Topband: Noise cancellers performance

[Petr Ourednik]

Hello,

I know that it was discussed on the reflector already but as I found
another type for competition I would like to ask over here if
anyone compared DX Engineering NCC-1, the MFJ-1026 and the Timewave
(JRC)
ANC-4 noise cancellers? How much difference there are in
performance refer to cost as the gap is big between them on the market.

Thank You for help,

73 - Petr, OK1RP
--
Petr Ourednik
indians at xsmail.com
--
http://ok1rp.blog.cz (Hamradio)
http://topband.blog.cz (160m)
http://www.qsl.net/ok1rp

[Tod -ID]

Petr:

I have used and reported on the MFJ-1026 [see www.k0to.us for information].
Last year I installed the NCC-1 with dual active verticals and was testing
that. I did not use it to null noise because the horrible noise I had been
fighting for the previous two years had been found and disposed of -- a
collaboration between the power company and me.

I will be installing the NCC-1 and active phased verticals again this year.
I also plan to set up the antenna feeds to the NCC-1 to null noise should
that prove to be of interest. The active phased verticals - NCC-a
combination seemed to work well last season and compared rather favorably
with a K9AY dual loop RX system that was also in place during the Winter
months.

My general impression is that the NCC-1 is much better at adjusting the
phasing between signals received from the input antennas than the MFJ-1026
was. The MFJ seemed to have much of its adjustment {for my location, noise
and sense antennas} confined to a very small portion of the adjustment pot
range. When I tried reversing things with the MFJ it did not seem to always
do what I expected it to do. The NCC-1 does not seem to have that problem --
again, someone else may have different problems and experiences.

I do not [yet] regret making the shift to the NCC-1.

I have no personal experience with the original ANC-4 or the Timewave
version of a noise cancelling unit.

73, Tod, K0TO

[Jim Brown]

if anyone compared DX Engineering NCC-1, the MFJ-1026 and the
Timewave (JRC) ANC-4 noise cancellers?

I have an ANC-4. It is a MASSIVE key click generator if you put it
inline with your transmitter. Other than that it works. :) This is
caused by the circuit that detects when you're transmitting and does
T/R switching to bypass the unit. You can get around this by putting
it in the receive loop only (that is, so that it never sees the
transmitted power). I have not seen the other two units.

73,

Jim K9YC

[Tim Duffy K3LR]

-----Original Message-----
From: topband-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 5:20 PM
To: Topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Noise cancellers performance

if anyone compared DX Engineering NCC-1, the MFJ-1026 and the
Timewave (JRC) ANC-4 noise cancellers?

I have used all four of these cancellers on 160 meters. The MFJ-1026, ANC-4,
SEM and DXE NCC-1. The NCC-1 works the best for us, with the 1026 coming in
second. I could never see any receiving improvement with the ANC-4 or SEM.

I use these devices with two outdoor antennas to create better signal to
noise ratios and dig weaker signals out of the QRN.

73!
Tim K3LR

[LA6FJA/K3RAG Stein Roar Brobakken]

Hi

My qth is quite downhill sloop and I wonder if anyone have a idea what this
will give on a beverage antenna?

73s de Rag

LA6FJA K3RAG

[Mark]

Post by Petr Ourednik
Hello,
I know that it was discussed on the reflector already but as I found
another type for competition I would like to ask over here if
anyone compared DX Engineering NCC-1, the MFJ-1026 and the Timewave
(JRC)
ANC-4 noise cancellers? How much difference there are in
performance refer to cost as the gap is big between them on the market.
Thank You for help,
73 - Petr, OK1RP
--
Petr Ourednik
indians at xsmail.com
--
http://ok1rp.blog.cz (Hamradio)
http://topband.blog.cz (160m)
http://www.qsl.net/ok1rp
_______________________________________________
Topband mailing list
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Hello Petr,

I have the DX-Engineering NCC-1 and compared it against my friends MFJ1026.
The MFJ is more difficult to adjust and tricky. It has as no full 360
degreee coverage on the phase control knob. In an evening of A/B
comparison we found that the NCC-1 showed a better performance with
deeper nulls.

See also my blog on: http:\\pa5mw.blogspot.com
Go to the bottom and click "Older", proceed to april 7 2008
You will find pictures of the NCC-1 contents as well.
In due time I will do a review on a home made 160m front-yard/back-yard
phased vertical on my blog.

'73 Mark, PA5MW

some text from my blog:

Features:

Or better said, in what respect does this unit differ from its MFJ
1025/1026 counterpart?

* Phase adjustable through more than 360 degrees (MFJ does much less)
* Exceptional dynamic range (30dB more)
* Low noise floor (that is usuallly not much of a problem on the
Low-bands)
* Provisions for optional high pass and band pass filters (see pics)
* DC controls with smooth action. Expandable for remote or external
control
* Provides power and transmit muting for external active antennas

In a nutshell; after some years this is the natural follow-up of the MFJ.
The MFJ is definitely not bad, but it has some drawbacks in practise.
Adjusting both input gain setings and finding the right phase are a bit
tricky.
The new NCC-1 has no seperate input gain seetings per channel, but a
'balance pot' instead.
Next it has a switch for swapping the antenna inputs (changing receiving
direction on the spot !).


***********************************************************************************

[Raoul Coetzee]

Post by Petr Ourednik
Hello,
I know that it was discussed on the reflector already but as I found
another type for competition I would like to ask over here if
anyone compared DX Engineering NCC-1, the MFJ-1026 and the Timewave
(JRC)

ANC-4 noise cancellers? How much difference there are in

Post by Petr Ourednik
performance refer to cost as the gap is big between them on the market.
Thank You for help,
73 - Petr, OK1RP

Petr,
I have been using an MFJ 1026 for a few years now, thanks to W5IZ. If used
correctly, it will perform as designed. The internal pre-amp for the noise
antenna is not very good, better not to use it and provide your own strong
pre-amp rather. If the noise antenna signal is strong, you do not need the
pre-amp on.
I have no knowledge about the other units, sorry.
I live on a small property, so the MFJ is used a lot due to the fact that
neighborhood noise can be high. It helped me making qsos with JA from my qth
and made my qso with VP6DX on 160m possible. If I had a large property with
Beverages or phased verticals, I might not have found it so useful.
It is relatively cheap and can be very useful, another tool in your arsenal.
Use it to peak a signal or use it to cancel noise, as long as the noise
antenna is working and the amplitudes are correctly balanced, it will do as
told.

I have no connection with MFJ, normal disclaimer apply!
It may well be that the other units perform better, I cannot comment on
that.
73
Raoul, ZS1REC