ESC not working. No effect. Has anyone got it to work???

VE6WZ

Smartsdr+, 8600 radio. Has ANYONE been able to get anything from the ESC feature? It is a complete dud here.

I am ready to submit a support ticket, but want to be sure that this is not just operator error.

My conclusion testing ESC with numerous different antennas, is that NOTHING happens no matter what gain or phase setting are used. I mean NOTHING. Not even a subtle change in signal level. (Other than the two stereo channels merging into one when engaged.)

It seems from my testing that the phase and gain controls do nothing. Zero effect.

I have a very strong solar MMPS noise on 160m on my EU Beverage arrays. I have 18 Beverage wires and a directional 160m TX array. I have tried all combinations of various antennas and nothing will yield a null on the noise. I have confirmed the noise is present on the various antennas being combined, but no matter what gain/phase combination is used there is no change. Not even a subtle dip. No change in signal level.

To be clear, I understand how to use a phase combiner. I know how they can be tricky to find that exact gain/phase combination. For years I have used the MFJ and DX-ENG NCC-1 units. I also understand that noise nulling is limited to point-source noises which are phase stable. Skywave is problematic, as is powerline noise which gets phase smeared down the lines. The noise I am trying to null should be no trouble.

It seems to me the ESC function is not functioning at all. I will continue to test, but would like to hear anyone else who has had success. I have also experimented with it on MW BCB signals, and ZERO effect.. Perhaps it is operator error???

So, has anyone else been able to null a noise with ESC? Has anyone been able to see any effect from ESC?? Surely by now someone has tested it.

A video of it in action would be great. I would have done that if I could demonstrate it works. It doesn't work at all for me.

Steve, ve6wz

KD0RC

Hi Steve, I just got a new 8600 on Saturday and have been playing a LOT with diversity. So far, like you, I am getting nothing from ESC.

At the moment, I have a beam for 20 - 10, an 80 meter half-sloper and a 205 ft end-fed for all other bands. I have a loop on ground antenna that I am using on RXB for diversity. On 40 CW, it is working really well, but not with ESC.