Question Around EGCC Area

[Quinnysings]

I wonder if anyone around the Manchester (England) area can help me ?
Please pardon my ignorance if this is easily explained but I’m new to this technology.
I have recently bought an Airnav Pro (2009) Radarbox, and I live in between Manchester Airport and Woodford.
When I watch aircraft on my screen (any flight level) that are heading towards me heading from the east ‘Dayne to Manchester’ I am finding the second they reach MAN they disappear off the screen, this doesn’t include flights into Manchester just over flying stuff, although this does happen when Aircraft depart from Manchester and head West or North.
I am seeing some aircraft to the north of me that are heading in a southern direction and also Aircraft heading from Wallasy to Otringham.
Is there something set wrong on my box ? as this happens no matter where the aerial is placed, or set on Network Flights.
Thanks
Quinny

[AirNav Support]

Hi Quinny,

To clarify are you saying there is spot on your map around North/West Manchester which is like a blind spot?

Can you post any screenshots of your map? Also what is around your location (any hills, buildings)?

[Southwest]

Almost certain your problem is terrain or building obstacle related.

Once you get more aquainted with the nuances of the RB you may want to invest in an external aerial.  Depending on how high the terrain or building is, this may make a difference, it may not.

Have fun!

[Marpleman]

Hi Quinny

I'm reasonably high up just around Marple Bridge, which can't be too far away. I don't experience any problems at all concerning blind spots especially with stuff heading almost due east over the Atlantic, or into Dublin.

where exactly are you? Sounds like you may have some man made obstacle in your way?

Do they re-appear after time, the further east they go, out towards the Mersey estuary or the coast, or do they disappear completely?

Rich

[Quinnysings]

Hi Chaps
Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated
I will try and get some screen shots over the weekend, just to show the problem.
My location is in between Wilmslow and Handforth about 2 Miles from Woodford.
I have no high buildings near me at all,  I have 2 big metal sheds in the garden and when I put aerial on the roof of one of these it is in direct site of the traffic I am losing as it passes over.
Cheers Quinny

[Marpleman]

All I can suggest Quinny, is take your box out for a little jaunt if you a running off a laptop, and see if it makes any difference when in a diferrent location?

If your really desparate, you can try my box on your pc if you like, but I'd try the above option first if poss - I'm only 5 miles away

Rich

[Andy Frost]

Quinny, I'm in Heald Green just 1 mile NE of the threshold of Manchester's runway 23R. I can see aircraft all the way down to the ground on that side. However, when they are landing in the opposite direction 05L/R then I only see them down to around 1000-1200ft or so. I expect that's because there are buildings in the way and because my aerial isn't all that high in relative terms. It's tip rests against a second floor ceiling, probably something around the elevation of the runway, 250ft or there abouts.

[Quinnysings]

Good Evening all
Today I have managed to put my aerial up on the gutter for a while and because our roof peak is quite shallow my coverage did improve,  I was still loosing most flights heading N to NE as it passes over MAN. I’ll try and show an example in a couple of screen shots using ACA 869 (C-FIVM) as it passed over and then disappeared off the map like most other traffic, although I get the occasional RYR, or EIN Flight that stays on the map till it reaches it’s destination.
As you will see on the screen shots there is traffic North of me showing on the map that stays there. … strange !!! … maybe I’m just in one of those areas…. I have a DAB radio that spends more time looking for a signal than it does actually playing music… and DAB is the future ??? not in my area 
Hope the image shack link works.

http://img443.imageshack.us/i/cfivm1.gif/
http://img713.imageshack.us/i/cfivm2.gif/

Cheers
Quinny

[Quinnysings]

That should have read N to NW not NE .......
Quinny

[AirNav Support]

Taking a look at your sceenshots you can clearly see that your reception is not great I am afraid.

Firstly the * flights are network flights and you can see quite a few of them close to your location which is showing your picking up nothing in those areas from your antenna. Secondly from the trail lines from the aircraft you are tracking they are broken which shows aircraft going in and out of your reception. This clearly indicates that the issue you mention is due to your poor reception in your location. You will need to get your antenna as high up as possible with a clear line of sight.

[Marpleman]

Quinny

You're literally on top of my location according to the map, and I don't experience any of this,and have never bothered about getting my antenna any higher than the conservatory window ledge.

Are you sure your connections are stable,and your cables are all ok?

I struggle to pick up flights coming directly from the east due to being halfway up a hill, but still tend to pick them up about 30 to 40 miles due east of Marple,and keep contact untilwell over the coast around North Wales upto Blackpool without any drop-off

Are you using a laptop or a desk top pc, as I'd still strongly recommend going away from your current location to see what happens, just to check you've not got a dodgy box?

Rich

[Chris11]

Sounds like a dodgy connection or USB cable

[bearcat]

 I think I read somewhere that different types of roof insulation can block the signals. If it is a new house could this be the problem?

[Dean]

Can't find it myself but someone may ----

There was a web site discussed on here maybe 12 to 18 months ago. You put in your co-ordinates and it from that info plotted your line of sight radio coverage for different altitudes of signal source. Anyone help on this one?

[tarbat]

There was a web site discussed on here maybe 12 to 18 months ago. You put in your co-ordinates and it from that info plotted your line of sight radio coverage for different altitudes of signal source. Anyone help on this one?

http://www.heywhatsthat.com/main-0904.html