Thanks for the responses, everyone! I no longer hear voice on LW- just beacons and the noise to which I referred.
CHRIS: the longwire comes no closer than 45' to any house (which is mine). Would AC and other electronic noise be a problem at these distances? If I do it, do the ferrite cores belong on the longwire or the coax?
I am playing around with some antenna things and have an update.
Once I finished the installation:
450' woods loop on braided 14 ga. insulated wire ->
Soldered 42' coax feed (ends connected to shield and center) ->
Coax lightning arrestor connected to Earth ground wire outside of house (presumably terminated on cold water pipe, but not sure- it's underground) which also has the cable TV and I think, electric breaker box inside all connected to it ->
Coax coil choke at the arrestor point ->
Into an A/B coax switch for disconnecting the antenna during electrical activity ->
Into a VHF/UHF transformer ->
Into the DX-160 with one conductor on 'antenna', the other on the other screw terminal that is jumped to the ground screw, and this ground screw is connected to electrical ground on a power bar.
QUESTIONS:
1. With the arrestor connected to Earth ground via the water pipe, the signal at the receiver is attenuated.
Why?2. With Earth ground connected, when I unplug the elect. ground- no difference.
Why not?3. With Earth ground disconnected, signal is high again.
Why? Makes no difference if elect. ground is connected. I have it connected as a matter of precaution since Earth ground is disconnected. But perhaps they are electrically connected, as I surmised in the statement above.
4. I am not using the A/B switch any longer, thinking that losses or connex problems might be there.
Thoughts?So the problem appears to come from Earth ground being involved.
Why is this?Thanks everyone! You're all great.
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Tyler