AM Airband

[Ubbe]

I'm about ready to put up a dedicated SDS200 antenna mounted lower than my primary discone. Recent testing showed that this will likely work better for me in a few important areas.

Put a $20 variable attenuator between SDS scanner and coax and you can simulate any kind of lowering of antenna without doing any outside work with antenna installations.

/Ubbe

 

[KR7CQ]

Put a $20 variable attenuator between SDS scanner and coax and you can simulate any kind of lowering of antenna without doing any outside work with antenna installations.

/Ubbe

I appreciate your suggestion, but lowering the antenna and adding an attenuator will not produce the exact same effect in my particular situation. I would have true line of sight to certain transmitters regardless of antenna height, but lowering my antenna will put physical obstacles in between other transmit sites and and the receiver. So lowering my antenna will change the relative received strength between sites, an inline attenuator will not. Part of the equation here is understanding the changes that occur in signal path when antenna height is changed, and every situation including this one is unique.

Also in addition, this will allow me to have a dedicated VHF / UHF antenna up high, and I can use a different antenna down low for the SDS which is almost entirely used for 700 / 800 MHz systems.