AirNav Systems Forum

General => Aviation => Topic started by: tarbat on June 28, 2008, 12:58:01 PM

Title: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: tarbat on June 28, 2008, 12:58:01 PM

I'm currently using a discone for airband reception on my UBC785XLT.  I realise I could probably get better performance with an antenna dedicated to the airbands (civilian(120) and military(300)).

So, any recommendations?  Antenna will be mounted in the loft.

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: Cumulus on June 29, 2008, 08:01:09 AM

Hi Tarbat,

I am using a Rhode & Schwarz HK001 which I obtained on the German Ebay. There is one listed now Item 350072003089. As with mine it requires a clean up and paint  job. A bargain at the moment with reasonable P&P for an item of this size.

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/www/downcent.nsf/file/hk001_e.pdf/$file/hk001_e.pdf (http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/www/downcent.nsf/file/hk001_e.pdf/$file/hk001_e.pdf)

For VHF I am using the Solid State Electronics SSE-BASE-128SJ with the Air Band Diplexer DIP2002.AB.EU

http://www.ssejim.co.uk/28-vhfairbandant.htm (http://www.ssejim.co.uk/28-vhfairbandant.htm)
http://www.ssejim.co.uk/38-dip2002abeu.htm (http://www.ssejim.co.uk/38-dip2002abeu.htm)

Coax used Ecoflex Aircell 7

http://www.diodecomms.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=29 (http://www.diodecomms.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=29)

Regards,

Peter

P.S. The Ebay seller also has the R&S HK002 which covers both air and marine VHF bands.

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/www/downcent.nsf/file/hk012_e.pdf/$file/hk012_e.pdf
 (http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/www/downcent.nsf/file/hk012_e.pdf/$file/hk012_e.pdf)

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: BobR on June 29, 2008, 12:37:40 PM

You wont go far wrong with one of these. I have it and swear by it.

Cheers.
BobR

http://www.ssejim.co.uk/28-vhfairbandant.htm

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: cosmoc on July 10, 2008, 11:38:21 PM

this is a great airband antenna for a fantastic price
i got this over a year ago. it gives you fantastic reception in side a house but outside the house mounted on the roof is were it really shines
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103641

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: bailey_uk on July 19, 2008, 09:36:51 AM

So the SSE-BASE-128SJ really is worth buying?

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: tarbat on July 19, 2008, 09:46:15 AM

Well, the SSE-BASE-128SJ is optimised for 118-138MHz.  So, if you're only listening to civilian aircraft, then it's fine.  However, if you listen to both civilian and military aircraft, then you'd need:
1. SSE-BASE-128SJ @ £77
2. SSE-BASE-125SJ @ £75
3. SSE-DIP2002 AB-EU @ £45.50
Total cost = £197.50, which was out of my price range.

I'm still researching into whether I would even get better reception with a dedicated airband (VHF+UHF) antenna rather than my discone.  Any other thoughts on that?

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: bailey_uk on July 19, 2008, 10:07:32 AM

Its just the 118-138 that im gioing to be listening to.

Is the RG-58 sufficient Coax over about 8m length?

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: BobR on July 19, 2008, 02:40:15 PM

I only really listen to the civvy side of things and I rate this both from the construction side and also the most important which is the performance.

Title: Re: Recommendations for airband antenna?
Post by: JMM on March 27, 2016, 12:59:23 AM

I realize that this thread is many, many years old, but does anyone know if SSE (UK) is still in business?  I've been trying to contact them for many years, but have received no replies from them.

I've been trying to find a source where I can purchase one of their DIP2002-EU diplexers (I've seen a few slight variations of the part number).  In particular, I'm looking for the one that can be mounted outside for external use, and that comes with N connectors.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
John