Shiptrax antenna question

[Johnn]

Hi, I have a 1 meter antenna I use for a scanner (picking up vhf) / radarbox aswell. Would it be able to work with shiptrax? (I think the antenna was originally for radarbox)
Thanks

[jannuh]

Look on the antenna for type or anything else.
It may give a clue for what freq it's made...

[tarbat]

Make sure it's suitable for 162MHz.  This is what I'm using with the beta ShipTrax hardware:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/vhf-156mhz-boat-antenna-352471

[Johnn]

I am using this antenna:     http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/radar-extender-external-antenna-for-radarbox--sbs-1-1500-p.asp

If I can receive vhf signals.. I can recieve for shiptrax?
Thanks John

[tarbat]

That antenna is tuned specifically to 1090MHz so will be very poor at receiving the AIS signals at 162MHz.  Although I'm no expert at antennas.

[Johnn]

Thanks for that tarbat, I will find an antenna similar to yours.
Thanks

[jannuh]

Fr your supplier RocketRadio look overhere:
http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/marine-antenna-54-c.asp

The Sirio GPF21N and the SB2S are both suitable for your needs.

[Johnn]

Ah Many thanks for those!
John

[tarbat]

I now normally use a Metz Manta-6 antenna (mounted in the loft) with my ShipTrax
receiver, and get good results up to about 15-20NM.

Today, as an experiment, I plugged in my ScanKing discone antenna instead, and
noticed two differences:

1. A ground station 14.5nm away which I occasionally get returns from was now
being picked up several times per minute. The ground station is not in my
line-of-sight.

2. Range seems as good, if not better.

I'd always thought that an antenna dedicated to 162MHz would be better than a
discone designed for 25-1300MHz, but apparently my discone is better. Is that
to be expected?

[Johnn]

Hi Tarbat,
So I guess your experimental antenna, (scanking) is dedicated for use with scanners,? Good to hear that it may work with shiptrax without putting up another antenna.
Thanks

[tarbat]

Yes Johnn, that's my conclusion.  A Discone might actually be quite good as a ShipTrax antenna.