Wind Generator/SSB

[Bill Balme]

I participate in the OCC's morning SSB Net (6227 at 7am, 4036 at 7:15) and sometimes don't have a very good signal... Yesterday, I was barely audible to one station.

Yesterday I removed my Air X wind generator (sent off for repair) and this morning, everyone on the net commented about the strength of my signal.
So, it could be propagation, but it might also be something to do with the Air X.

My antenna is the backstay and is insulted to about 15 ft off the deck - well away from the Air X, however, the cable heading up to the backstay passes within about 6" of the turbine pole and parallel to it for about 5ft. Then the antenna cable and the turbine cable enter the rear bulkhead through different holes but just 3" apart. The turbine pole is not grounded.
I do not have ferrites on any of the three turbine leads (+, - & Ground) but plan to add them when the turbine comes back.

Do you think this is a red herring or is there something to it?

[S/V Illusion]

The solar flux and other propagation indicators haven't changed much over the last few days ßo rule out that possible cause. If something is in close proximity to coax cable,it's not a factor but if you are referring to the antenna feed as "cable", it can parasitically interact affecting effective radiated power in any number of ways.

[ericoh88]

Are you in a marina or on the hook?

If in a marina, it is possible the signal towards where most of the other station are listening are absorb / blocked by the wind gen pole.

Just a thought FYIW.

Eric
9M2EO

[Paul Elliott]

At 6.2 and 4.0 MHz the wavelength is long enough that I doubt if the wind gen or pole proximity have any directional or serious antenna detuning effect. I also assume that the cabling to the wind gen has remained more or less intact -- if so, then there will be no changes in any existing interactions (which from your description should be minor).

Was your signal being reported as weak, or as noisy? On some boats when the engine is running there can be alternator noise that gets into the transmitted signal. This sounds like a whine or a buzz and can make your signal hard to copy. Perhaps the wind gen is doing something similar?