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NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 21 Jan 2020, 21:46
by NightProwler
Hey all, I just picked up a NASA Target HF3 receiver. I have a Yaesu FRG 7700 which is connected to about 60 foot of wire running up the garden. Now the Yaesu works lovely with almost no QRM noise and pulls in station from all over the world but the Target HF3 on the same antenna just brings in 30+ noise right through the band, It's almost impossible to receive any stations unless they are really strong. I tried it on a short length on wire running across the shack ceiling, About 6 foot long but its the same, No antenna no noise but as soon as anything is plugged in theres that noise. Anyone got any ideas?
Cheers all...Rich
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 22 Jan 2020, 22:07
by NightProwler
Hmmm school boy error...God damn cheap Chinese power supplies
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 25 Jan 2020, 14:05
by Mikel
Bloody cheap Chinese power supplies are a plague. My daughter has a reconditioned HP laptop and the cheap non HP charger that comes with it announces it's presence as soon as it is plugged in by wiping everything out - full stop!
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 26 Jan 2020, 12:08
by scan125
Mikel wrote: ↑25 Jan 2020, 14:05
Bloody cheap Chinese power supplies are a plague. My daughter has a reconditioned HP laptop and the cheap non HP charger that comes with it announces it's presence as soon as it is plugged in by wiping everything out - full stop!
Well it should/must legally have a CE label and to obtain this pass the relevant Safety and EMC standards. If it clearly fails on EMC and wipes out everything around it then it is probably going to be very unsafe as well and has probably NOT got and proper CE test certification. I would be looking to replace it ASAP AND then put a formal complaint in so no more of these potentially dangerous items get to our shores again.
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 26 Jan 2020, 14:47
by grafter
Self certification makes a mockery of the CE mark, take for example this PC PSU available from a reputable PC retailer who refused to deal with my complaint because 'it meets all necessary standards required for the CE mark'. It generated wideband interference from around 400kHz to 42MHz.
pcpsu_120309.jpg
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 28 Jan 2020, 11:40
by Admiral
I'm not too sure what mine is branded as, NASA, Lowe, or any of the other million screen-prints, but I found mine doesn't like any switching PSU, no matter how high end. I ran mine from an old school 3amp CB PSU and it worked a treat. Also, grounding to the mains earth system killed it too with +20db of crap, it prefers a copper rod in t'mud.
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 29 Jan 2020, 16:31
by Mikel
One thing I have noticed with all these cheap Chinese power supplies is that when I have cracked them open with a screwdriver and a hammer, there are obviously components missing from the circuit board.
The holes are drilled and there are markings but nothing populating the board. Maybe these gaps are where the filters should have been installed but they left them out to save costs (or the fuse to stop them catching on fire)?
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 14 Feb 2020, 14:52
by Andy
This is worth a read:
https://www.ukqrm.org.uk/smps.php
Missing filter caps, linked-out filter chokes and even fake components. Fiendish Chinese. We have a DAB/FM radio in the kitchen. It's excellent on DAB but on FM there's a hissy whining noise behind even strong stations. I found it was due to the supplied switch mode wall wart, so I cracked it open and inside was the scruffiest PCB I'd ever clapped eyes on. No way would that pass ANY safety test, and it was whacking out some serious noise!
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 29 Mar 2020, 12:11
by NightProwler
Well now I have thrown the nasty cheap Chinese power supply in the bin and connected it to a real linear supply I have to say what a lovely receiver the NASA target is.
Re: NASA Target HF3 help
Posted: 25 Sep 2020, 22:07
by CaptainKirk
Bought a Lowe version and a Howes tuner for £2 off a car boot it had a mains adapter with it which made listening impossible so I used a CB power supply, 3amp Bremi worked lovely still got it all still.