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Author Topic: Shiptrax antenna question  (Read 12223 times)

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Johnn

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Shiptrax antenna question
« on: February 16, 2011, 01:04:38 AM »
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
Johnn -

jannuh

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2011, 02:06:31 PM »
Look on the antenna for type or anything else.
It may give a clue for what freq it's made...

tarbat

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2011, 02:26:32 PM »
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

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2011, 12:15:26 AM »
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
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tarbat

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2011, 07:57:07 AM »
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

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2011, 01:24:05 PM »
Thanks for that tarbat, I will find an antenna similar to yours.
Thanks
Johnn -

jannuh

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2011, 03:08:02 PM »
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

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2011, 03:46:30 PM »
Ah Many thanks for those!
John
Johnn -

tarbat

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2011, 12:20:39 PM »
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

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2011, 06:52:20 PM »
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
Johnn -

tarbat

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Re: Shiptrax antenna question
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2011, 06:55:59 PM »
Yes Johnn, that's my conclusion.  A Discone might actually be quite good as a ShipTrax antenna.