode noise.Coax Common Mode Noise Filter
2. Now insert the coax connector CENTER CONDUCTOR ONLY into the SO-239 antenna input and measure
the noise level (it should be higher and include possible signals)
3. Now connect the OUTER SHELL of the coax connector to the antenna input and measure the noise
level. If it is higher you have common mode noise and the common mode noise filter will help suppress this noise which
is carried on the outside of the coax braid (acting as a second receive antenna).
Iron powder cores are more stable than ferrites and do not saturate as easily so they are best for tuned circuits, filters, and high power inductors. They come in different “Mixes” for use at different frequencies. For best “Q” use the Mix specified for your frequency.To find the number of turns to give the desired inductance for your coil use the formula below:
Turns = 100 x 
Toroid Dimensions
To order specify core size and mix (e.g. T200A-2). Available in sizes that have µH per 100 turns shown in table.
All iron powder cores are special orders. Please allow one week for shipment after order received.
The iron powder cores shown in the above tables are primarily used for either high power feed line chokes for common mode current reduction or for 4:1 and 9;1 very high power transmission line transformers.
For high power feed line chokes, choose the inside diameter of the iron powder core closest to the transmission line outside diameter and use 6-20 cores at the junction with the antenna feed.
For 4:1 (50/200 or 75/300 ohm) transmission line transformers in the range of 1.8-30 Mhz, select the size appropriate for the power level as follows:
T200A x 2 = 1.5KW
T300A x 2 = 2.5KW
T400A x 2 = 5KW
Use Mix 2 for all the above transmission line transformers. Fully assembled and enclosed units are available for each of the power levels. Click HERE for information.
4:1 transmission line transformers using iron powder cores are typically used for ladder line to 50 ohm coax connections
For .1 – 2 Mhz wide band transformers use Mix 26 which has a higher permeability and requires less turns to achieve a given inductance. Mix 2 has almost constant permeability from 1-30 Mhz. Mix 26 has an initial permeability of 75 at .1 Mhz and gradually decreases to about 10 at 30 Mhz. For high power AM broadcast range (.5-1.7 Mhz) transformer, use Mix 26 to reduce the turn count.
Minimum order for iron powder cores is $50
Shipping on larger cores in quantity may be more than $10 – email/call for quote.