Nothing on New Yagi

[jjudson]

Okay, I'm frustrated.

I just bought a new Wilson 800 Mhz Yagi. I put it up on my mast, used the same RG-6 cable that I had connected to my discone (I removed the discone first of course) along with a Radio Shack N-to-259 adapter. I pointed it toward Camden, NJ - a city that I get weak signals on my 800 Mhz rubber ducky.

I got nothing.

Nothing at all.

What gives? Could I have a bad antenna?

The one concern I have is that the N-to-259 adapter doesn't seem to have a lot of depth on the pin. I'm wondering if it's mating well into the female side of the antenna connector. But when I compare it to images of other N connectors, it looks the same. Is there any way to use an ohm meter to test if the pin is connecting? Just placing the meter on the connector pin and the aluminum of the antenna gives me infinity - but then again I don't know if that's what I should see.

HELP!

 

[jonny290]

That's a gamma matched antenna - you should be seeing a DC short between center and ground. If you're not, the center pin is likely not mating.

Edit: You did install this with vertical polarization, right? Antenna elements should be pointing up and down.

 

[DPD1]

No way that you get stuff on the handheld, but nothing on the outdoor... There's a fault in the line somewhere.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[jjudson]

That's a gamma matched antenna - you should be seeing a DC short between center and ground. If you're not, the center pin is likely not mating.

Edit: You did install this with vertical polarization, right? Antenna elements should be pointing up and down.

I did install it vertically as you said.

The interesting thing on metering the pin - I metered the pin on the antenna cable itself to the elements and it registered infinity (not the adapter - but the actual cable on the antenna). Are you saying this is not right? What should it read?

 

[k9rzz]

That's a gamma matched antenna - you should be seeing a DC short between center and ground. .

Are you sure about that?

CHeck everything over carefully, something isn't connected or seating correctly. It's there ... you just gott find it.

 

[jjudson]

This is bad. I'm just not getting anything. I checked the cable with a meter and it's fine. I checked the adapter with a meter and it's fine. The only thing I don't know how to check is the antenna itself. The fittings all seem to seat, as the pin fins on the female N connector are splayed a bit when I disconnect and examine it.. I even bypassed the adapter and ran jumpers between the pins and the shield with no affect. All other connections seem to be well made. Yet, when I point the Yagi to Camden, the Delaware River Port Authority, Cherry Hill, or any available State Police in the area - I get nothing. I SHOULD get something! I get at least week signals on my ducky.

Can someone advise me what I should do or how I should test it?

 

[pappy1]

Being a directional antenna the little end should be pointed to the tower location the transmitted signal is comming from, NOT toward the city close to it. Could this be what is happening? From what you say you have done seems to indicate that all is conforming to specs. and should increase the week signal to a stronger one that is clear.

 

[DPD1]

If you get something on the handheld, you should get something, no matter what way it's pointed. I don't know what kind of meter you're using, but you should just check for basic continuity for each side, with the whole line assembled. If you have two meters, you can do it while it's up, or take it down and do it with one. Odds are that it's just a connector put on poorly. I still don't understand how you're using what you say you are... You say you have a 259 to N adapter, but a 259 is not meant to work on RG6. If a receiver pin is too wide, it can look like it makes contact but doesn't. people do this all the time by shoving a 259 pin into an N receiver pin, then it gets widened out and won't make proper contact. There's something up with your connectors most likely.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[k9rzz]

Is the antenna in the air now, or down?

Take it down and check it over.

You'll find the problem, just be patient.

 

[jonny290]

I doubt that you'll find a series capacitor in an 800 MHz yagi; you'd need a sturdy but tiny cap in line, since these are designed for TX use. I might be looking at a different model of theirs than you have, though.

 

[jjudson]

Okay, I finally got something. It appears my aiming was a bit off. The tower must be a little east of the city. Even still, though, the signal isn't as strong as I would expect for a system only 8 miles away. I get a lot of hiss in the comms, and some are weak and hard to hear. I'm also wondering if I'm getting everything, as it doesn't seem like I'm hearing much traffic for a crime-ridden city like Camden.

So far, I'm not feeling like my money has been well spent to get this antenna.

Would any of this improve by putting in some LMR 400? The cable span is about 60'.

 

[Spec]

How long is the run of coax now from the ant. to the rig ?

 

[k9rzz]

Don't spend money on coax until you're sure the antenna is working okay.

Haul it down and hook it up with a short jumper. You've gotta eliminate variables here.