How to Optimize

[davidmc36]

I installed ferrite antenna in attic of garage. It is a single attached garage. I replaced the 1 foot leads from antenna to pre-amp to avoid mounting it up with antenna. There is about 20 feet of 26 ga twisted pair shielded going to pre-amp. There is about 20 feet of Cat5 from pre-amp to amp.

I wonder what might be the best way to optimize performance by removing noise floor?

1. Provide cleaner power supply

2. Shorten twisted pair back to 1 foot and use 20 feet of Cat5 to amp 

3. I have 100 feet of direct burial Cat5 on hand that could run out to a weatherproof enclosure up to 75 feet away from the house.

I seem unable to turn gains up past 10x2 or it goes steady interference.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Image of vIn

   

[davidmc36]

IDK

I get the idea I have likely achieved about the best it will be in my garage attic. I guess it is working at least reasonably well as it seems quite active.

Can anybody give me an opinion on how it is running?

I moved everything away from lights and wires as much as able. It sure runs the noise floor up with the 4 foot fixtures with T8 lamps replaced with direct pop-in LED lamps. A ground post into the earth helps.

I figured out how to get it remote from the house though. Install a PoE switch in the garage. Run my direct burial CAT5 out to a built enclosure. Use a PoE to 5V splitter so no power on Ethernet but 5 available for unit.

Has anyone ever done this?

[dupreezd]

MMM I figured out how to get it remote from the house though. Install a PoE switch in the garage. Run my direct burial CAT5 out to a built enclosure. Use a PoE to 5V splitter so no power on Ethernet but 5 available for unit.

Has anyone ever done this?

Hang a scope on that 5v supply and see if the power is clean with no ripple, should be slightly above 5V. My power supply  reads 5.1V

Yes, there a folks here that did this.

[davidmc36]

I saw that Vin IS a bit low. And looks dirty. I wonder if a linear would be smoother than switching.

Gotta plug in the DSO tomorrow.

[davidmc36]

So it has been a while with the detectors up, I believe I have the best location I can at my house. I also have a Blue Basic with 300mm Wheelie Loop.

With both set on Manual and Noise Adaptation and the trigger set at 100, they perform quite well as far as I can see. When noise gets quieter, the trigger goes lower. If there is a lot of activity in my Sphere, the Used counts go quite high.

I am pretty happy with how it has turned out.