Killing the Noise: Independence Day

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Kevin

I’m literally stunned by how little money it’s going to cost to replace my Invisible Fence brand pet containment system. I paid more for the last service call to fix a broken wire than an entire PetSafe® system complete. Installation should be a snap, given that the underground loop is already buried. I even own a PetSafe collar already that gets used at a relative’s house.

So, the plan is to have the new system up and running on July 4, American Independence Day.

I’ll be celebrating my independence from at least one noise source.

Update:

I’ve seen improvement in the noise just with the installation of the EMI filter between the fence transmitter and its loop, so right now I am enjoying the improvement and will work on total replacement later.

EMI Filter installed
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V1 v V3 v PL-330: ATS Mini Sensitivity

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Kevin

Now that I’ve started using the Si4732 ESP32 ATS V3, I’ve been disappointed. The technology is amazing, features overwhelming and the operation is close to optimum for a device with just an off-on switch and a knob. But to be a good radio, it has to get stations, and I wasn’t getting much on it when I tested radios for my Little Radio Review. So what’s going on?

ATS Mini V1, ATS Mini V3 and Tecsun PL-330

I have two ATS Mini radios. The first one was described on the product sheet as a “Mini Radio” and based on its hardware description is what is described as V1. The second one is described in its documentation as an ATS Mini and its hardware description points to it being V3, with the significant differences being that V3 has an adjustment to the antenna impedance that’s supposed to make it more sensitive and it has a separate amplifier for the audio output jack making it usable for headphones.

One of the most prominent experts on these radios is an amateur radio operator, Paul (OM0ET), who posts videos about radio topics on YouTube and in particular has modified the ATS Mini. Here is his early review of the V1 model:

A list of good things about the radio appears in the video description, including: “Sensitivity comparable with PL330.” Now that is a statement that I can objectively evaluate, since I have a Tecsun PL-330.

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Killing the Noise: Part 3

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Kevin

For some reason the 1985 movie title, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, came to mind, perhaps mock titled for a sequel that was never intended to happen. This story keeps on going, and going. In Part 3 episode I track down the EMI emitters (or so I thought).

The first step was to power off the Invisible Fence containment system and disconnect its battery backup. The next step was to verify that the EMI problem continued and to make a quick sweep with a radio to see roughly where it’s heard. Assisting me in this exercise will be my wife who has agreed to flip switches on the electrical panel while I monitor the EMI, using a pair of Baofeng GM-15PRO GMRS 2-way radios (mobile phones are not cool) for communication.

WAIT!

I was all set to tackle the systematic disconnection of circuits in the house, first powering off the containment fence. With the fence was off, unlike last night, EMI wasn’t a problem. The putative second source was silent. CFRX sounded pretty good with my WOW antenna at the radio desk.

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Killing the Noise: Part 2

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Kevin

I’m plagued with radio interference. Here I continue my efforts to rid myself of it.

The Elephant in the Room

Katie

Katie is obviously not an elephant, but she casts an elephantine shadow over shortwave listening at my house thanks to:

Invisible Fence Boundary Plus® Containment System
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WUT v WOW

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Kevin

I often use and mention my Wire Up a Tree antenna (WUT). It’s about 20 feet long and runs diagonally up a tree. It 22 gauge “magnet wire” and because of its dark color, virtually invisible. It’s located some distance from my house. I selected the location for its reduced background noise — not great but reduced. Alongside the WUT, I have a copper plated ground rod, like the ones used for grounding residential electrical systems. If the radio has an external antenna jack, then both the antenna and ground are connected. The antenna runs north – south. For more on the antenna and ground, see Antenna + Ground.

But as Yoda knowingly commented: “there is another.” It runs out a window and connects to a tree, close to 40 feet long running east – west. I hadn’t named this antenna before, just calling it my New Year’s Antenna, but “wire out a window” really sounds like “WOW” to me. The wire is 20 gauge silicon insulated stranded copper wire. There is also a ground rod. The antenna and ground connect to a 1:9 balun that feeds a coaxial cable with SMA connectors from the window to my radio desk. [The unneeded under-window cable has since been removed.]

1:9 Balun on WOW Antenna

The WOW has had a hard life, taken down by weather and falling branches 3 times, but it’s easy to repair. The insulator next to the tree is one I got when I was in high school in the 1960’s. It’s a keepsake. The other one of the pair is on the WUT.

Press Pause

This article is paused until I can deal with the interference problem that’s making the WOW antenna unusable. See: Killing the Noise: Part 3.

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A Little More Radio: ATS Mini

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Kevin

One thing was painfully obvious in my Little Radio Review, the ATS Mini isn’t very loud. I have a solution, hooking up the radio via audio cable to my Sony SRS-XB20 speaker. The problem with that solution is that the SRS-XB20 is heavy and won’t fit in my radio bag and certainly not in a pocket. I paid $48 for this in 2017 but Amazon sells it today for $124.99! Stereo versions get into serious money.

Sony SRS-XB20 Speaker

Wireless transmitter

Digging around in a drawer, I found an OiDiPi BT6 Wireless Transmitter/Receiver I had bought in February of 2024 for some reason that escapes me now unless it was because it was under $10 on Amazon.

So I gave it a try.

ATS Mini radio, OiDiPi BT6 Wireless Transmitter / Receiver and Jazmm 213 Radio / Bluetooth Speaker
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A Little Radio Review

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Kevin

Several small shortwave radios reside in my accumulation and I’m interested to see how they compare, especially how newer ones compare to older ones. At least a dozen of my radios fit the “Ultralight” category (volume under 20 cubic inches), including some serious radios like the Tecsun PL-330 and the Qodosen DX/SR-286. While those radios are small, I don’t consider them “little,” and little is more the concept I’m going for here. So here is a little list:

  • Amnvolt ATS Mini (V3)
  • Degen DE-15
  • HanRongDa HRD-701
  • Jazmm 213
  • Raddy RF75A
  • Raddy RF760
Little Radios: ATS Mini, HanRongDa HRD-701, Raddy RF75A, Degen DE15, Jazmm 213, Raddy RF760
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