RF feedback on 20 mtr

[ke0me]

I am getting a fair amount of audio feedback on ssb on 20 meters.
However, it changes with the mic I use.

When using the handheld mic , it's is barely present, but just barely noticeable.

When I use the Heil pro set unit, with a foot switch, it's horrible.

I am assuming the long lead to the footswitch is picking up the RF, compared to the hand mic.

And only on 20 meters.

All components of station are connected to a DC ground( single lead, not really a RF ground), am using Icom 7200 to Alpha vertical with 28-30 ft of coax.

So, where to start, work on microphone circuit or coax feeding antenna ( common mode problem?)????

Suggestions please.

[wa8yxm]

All Electroicns has a good deal on Ferrite Beads just now...... I just bought a box full.

[NN5I]

Ferrite beads. Mix 31 if you can find it, else 75 or 77. Mix 43 is commonly available but not recommended for common-mode suppression at HF.

[N3LYT]

Where are you hearing the feed back? A real earth ground would be a good ideal.

[NN5I]

I'd try toroids on the footswitch cord first, since you say that's the worst. Then the mike and feedline.

I don't agree that an earth ground is particularly important, which is good because it's very hard to get one in most shacks and all RVs. Earth grounds are useful for avoiding electrocution, but sometimes cause electrocution too. Earth grounds aren't generally very significant for RF unless your particular antenna requires one, and even then there are workarounds.

Many airplanes have HF radios, and I've never seen an airplane with a good solid earth ground.

[ke0me]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm hearing my voice feedback very loud and raspy sounding into the Heil headphones when using the footswitch.
I hear very little to no feedback when I switch to Icom handheld mic, and still have Heil headphones on.

That's why I'm suspicious of the footswitch picking up RF.

I will put some ferrites on and let u know what happens.

Tax

[N3LYT]

I'd try toroids on the footswitch cord first, since you say that's the worst. Then the mike and feedline.

I don't agree that an earth ground is particularly important, which is good because it's very hard to get one in most shacks and all RVs. Earth grounds are useful for avoiding electrocution, but sometimes cause electrocution too. Earth grounds aren't generally very significant for RF unless your particular antenna requires one, and even then there are workarounds.

Many airplanes have HF radios, and I've never seen an airplane with a good solid earth ground.

The air craft is the "ground" single point. His power supplies are most likely house grounded to the B- but I do not trust house grounds for RF because they can be pretty good antennas. A 1:1 may help also but it does matter what antenna is being used.

[NN5I]

The aircraft is the "ground" single point.

Precisely. Every station, in an ideal world, ought to have a single-point ground. My point was that this need not be, usually ought not to be, and often cannot be, an earth ground. It can just as well be a purely local ground, a common point that isn't really a ground at all, though often called one.

Earth grounds are merely a safety measure. Though it is widely believed that some antennas require earth grounds, actually I don't know of any kind of antenna at all that requires one or is improved by one. A quarter-wave vertical, for example, works better with an isolated ground plane made of wire than it ever possibly could with an earth ground. Radials work best when above ground and not connected to the soil. And so on.

[wa8yxm]

Here is a "Feedback" question of a different sorts.

Often when I check into a net on eithe r40 or 75,,,, I will give my call, then when I release the mic I hear my call Very clear, My voice, Echoing back? Any thoughts.

[NN5I]

Here is a "Feedback" question of a different sorts.

Often when I check into a net on eithe r40 or 75,,,, I will give my call, then when I release the mic I hear my call Very clear, My voice, Echoing back? Any thoughts.

You're the first to do EME on the low bands!

[N3LYT]

It takes about .7 second to go around the world when the bands are hot. I have heard it a few times not real often.

[N3LYT]

Quite true Carl not all antennas require grounding but all require a return path. http://www.arrl.org/grounding #2 in the article is what I'm referring to as far as a station ground.

[NN5I]

Actually about 1/8 to 1/7 of a second. It's 24,000 miles around the planet at a little more than 186,000 miles per second.

There have been QST articles about "long-delayed echoes", as I think they are called.

There's even a Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_delayed_echo) about them.

[NN5I]

Quite true Carl not all antennas require grounding but all require a return path. http://www.arrl.org/grounding #2 in the article is what I'm referring to as far as a station ground.

The article you point to is a little bit wrong, but you are right. Some antennas need a return, but in no case does that return need to be to the soil of the planet. The soil of the planet is a rather lossy return, usually, and almost any other kind of return "ground" is better.

[N3LYT]

The article you point to is a little bit wrong, but you are right. Some antennas need a return, but in no case does that return need to be to the soil of the planet. The soil of the planet is a rather lossy return, usually, and almost any other kind of return "ground" is better.

I'm not disputing that, the ground is lossy but a good earth ground does help eliminate stray RF floating around your shack. A single point ground to me is well worth the effort.

[wa8yxm]

That is what it sounds like but far far too clear.. It has to be something in the RV, I've a rather extensive computer net.. Wi-Fi "modem" (Linksys WGA-54G) Router (belkin) something like 8 differnet devices some wired (4) some Wi-Fi. including Shack Computer (WI-Fi at the moment but there is a were in place, blanged adapter not adapting) This laptop (Wired but can use wifi) Switch, DVR 1, DVR-2 File Server (Windiows 7 comp)_ For DVR's Phone, tablet Chromecase and tablet.

However what comptuers are on/off or eve3n exist do not seem to affect it.. (The Chrome book for example is new this month and it's been happening for years,, The Tablet is new last year (As is the phone) Tablet is currently re-playing Ham nation via Chrome cast (Also new in 2014) but it's been happening longer than that.. And only sometimes.. Not always.. Today it was clear, but faint, I gave my call (3.973 MHz) Rich said HI, then I heard the echo.

[N3LYT]

I give up on the "echo" that's a new one for me. Store and forward?