Cant Pick Up NOAA Weather Radio On SpectrumForce Wideband Antenna

[LetsGoRailfanning]

I am having problems with my SpectrumForce Wideband Antenna.
I cant pick up NOAA weather radio.
Coud someone help me fix the problem?

 

[mule1075]

I am having problems with my SpectrumForce Wideband Antenna.
I cant pick up NOAA weather radio.
Coud someone help me fix the problem?

1st question does it pick up anything else? 2nd Question Scanner Type?

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Yes it picks up Liberty Mountain Resort Fire Dispatch Railroad Aircraft .
Scanner type SR30C

 

[mule1075]

Yes it picks up Liberty Mountain Resort Fire Dispatch Railroad Aircraft .
Scanner type SR30C

Put the stock antenna back on. If it receives the weather could be antenna issue but if it receives other things maybe not. By any chance is the NOAA radio down in your area at the moment?

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Yes the stock antenna picks up the weather.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Could it be problem with the coax?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Could it be problem with the coax?

I wouldn't think so if other agencies on the same band can be picked up. Then again the "coax" is extremely thin and can easily be severed on the SpectrumForce. I've owned & broken a few, they're sub par. How close are you to the NOAA transmitter site? Any change in signal if you jiggle the wire? I'd definitely check the wire for breakages or severances

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

I am close to the Hagerstown, MD site and to the State College, PA site.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Jiggling the wire didn't work.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Yes it picks up Liberty Mountain Resort Fire Dispatch Railroad Aircraft .
Scanner type SR30C

Can you try a different receiver? Maybe your SR30C is being overloaded by paging transmitters.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

It doesn't work on my BC125AT.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Can you try a different receiver? Maybe your SR30C is being overloaded by paging transmitters.

And could you tell me what a paging transmitter is?

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

So what about the way the coax fits in to the connector causing the problem?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

So what about the way the coax fits in to the connector causing the problem?

It could very well be. As I noted yesterday these antennas aren't very durable and the wire can easily be broken.

 

[trentbob]

I am close to the Hagerstown, MD site and to the State College, PA site.

It could very well be. As I noted yesterday these antennas aren't very durable and the wire can easily be broken.

Seems like a bit of a mystery. Don't know your location railfan but those two locations for weather are not that particular close to each other. How close are you to each site? The Spectrum Force may not be able to do the job. Are you using this in the car or are you using this at home? If you're using it home you should put it on a pie pan or cookie sheet so as to provide a ground.

We all have used this cheap poorly made antenna LOL, for the price, it's kind of hard to pass up. I would say that the coax is compromised, as has been said, but you say it's picking up other things well. It should work better than the stock antenna. That's a bit of a mystery.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

I am using it in the car and at home.
My location is Carroll Valley, PA
I have it propped up on stack of books and scanner boxes
What good is a ground plane?

 

[jtwalker]

What good is a ground plane? They allow antenna to work properly. On a car, the ground plane is the roof or trunk that antenna is mounted upon. Is it my understanding that you are using a car antenna at home, sitting on a stack of boxes?

 

[trentbob]

That's why I suggested a pie pan or cookie sheet. The best is a file cabinet.

 

[LetsGoRailfanning]

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[trentbob]

You're in a nice area right on the Maryland border I would think you're good distance from the state college NOAA Weather Radio Station but Hagerstown should come in fine. I like the outlets are there. Frederick, Maryland is a wonderful place.

See if a ground plane works, it should improve reception on everything.