Hey Mike! Quick comment on the SolarEdge RFI. I have the largest residential Solar system in Palm Beach County Florida. I have 101 panels. I do not have any RFI issues. I’ve read a lot about people with this problem. I think the true culprit is likely the inverters themselves. I have two inverters due to the size of the system. I had the inverters installed clear on the opposite side of my detached garage away from my Ham Shack and my antennas. I’ve had this system since 2016 with no RFI issues day or night. In fact, I worked you three times this week(daytime) while you were doing POTA. I did not install the system to save on power or to save the planet. I did it so I would have power when the grid goes down in storms and etc. it’s a 31 kWp system. I do not use any additional power during the daylight hours. Next will be new Tesla batteries to float me at nighttime. Anyway… I think the key is distance from the inverter and barriers between them and your operating location.
Interesting. My main inverter (in the garage next to my electrical panel) is on the opposite end of the house from my radios, but due to HOA limitations I have to run my antenna very close to the panels (which I think are wired in at least one loop). K1KP's antennas seem to be fairly far from his panels, but it could be a trick of perspective. I also can't figure out how close his inverters are to his shack. So I guess that takeaway is to try to have your panels/inverter far from your antenna (impossible in my case), be "lucky," and/or to work closely with the installer while having a good way to measure RFI during the installation of the system.
I did this recently. Got 300’ of used “broken” RG-8x from my friendly local ham radio store for 15 bucks. Found the short and now I have all the cabling and patch cables I’ll ever need.
Timely! Have solar but no optimizers. May just put in some ferrites for shitz n giggles. RTFM is my favorite new segment. I learned something new today. Thanks!
Great video, as always! The solar panel piece is particularly timely for me as I'm currently house shopping and wanting to build out a home shack, but solar installs are rather common here in CO. Looking forward to reading that article!
Mike, Great video on how to use the stick pro to check out co-ax... I read the manual, but I'm too inexperienced and new to this stuff, to understand what in the heck it's telling me, and how/why I should a given function.
As to battery issues, what I did was I was able to find all my accessories ( except for 6v lantern battery for my big clunky plastic bodied light and VERY good flashlight that accepts D cells) my very good flashlight is a well "loved" 6 cell Maglite, ( Canada is not fond of anything over 4 d or C cells) that used to be black, lol. it has been used while I was OTR as flashlight, chest and knee knocker,1 part bright bulb, 2 parts beat weapon upgraded, but no one ever robbed me in 42 years in 48 state duty.
I have 18 panels on my roof and yes they kick up noise on 40m during the day. I am a bit lucky as the interference is not as bad as you showed on the video. I try to send and receive stations between the lines of noise every few Khz apart that works most of the time. It does not seem to affect JS8 or FT8 signals on my waterfall the software seems to ignore the lines in the waterfall.
Lol yeah. Except the 3 other systems I've had before the QLXD. But it's actually a blessing. A few years ago the FCC sold the 600MHz spectrum which my old SLX was on. Shure gave me a ~$200 credit to turn it in and buy the QLXD. I'm not gonna complain with that. The QLXD sounds SOOO much better. I love it.
I have SolarEdge as well with no noise issue. Does he have battery pack charging? I have had that type of regular interference when I have my battery packs plugged in and they are trickle charging, if he has battery charging during the day perhaps.
Going on from story (1) to story (2), you need to be a little bit careful about those USB chargeable lithium batteries. At least the 9V ones...someone on a ham radio facebook page has put traces of a load of RFI from one of them, even if they aren't attached to anything! I guess they have a boost converter in them and that can cause RFI.
Thanks for the paleblue recomendation. I checked your links and the link for the AAs seems to be end of life EOL 🤷♂🤷♂ thought you'd like to know... thanks! 73 de ki7cia
How do you like that the Amazon link for the paleblue batteries is live but sadly there is no stock and they are unavailable. So I will try later. Thanks for the reccomendation. 73 Mister. Vic de KE8JWE
Hey Mike! Quick comment on the SolarEdge RFI. I have the largest residential Solar system in Palm Beach County Florida. I have 101 panels. I do not have any RFI issues. I’ve read a lot about people with this problem. I think the true culprit is likely the inverters themselves. I have two inverters due to the size of the system. I had the inverters installed clear on the opposite side of my detached garage away from my Ham Shack and my antennas. I’ve had this system since 2016 with no RFI issues day or night. In fact, I worked you three times this week(daytime) while you were doing POTA. I did not install the system to save on power or to save the planet. I did it so I would have power when the grid goes down in storms and etc. it’s a 31 kWp system. I do not use any additional power during the daylight hours. Next will be new Tesla batteries to float me at nighttime. Anyway… I think the key is distance from the inverter and barriers between them and your operating location.
Interesting. My main inverter (in the garage next to my electrical panel) is on the opposite end of the house from my radios, but due to HOA limitations I have to run my antenna very close to the panels (which I think are wired in at least one loop). K1KP's antennas seem to be fairly far from his panels, but it could be a trick of perspective. I also can't figure out how close his inverters are to his shack. So I guess that takeaway is to try to have your panels/inverter far from your antenna (impossible in my case), be "lucky," and/or to work closely with the installer while having a good way to measure RFI during the installation of the system.
I did this recently. Got 300’ of used “broken” RG-8x from my friendly local ham radio store for 15 bucks. Found the short and now I have all the cabling and patch cables I’ll ever need.
TDR, great tool! Part of my coax has been submerged in water. I replaced it but did not throw it out. I will be testing it this weekend. Thanks Mike!
Timely! Have solar but no optimizers. May just put in some ferrites for shitz n giggles. RTFM is my favorite new segment. I learned something new today. Thanks!
Great video, as always! The solar panel piece is particularly timely for me as I'm currently house shopping and wanting to build out a home shack, but solar installs are rather common here in CO. Looking forward to reading that article!
Mike, Great video on how to use the stick pro to check out co-ax... I read the manual, but I'm too inexperienced and new to this stuff, to understand what in the heck it's telling me, and how/why I should a given function.
Looks like you need the new Olight baattery charging hub! For charging batteries in bulk.
Great job Mike; Love the content. Keep up the great work!!
73 from Virginia!
Great video on the rig expert I was always wondering how to use the TDR function
Excellent information Good Sir!
As to battery issues, what I did was I was able to find all my accessories ( except for 6v lantern battery for my big clunky plastic bodied light and VERY good flashlight that accepts D cells) my very good flashlight is a well "loved" 6 cell Maglite, ( Canada is not fond of anything over 4 d or C cells) that used to be black, lol. it has been used while I was OTR as flashlight, chest and knee knocker,1 part bright bulb, 2 parts beat weapon upgraded, but no one ever robbed me in 42 years in 48 state duty.
I have 18 panels on my roof and yes they kick up noise on 40m during the day. I am a bit lucky as the interference is not as bad as you showed on the video. I try to send and receive stations between the lines of noise every few Khz apart that works most of the time. It does not seem to affect JS8 or FT8 signals on my waterfall the software seems to ignore the lines in the waterfall.
Plus 1 on the Pale Blue. I also use their solar panel to power my mobile Meshtastic
thanks for another great informational vid Mike!
I use the pale blue batteries and have had good results with them.
shure QLXD, truly a man who wants to buy once and cry once. Props.
Lol yeah. Except the 3 other systems I've had before the QLXD. But it's actually a blessing. A few years ago the FCC sold the 600MHz spectrum which my old SLX was on. Shure gave me a ~$200 credit to turn it in and buy the QLXD. I'm not gonna complain with that. The QLXD sounds SOOO much better. I love it.
Great video Lord Mike
Damn, you are smart!😺
Just smart enough to read the manual a couple minutes before I hit record 😆
I don't know what's worse: Shorts in your COAX, or COAX in your shorts.
I have SolarEdge as well with no noise issue. Does he have battery pack charging? I have had that type of regular interference when I have my battery packs plugged in and they are trickle charging, if he has battery charging during the day perhaps.
Going on from story (1) to story (2), you need to be a little bit careful about those USB chargeable lithium batteries. At least the 9V ones...someone on a ham radio facebook page has put traces of a load of RFI from one of them, even if they aren't attached to anything! I guess they have a boost converter in them and that can cause RFI.
I wonder if instead of all those chokes it might be cheaper to run the wires in conduit.
What coax are you using? (Mine is too stiff)
where is the FCC where is the law when it comes to RFI pollution ?
Thanks for the paleblue recomendation. I checked your links and the link for the AAs seems to be end of life EOL 🤷♂🤷♂ thought you'd like to know... thanks! 73 de ki7cia
Oh thanks for letting me know.
How do you like that the Amazon link for the paleblue batteries is live but sadly there is no stock and they are unavailable. So I will try later. Thanks for the reccomendation. 73 Mister. Vic de KE8JWE