In article , Jim Lesurf jcgl@st-
and.demon.co.uk writes
In article , tony sayer

wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf jcgl@st-
and.demon.co.uk writes


Forfar. I can't recall the ERP, but I think it isn't one of the higher
powers. However it gives higher levels here than the alternatives. The
problem I think is that although we are up a hill, the main parts of
Fife 'behind' us are higher and tend to block signals from inland. We
might get more from the other transmitters if the topology were
favourable. Alas, Fife isn't the Fens... :-/

Yes its a main station and PCM fed at 17Kw mixed pol...

Perhaps a bit more directionality on the receiving aerials?. You might
be having some multipath perhaps...

http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/forfar.asp

The CT7000 has a meter to display multipath. I've also checked with a
spectrum analyser in the distant past. There are no signs of any sigificant
level of multipath.

It may well be time for a 'new' tuner and/or a high-gain antenna on the
roof. However I am not certain, given the nature of the problems, how much
these will help. So I suppose I should also consider using either a
Freeview box or some form of satellite RX.

I'd opt for an outside directional aerial and when you do that get the
aerial and get someone to put it up for you unless you can DIY.

a Triax 4 or 5 element can be had from www.cpc.co.uk don't rely on the
aerial rigger to supply an 'eff emm hairel they almost without exception
put up a Halo which is a waste of good metal!.

Freeview is well.. ok as far as 192K audio goes, but 256 K + on
satellite is where it ought be. Still for around a 100 squids you can
get some excellent audio from the other side of the channel:--)).




I noticed in a review in a recent mag that one tuner (Creek IIRC)
reached 70dB SNR full-quieting with 400microV in, whereas the CT7000
needs about 800 microV for this.

They 'umble old Denon TU260 MK2 is remarkably good RF and otherwise.

I'd look around for a second-hand Audiolab T8000 on e-bay thats about as
good as an FM tuner gets or needs to be;!..

I have been re-reading old info on tuners. :-)

Must admit to having mixed feelings about an 'Audiolab' one. I have now
given up on trying to fix the seriously-broken 8000A. The circuit diagram
from the net is incorrect in some details, and having spent some time
studying the actual circuit I must confess to having become less than
impressed.

Should have said!, one does know ones old employers still

No the T8000 is a damm fine tuner

I have therefore bought it for 20 quid to use as a 'breadboard' for making
up some new amp designs of my own. Saves having to build a chassis and a
PSU. :-)


*!....


IIRC Angus Mckenzie, although enthusiastic about the CT7000 thought
that the front end gain/noise figure wasn't as good as it could be,
even years ago, but loved it for the excellent selectivity and low
distortion, etc.

The interference tends to go un-noticed with something like a string
quartet or piano recital, but can show up on proms.

Why do you think that then?..

Modulation level. Quartets, etc, tend to be on the mid-day concerts. This
timing, combined with the dynamics of the music, mean they are simply
'louder' in modulation level terms than the quiet bits of an evening
orchestral concert.

Hummm... The old daytime Optimod by the sound of it..


We also seem to get more interference during the day than during the
evening. Although there is a tendency here for the RF level to droop during
the evenings.

Odd.. your not the other side of that river estuary?, firth of Tay or
whatever its called???

Slainte,

Jim


--
Tony Sayer