WorldwideDX Amateur Radio Forums

I operate my 480 primarily on 6 meters. I do not have any of the optional filters installed. I am wondering if purchasing the optional 1.8 khz, will help on weak signal work. QRM is not much of a problem for most of the year, but I wonder if having the filter will help sensitivity on 6, by cutting out the wide band noise, which may or may not be knocking my rx sensitivity down. During certain times of the year noise levels can be higher than normal, and maybe this filter will help dig out the weak signals. What say ye?

filters have no affect on sensitivity, they only determine selectivity, a completely different thing altogether.
Would it help in hearing weak signals? They probably could. Are they worth the money? Beats me, that'd be entirely up to you.
From previous experience with Kenwood filters, I think you'd be well advised to skip them and look for an International filter (Inrad, if they make them yet). Huge difference in performance.
All filters attenuate signals to a certain extent. The selectivity off-sets that attenuation to a limited degree. Narrower filters also affect the 'quality'/'tone' of signals. There's a limit to how narrow a filter can be before it get's to be objectionable/noticeable to the listener. It's a personal thing, but 1.8 Khz filters are too narrow for me.
- 'Doc

Must not talk on that radio much

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Hey hammer the 480 does do 6m, Kenwood: TS-480HX/TS-480SAT HF/50MHz All-Mode Transceiver

I know it does 6 meter, how active has 6 meter been lately?

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Sorry for my misinterpretation of your cryptic reply 🍻 cheers and more beers

6 meters is actually quite active. There are folks on there every day and night. But you need a decent antenna system to do any serious operating.

What type antenna system are you using?

What I have found while using a narrow filter, it works well when there is a strong signal on a near by frequency, the narrowed receive "cleans up what I hear" by "eliminating" some of the strong signal of the nearby frequency.

I guess the best way I can describe it, it focuses (narrows) what I receive on the frequency I am on. So I guess you can say you will hear a weak signal better on a particular frequency because you block some of the side frequency.

If you are a frequency jumper, like me, when looking for more stations to contact, set it wide during the scan and then narrow once you have the station locked in.

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That's how I roll!!