New antenna and pre-amp installation.

[MW0CVW]

Hello,

Finally been able to install my SSJ 1090Mhz base antenna at 10 meters with the Kuhne 1090mhz pre-amplifier.

What a difference, at 20.00 local time, my flights where around the 130.

The coax has been replaced with LMR 400 15 meters in length.

Attached polar antenna plot for anybody interested.

Paul

Mw0cvw

EGGP/EGNR

[CoastGuardJon]

Hi Paul, your coverage looks excellent from the diagram, what were you using before and have you got a plot for that?

[MW0CVW]

Coastguardjon,

The antenna plot below was taken earlier this week before the new antenna system was installed.

The SSJ antenna was about 7 meters above the ground with a very long run of westflex 103 coax AND NO PRE-AMP
installed.

The new plot covers down to south wales and north into Scotland Glasgow etc, improvement over the last 24 Hours.

My flights is showing 171 at 13.00 local time.

Worth suffering with bad back for improvement. :)

Thanks for the reply and comments always appreciated.

Regards

Paul Mw0cvw

EGGP/EGNR

[dantheman]

Nice writeup and congratulations on the huge range! What do you estimate you spent on the new configuration excluding the radarbox, just antenna, coax and amp. Thanks.

[MW0CVW]

Dantheam

The cost of the additional items not including the Airnav receiver.

SSJ 1090MHZ  BASE MOUNT ANTENNA  about £50.00

LMR400 high spec coax cable with n-type connectors  about £55.00

Kuhne amplifier and bias tree (sends 12v d.c to remote amplifier at antenna mast) down coax cable. £200.00

so a round figure of about £305.00 in total and my free time :)


Regards

Paul

Mw0cvw

EGGP/EGNR

[CoastGuardJon]

Hi Paul, thanks for that, very similar pattern, but greater range.  What max. range are you consistently getting?
Jon

[MW0CVW]

Jon,

The range on the system in my flights has indicated about 220 nautical Miles (253 Miles) from my home location.

I am now able to view live aircraft mid point between lowestoft and Netherlands,as far north as Ayr in Scotland,just reaching the northern island at Belfast, and parts of south wales coast line.

These aircraft are in the upper flight levels 200 and above.

One thing I have noticed is local ground traffic at EGGP has reduced as expected.

Regards

Paul

MW0CVW

EGGP/EGNR