EMRFD Message Archive 2556

Message Date From Subject
2556 2009-01-01 09:25:35 joe price Noise Generator
Anyone have any contact with NOISE.COM? I would like
to build the noise generator on page 7.39. So far
a e-mail and a phone call have gotten no response. I have
a selected zener in the circuit now but would like the
real noise diode (NC-302L)that once was available at
the reduced price of $10.

Joe wa9cgz
2558 2009-01-01 14:47:14 Wes Hayward Re: Noise Generator
Hi Joe,

I recall seeing something from Bill Sabin, W0IYH, in a recent QEX
having to do with the Noise Com folks. As I recall, they are still
helping the hams, but are not as generous as they were.

Good luck. Keep us posted
2559 2009-01-01 14:50:24 michael taylor Re: Noise Generator
2560 2009-01-01 15:28:40 Mike Collins Re: Noise Generator
> I have
> a selected zener in the circuit now but would like the
> real noise diode (NC-302L)that once was available at
> the reduced price of $10.

Hi Joe,

I was able to reach NoiseCom around 6 months ago or so. They were
able to give me a great deal on the NC-302L diodes. I think they have
a max of 2 per person. They were nice enough to let me buy 3 of them
for my testing. I can't recall the exact price now. Built a couple
of low freq and one high freq model using the FarCircuits boards on a
couple. Since then I was able to get a NC6107 with built in amp and
attenuators. Hope you are able to get the diodes with the updated
contact info from Michael in the later post.

73, Mike Collins KF4BQ
2561 2009-01-01 17:01:20 Gary Johnson Re: Noise Generator
Noise/Com answered the phone for me in August. I bought a couple of NC302L, the only
parts they offer at the $10 price these days. BTW, calibrati
2562 2009-01-02 06:47:24 w4zcb77 Re: Noise Generator
3544 2009-09-14 13:47:50 w0lwa Re: Noise Generator
Hi

Does anyone know a source for the NC-302L noise diode?

I contacted Noisecom. They are $28 a pop with a $250
minimum. That is, I'd need to buy 9 diodes at $28 each.
This seems a bit high considering the diodes were around
$8 each before.

Are there any other reasonable choices for diodes?
Are there particular zeners that are better than others
for making noise. All seem to say "low noise" now
which, of course, is a relative statement!

regards
tom
.
k1trb
(formerly w0lwa)

3545 2009-09-14 14:28:41 w4zcb Re: Noise Generator
Does anyone know a source for the NC-302L noise diode?

I contacted Noisecom. They are $28 a pop with a $250
minimum. That is, I'd need to buy 9 diodes at $28 each.
This seems a bit high considering the diodes were around
$8 each before.

Seems to me I paid them $25 for a pair many years ago, but it may have
been two for $10. If you're not into a group buy mode, I'd suggest any
old diode. Any old zener diode will likely create enough excess noise
to be useful, and then all you have to do is get it calibrated.
Noisecom calibrated mine maybe a month after Bill Sabin published his
article in QST, I've never had it questioned OR recalibrated since
then and suspect that since I've never accidently put a KW to it, it's
still as good as ever plus/minus maybe a tenth of a dB or so. They
(noisecom) at one time had a VP who was a ham and so the special
arrangement for us. He's certainly retired by now if not looking at
the brown side of the grass.

If you build one, I can calibrate it for you to mine at 1.8, 4, 7,
14, 28, 144 and 432 MHz

Are there any other reasonable choices for diodes?
Are there particular zeners that are better than others
for making noise. All seem to say "low noise" now
which, of course, is a relative statement!

Personally, I think I'd use one around 3.3 Volts or not much more for
the application.

regards
tom
.
k1trb
(formerly w0lwa)

3546 2009-09-15 07:11:44 arfghans Re: Noise Generator
I bought a couple 6 months ago, $10 each. Only the NC302L is available, quantity 2 maximum. All I had to do is tell the nice lady that it was for ham radio use. If someone finds out that the "deal" is no longer valid, please tell the group.

Gary, WB9JPS

3547 2009-09-15 07:49:23 Dino Papas Re: Noise Generator
I just called Noisecom and talked to a sales manager....he didn't
have the discretion to sell in small quantities but asked me to send
him an e-mail describing what we want. He plans to take it to his
boss who I'm guessing does have the discretion. Here's the text of
what I sent....hopefully this will work....stay tuned for the answer.

Dino KL0S

--------------------
Matt -- thanks so much for taking my call. Here's a synopsis that
may be helpful for you to understand what I (and others) are
interested in.

--In 1994 William Sabin described "A Calibrated Noise Source for
Amateur Radio" in QST magazine, the monthly publication of the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) [http://www.arrl.org/%5d (.pdf file
of original article attached).

--Bill's projects (two versions 0.5-500MHz and 1-2500MHz) have been
reprinted over the years and many "homebrew" versions have been
constructed by hams.

--Noisecom has in the past made the noise diode, the NC302L,
available to ham radio operators in small quantities (1-2), not
subject to the normal minimum purchase requirement.

--Additionally, your company has as a good (make that great) goodwill
gesture, provided very low-cost calibration service for these units
if the builder desired.

From a 2008 e-mail:

Some good news: Noise Com is calibrating sources again (as least for
US customers). This
is from an email forwarded to me by Bill Sabin:

As you are well aware, in business terms 1994 was a long time ago.
Noise/Com
to this day continues to offer Amateur Radio Experimenters discounts on
diodes. Calibrations of these Noise Sources have been more a factor of
available resources. After review of your request, on a trial basis
we will
resume our offer to calibrate these noise sources at a substantial
discount.
Pricing will need be $100.00, turn around time will be a function of
available resources and will most likely be quoted at 8 - 12 weeks. This
will be for domestic customers only, as we have had too many issues with
noise sources being held up in customs. Customers will need to contact
Noise/Com for an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization).

Best Regards,
Al Sebolao
Sales Manager
Noise/Com
25 Eastmans Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054
(973) 386-9696 Voice
(973) 386-9191 Fax


There is still a good deal of interest in the project and it would be
great if we could still purchase these diodes in small quantities to
allow more of us to build Bill's great project for use at our own
workbenches. As a matter of fact it was discussed today on one of
the experimenters' Internet reflectors and prompted me to call --
this project in its two versions has been in "the queue" for some
time and I'd like to get started.

Thanks much in advance!

Dino Papas
Colonel U.S. Army, Retired
Amateur Radio Operator KL0S

--------------------
3549 2009-09-15 11:08:43 michael taylor Re: Noise Generator
3550 2009-09-15 13:45:40 w0lwa Re: Noise Generator