New antenna and amplifier

[CanadaKen]

Hi, would someone be able to tell me if i could mount the 1090 at the bottom of the mast? instead of at the top. as it wold be easier to fix because i would have to take the 16ft mast down  on a two storey house if not.

If you do try, mount the 1090 as far away from the mast as possible. The closer the 1090 is to the mast the more coverage area the mast will block.

CK

[callan]

Hi, would someone be able to tell me if i could mount the 1090 at the bottom of the mast? instead of at the top. as it wold be easier to fix because i would have to take the 16ft mast down  on a two storey house if not.

If you do try, mount the 1090 as far away from the mast as possible. The closer the 1090 is to the mast the more coverage area the mast will block.

CK

Thanks for the reply Ken.

Will be investing in a 1090 within the month i think.

[Danielsen]

That's an excellent improvement Danielsen - you must be very pleased with the results.
My polar chart continues to build - the Highland skies are very busy today!

Yes I'm VERY pleased! My expectations were a lot smaller, and I had my doubts when buying the antenna kit, but they are far gone now :D I see that you're using a Uniden UBC800XLT. Does the "Remote Control" software come with the radio, and what kind of antenna do you use? Is it VHF or UHF or both? Please share your experience and "set-up" as i only have a old Uniden UBC220XLT handheld. :)

Oh, and by the way a very nice method to show before and after comparison with the excel chart. Thanks :)

[tarbat]

Danielsen, I use bcTools to control the UBC800XLT.  It's free from http://www.bctool.org/
I use a discone antenna for UHF and VHF airband.

[bailey_uk]

By using Tarbats wonderful Excel Sheet, this shows the difference between having my supplied 12" magmount antenna initially in my loft / bedroom, and now newly mounted 6 feet above the chimney stack on a scaffold pole, with very good results. The RB Box had to be fixed to the wall as the cable wasnt long enough for it to sit nicely on a table or shelf!

Got a USB Repeater Extension system of 5m to my PC.

[AirNav Development]

Tarbat: which discone antenna you use? Which model?

[tarbat]

ScanKing discone from Maplins.  Not the best, I'm still thinking of replacing it with something more specific to UHF/VHF airband.

[Big I]

Tarbat,
       Would recommend the Diamond D777 antenna.Just bought one from Radioworld uk and extremely pleased with results.

[AirNav Development]

And you use the antennas with any pre-amplifier or just antenna+cable to radio?

[Big I]

Do not use pre-amp. Antenna-cable-radio

[AirNav Development]

Just one more: what cable are you using? Thanks.

[Big I]

RG 8 super XX coax.

[AirNav Development]

Thanks.

[Danielsen]

So the Diamond D777 antenna is used for both 118-138 Mhz VHF airband and UHF military in just one antenna?

[bailey_uk]

is Westflex 103 overkill for VHF Scanning? I think I might buy all my cable at once when sorting the 1090 setup.