Portable and Mobile Radio RFI Solutions
Portable operation is fun but also brings challenges to the radio operator concerning receiver “noise” levels, RF interference from adjacent sources including close by transmitting stations, and RFI from portable generators. A typical scenario and some suggested Palomar product solutions are shown in the picture.
Portable operation is typical of ham radio operating events such as Field Day, Summits on the Air, Route 66 events, National Parks on the Air, California QSO party, DXpeditions, and emergency operation command posts, etc.
Suggestions
Each low power operating station with a generator should have:
- Generator RFI Kit (Part # RFI-GEN) with FSB31-1 ferrite filters at each end + Nylon ties for security
- Transceiver RFI Kit (Part # RFI-XCVR)
- Laptop RFI Kit (Part # RFI-1C)
- Coax Cable Noise Filter (Part # CMNF-1)
- Bullet-55 portable HF end fed antenna system
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Coax Inline Common Mode Choke Unun - 500 Watts 25-300 MHz- 10, 11, 6, 4, 2 MetersCoax Inline Common Mode Choke Unun - 500 Watts 25-300 MHz- 10, 11, 6, 4, 2 MetersSKU FC-8X-3-31List price $39.95 Save 30%$27.95On Sale
DC Voltage Common Mode Noise Filter - Marine, RV, Communications, 600 Volts/30 AmpsDC Voltage Common Mode Noise Filter - Marine, RV, Communications, 600 Volts/30 AmpsSKU RFI-DC-30List price $109.95 Save 18%$89.95On Sale
Laptop Computer with DC power RFI Kit - 7 FiltersLaptop Computer with DC power RFI Kit - 7 FiltersSKU RFI-LaptopList price $34.95 Save 14%$29.95
MAXI-CHOKER Coax Line Isolator/Balun, 1-61 MHz, 1.5/3KW, SO-239 In/Stud Output, FLAGPOLE OCF, G5RV, ZS6BKW, BN4000 Replacement, Ladder Line-Coax interfaceMAXI-CHOKER Coax Line Isolator/Balun, 1-61 MHz, 1.5/3KW, SO-239 In/Stud Output, FLAGPOLE OCF, G5RV, ZS6BKW, BN4000 Replacement, Ladder Line-Coax interfaceSKU MC-1-1500LL$89.95
MINI-BALUN 1:1 Coax Interface to Ladder Line, Dipole elements, 500 Watts PEP, up to -38Db Common Mode Rejection, 1-61 MHz, Flagpole, Dipole, Beam and G5RV/ZS6BKW AntennasMINI-BALUN 1:1 Coax Interface to Ladder Line, Dipole elements, 500 Watts PEP, up to -38Db Common Mode Rejection, 1-61 MHz, Flagpole, Dipole, Beam and G5RV/ZS6BKW AntennasSKU MB-1-500SS$69.95
VHF/UHF Generic Base Transceiver RFI KitVHF/UHF Generic Base Transceiver RFI KitSKU RFI-VHF-BASE$49.95
Portable and Mobile Radio RFI Solutions
Portable operation is fun but also brings challenges to the radio operator concerning receiver “noise” levels, RF interference from adjacent sources including close by transmitting stations, and RFI from portable generators. A typical scenario and some suggested Palomar product solutions are shown in the picture.
Portable operation is typical of ham radio operating events such as Field Day, Summits on the Air, Route 66 events, National Parks on the Air, California QSO party, DXpeditions, and emergency operation command posts, etc.
Suggestions
Each low power operating station with a generator should have:
- Generator RFI Kit (Part # RFI-GEN) with FSB31-1 ferrite filters at each end + Nylon ties for security
- Transceiver RFI Kit (Part # RFI-XCVR)
- Laptop RFI Kit (Part # RFI-1C)
- Coax Cable Noise Filter (Part # CMNF-1)
- Bullet-55 portable HF end fed antenna system
TECH NOTE: We also stock RFI kits to protect effected devices such as garage door openers, computers (laptops, desktops), dsl/cable routers, ethernet hubs and many more devices. If you run a high powered RF amplifier in your ham station also consider a linear amp RFI kit which will cut down RFI transmitted by your station. Remember there is always a “transmitter” and a “receiver” of RFI and the quest is to find and choke the “path” the RFI has selected – you need to add ferrites to both the transmitting side and the receiving side to eliminate RFI problems. The RFI-HTS kit only helps suppress RFI on the receiving side.
Typical RFI Problem/Solution:
Hello, I am Larry, a ham operator and I am having interference issues with my Direct TV system. My station is a FT450D through an Ameritron ALS-600. From the amp through a coax switch to choose between an OCF dipole or an Hustler 5BTV vertical. Any power over 100 watts and my DTV goes off the air and must completly reboot/format. Coax is RG-8. The DTV dish is pointed away from the dipole and separated by about 25'. DTV was totally useless! They suggested I not talk on the radio while she is watching TV! Please help me with a reasonable, cost effective soultion. (The wife gets really pissed when I shutdown the tv!) Thank you, Larry
Hi Larry,
Your RFI problem is quite common and is usually a sign of either a radiating coax feed line or reception of your radiated signal (source) by the Direct TV (the victim) through either the AC power lines acting as “antennas” for your ham signal or the coax braid of the satellite antenna acting as an antenna for your signal.
The solutions are straight forward:
1. To make sure your feed line is not radiating you need a feed line choke at each antenna feed point (also makes your antenna work better since it is not using the coax as part of the antenna). You can use our simple Kit 110 with 5 snap on chokes on each antenna for this purpose. Part # Kit 110 at $27.50 each – one for each antenna. These chokes will keep your feed line from radiating and coupling into your ac power lines. INFO HERE
2. The radiation from your antennas themselves may also be getting into the ac power lines and coax braid of the Direct TV antenna so you need to protect the victim receiver. Depending upon the sophistication of your direct TV setup (e.g. home theater, dvd, tape player, sub woofer speakers, etc), the path of the RFI may be coming thru the AC power lines of any connected device to the video including the video monitor itself! To help solve this problem we have a home theater RFI kit for up to 5 devices (you need a minimum of two – one for the Direct TV receiver(AC and coax input) and another for the video monitor AC power lines and HDMI or video input cable. Our kit part # is RFI-HTS. INFO HERE
These items should help reduce the RFI and let you operate on the air while your wife watches TV.
Bob Brehm, AK6R
Chief Engineer