Airband gain antenna

[shimsham]

Hi Everyone,I am looking for an antenna with more gain especially on the airband,is there anyone on the forum could recomend one.


Colin

 

[nanZor]

These guys seem to offer airband antennas in your area:

Waters & Stanton PLC Airband Antennas

Although you didn't say what you are using right now for a reference, or what airports you are trying to receive - it may not be possible despite a better antenna.

I also note that some antennas from many vendors may slap an "airband" label on normal broadband antennas or possibly amateur antennas. It doesn't mean they are bad or won't be an improvement, but know that they may not be very *specifically* tuned for airband.

 

[shimsham]

Ok. Just using the stock rubber duck at the moment [ Uniden USC 230e xlt ] i live approx as the crow flies about 10 miles from east midlands airport.

 

[nanZor]

Here is another vendor you may want to visit:

ML&S Martin Lynch and Sons Ltd

Replacing the rubber duck is the first step with either a longer whip, or perhaps a telescopic that is at least 58cm in length or longer. You don't absolutely have to have a specific airband whip, a typical amateur 2-meter antenna with BNC connector would work well. Both W&S and ML&S should have these.

Even so, while reception will be improved, it won't be a guarantee that you'll hear the tower or ground.

An external antenna like the Diamond D-777 rooftop mounted would be nifty for airband. Since you are using a handheld, I'd carefully think twice about using an external antenna since handheld radios can be overloaded - but obviously many do exactly this and get away with it, or use filters etc.

For a very simple fix, you can try this:
http://forums.radioreference.com/build-your-own-antenna/261896-vhf-airband-mod-rs-uniden-ducks.html

Performance will nearly mimick what you'd get from an upgraded whip antenna on airband, so it might save you some money up front if the improvement is not enough for your needs.

 

[shimsham]

Many thanks for that,its very interesting.

Regards

 

[bear780ks]

2 Good Antenna Choices for Aircraft..

I've heard this is a Good antenna from Scanner Master

W-901 Airband Portable Antenna

or Try this one here ~ ~

Diamond RH77CA Amateur HT Antenna

 

[LtDoc]

The biggest problem you have to over come is the distance to that airport and the curvature of the earth. VHF/UHF signals just don't 'bend' too well so the signals from that airport are sort of going over your head. Antenna height would make more difference than the type of antenna you are using. That 'height' just isn't to practical for most people, but it's still the 'best' solution.
Almost any antenna will be an improvement over the typical 'rubberduck' antenna. The typical antenna that comes with most hand held scanners is for convenience, not performance.
This doesn't answer your question but it should give you an idea of what the problem is.
Have fun.
- 'Doc

 

[shimsham]

Thanks for that,thats very useful.

Cheers

 

[nanZor]

I've heard this is a Good antenna from Scanner Master

In my antenna farm, both of those are good general purpose airband improvements, but not great if your airband stations are just underneath the squelch level, or slightly above it but too noisy or unintelligible especially if they are below 128mhz.

Having an antenna actually resonant, or at least cut long enough abiding to the quarter-wave formula will reveal the difference under weak-signal conditions.

The W901 is only 8 inches long and is a small improvement over the oem scanner duck. It is also touted to be dual-band for UHF milair so that helps. Mine seemed happiest as a 2m amateur whip, but it may have been mislabeled.

The venerable RH77CA is only 15 inches long and is really a 2m/440 amateur dual bander. It is an even better improvement than the oem scanner duck on airband even if a little bit short. One reason for its popularity on vhf is that it seems that the 15 inch whip appears to be resonant high in the 2 meter band and is even happier at 150-155 mhz or so. Normally an amateur quarter wave whip is about 18 inches long, so maybe it being a slight bit shorter than usual helps it do dual-band duty for amateur uhf, and very good for vhf 146mhz + scanning. But for weak signal airband work - especially below 128 mhz, which is about 25 mhz or so below what the 77ca is designed for, can become noticeable.

Amazingly, the lash-up project where I put a 21 inch quarter wave wire against a radio shack oem duck works better than the rh77ca - but not by much - but the difference in weak signal strength compared to this IS noticeable. Anyone can make this simple test and is a great way to re-purpose that oem duck into something actually useful.

For those that need the convenience of a rubber-duck for airband, my suggestion is to use the Icom FA-B02AR which comes with their commercial airband transceivers. It can be had at most pilot shops. Performance is comparable to the much longer RH77CA which shows that resonance DOES make a difference. I suspect it has capacitive end-loading, but I'm not cutting mine open (yet).

 

[KB7MIB]

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I haven't looked to see if they're still available, but AEA once had a "HotRod" antenna (telescopic 1/2 wave) for the VHF airband, as they did for 2M and 222MHz (of which I have the latter two.)

 

[nanZor]

I've got the HotRods as well but never saw the airband version. I must admit that I hardly ever use them due to the large amount of leverage that a telescopic half-wave puts on the connectors! And with the airband version being the largest, man that must have been a handful to deal with.

I still keep them for absolutely stationary use, or even hanging them with fishing line.

On the subject of connector-leverage, while expensive, I like the Diamond RH789 telescopic as it is relatively lightweight when fully extended. I use it often for airband at 21 inches or so. It is even manageable on Uniden's small 72/75/95 2-battery series of scanners...

 

[bear780ks]

For Me it's Duck Antenna or Me No Listen to Jim Neighbors..

I just wished Hertz i lived were i could put up a Outside Antenna if i would even try to hang one even out side my Window the Lord of Land would hang me out side of the Window.

The Neighbors next Door they wanted to change from Cable Tv to To Dish Network the L.L. came by and instructed where he wanted to go.The Installer Guy from Dish Network wanted to install the Dish in this particular place to get the best signal close to were the L.L. said it could go But the L.L. didn't like that place so the Guy had change the position to suit the Land Lord but in doing that it caused the signal to be Low & go in and out and when it Rained they really had nothing,, So in there frustration's they went back to Cable.. They were not happy with the Hole Ordeal..

We'd like to Move..if the money wasn't Tight right now we'd be out of here.. But for me on my Antenna choices are... The Duck Antenna's




To all on the Forum have a Safe and Happy Memorial Day.. And keep the Scanners at the Ready.. Ra

 

[KB7MIB]

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I only saw the airband Hotrod antenna at a Hamfest once or twice.
You'd have to check to confirm it, but IIRC, the FCC issued a ruling years ago that CC&R's (and your LL) cannot prohibit or unduly restrict TV antennas, whether OTA or satellite.

 

[nanZor]

But for me on my Antenna choices are... The Duck Antenna's

Even indoors and with the harshest of restrictions, you can do better than the duck. Like KB7MIB notes, you may be able to contest it if you are up for that.

Could you "plant" the VK2ZOI flowerpot vertical inside a plastic or real plant on your balcony or outside the window? (details here on RR in another thread) Indoors, you may be able to hide an OCFD broadband dipole made with wire behind some curtains near a window to keep the interior landlord happy.. Magmount on a metallic windowsill, fridge, etc? Can you put metallic tape on the glass itself even if only on the inside?

A very nice looking antenna for airband (and many more specific bands available) that should meet interior decorating approval can be found here: (although I would move it as far away from the wall as possible)

DPD Productions - VHF Air/Aviation Band, FBO Base, ACARS & ADS-B (SBS / RadarBox) Antennas for Commercial & Hobbyist Applications

Can you sand off the markings from a thin piece of pvc and use that inside as a support for a vertical dipole that might pass interior design approval? Wipe it with armor-all protectant for that shiny look.

As long as one accepts the limitations of being indoors, there is still a LOT of antenna experimenting that one can do which is usually always is better than the duck...

 

[KB7MIB]

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I only mentioned the FCC ruling regarding TV antennas due to bear780ks' story about the neighbors trying to switch from cable to Dish. The LL *may* be in violation there. The ruling would NOT apply to his own scanner antenna(s), unfortunately.

 

[lep]

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I only mentioned the FCC ruling regarding TV antennas due to bear780ks' story about the neighbors trying to switch from cable to Dish. The LL *may* be in violation there. The ruling would NOT apply to his own scanner antenna(s), unfortunately.

The FCC declaration is known as PRB-1, issued by the Private Radio Bureau of the FCC and is a Federal Premeption of Local and State Regulations that bar antennas. please note it does NOT bar land use agreements voluntarily entered into by land owners such as deed restrictions. There is also a separate but related Act of Congress for small satellite systems so that "pizza pan" type dishes (around 30 inches) (but not C-band) can not be barred by Local laws designed to permit Dish-TV and Directv antennas. Amatuer radio interests were not successful in an attempt to 'piggyback' their antennas on to this Act.

 

[shimsham]

Been and bought myself the Watson 881 which i thought that it would do the trick on recommendations from retailers,but i am sorry to say its no better then the rubber duck on airband,but excellent on vhf/uhf but its only about 8ins long

 

[KB7MIB]

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I'm not referring to PRB-1. I'm referring to the Dish/DirecTV one, for small DSB antennas, which I thought also applied to OTA TV antennas (Yagis/Bowties/Corner Reflectors) in CC&R areas. I didn't think it applied to C-band, or C-/Ku-band "big dishes".

 

[questnz]

And the original question was:
"Hi Everyone,I am looking for an antenna with more gain especially on the airband,is there anyone on the forum could recomend one"

 

[shimsham]

Hi questnz. See the above,i asked the same question

Cheers