[INRAD] Filter Board

[Charlie Mazoch Jr.]

Hi Bob:
I enjoyed your comments about lowering the receivers noise through IF 
passband narrowing with cascaded filtering to better hear weak signals. 
I've had a running battle going with some amateurs who claim that if 
there is an increase in noise when the antenna is connected versus none 
the receiver is just fine. Baloney! The rig I'm speaking of is the 
Kenwood TS-2000 and it's internally generated noise with no antenna 
connected is horrible. I've tamed mine and it now receives ok for a rig 
with such wide first IF filtering. Im anxiously awaiting the roofing 
filter for my old FT-980. It has a very quiet receiver and hears as well 
as the high end rigs.
73's  Charlie W5VIN

N5IET Bob wrote:

>You know it is funny that you would mention the
>atmospheric noise thing Tom.
>
>This may sound a little overboard to some but I am going
>to say it anyway because I mean it just that much. 
>
>As of two days ago from now, at this radio room, a lot of
>what goes into picking a rig in the future, will be
>determined by whether it will take an INRAD board. IT
>MAKES THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.
>
>INRAD IS TOPS AT THIS SHACK :0)
>
>Here is one of the main reasons for this decision.
>
>I love working DX especially weak signals.
>
>I have really been discouraged on 40, 80 and 160 until
>now.
>
>Since the colder weather has arrived and the bands have
>quietened down a bit here as far as atmospheric noise is
>concerned now that I had the FT-920 I thought surely I
>would at least be able to hear the dx stations on 160, but
>no luck.
>
>I would see dx spots in my logger32 logging software and
>click on the freq to go there and see if I might get lucky
>without co phased towers, arrays ect (just my little
>dipoles here) and work a dx station (no Canada is not
>included in the list).
>
>Heck I couldn't even hear them, much less work them.
>
>I could only could hear the stateside stations sending to
>them. So I was about ready to give up until I could afford
>a co phased tower arrangement or at least one tower with
>enough height to support a 1/2 wave sloper for 160.
>
>What I didn't realize is that they were in there all the
>time, it wasn't about more gain it was about less noise.
>
>They were there, but under my noise floor.
>
>Now that I have my little INRAD CW cascading filter board
>installed (400hz and 250Hz), I can hear them and there are
>plenty out there Hi Hi
>
>All of a sudden I am hearing many dx stations on both 80
>and 160 and even a few between the broadcast stations on
>40  -- now that I can get in between the broadcast
>stations on 40.
>
>Heck I am *once again* actually looking forward to going
>to my rig NOW instead of dreading all the noise
>sidebanders, broadcast stations, ect and doing it because
>"I need another one for DXCC". 
>
>I just enjoy doing it again.
>
>  
>