Standard whip antenna supplied with SBS-3

[viking9]

I recently replaced my Beast MkII with an SBS-3 and decided I would use the Beast with my Netbook for mobile operation. Tonight I decided to set them up and took the Netbook, Beast and the whip antenna that came with the SBS-3 into the dining room so that the antenna would have a chance of at least picking up a few aircraft. I clamped the antenna by its strong magnetic base to an upturned frying pan on the windowsill inside the room and fired up PlanePlotter.

I was more than a little surprised to find that I immediately picked up an aircraft at a range of 220 nm. At first I thought I had turned on sharing by mistake but that was not the case. Running (hobbling more like) between the dining room and study over a period of a half hour I saw that although the number of aircraft received on the Beast/whip combination was on average about 15 % less than the SBS-3/SSE1090SJ MK2 on the chimney, the maximum range was just 4.5% down.

I believe the antenna supplied with the SBS-3 is the KAL-MD1100SBS available from Kinetic Avionics eStore. It has 3db gain whereas the SSE1090SJ has 0db gain. At less than £20 the 1100SBS might be the antenna you are looking for as it is ideal for outdoor, indoor or mobile use. Of course, for best results indoors you may need to buy a frying pan too, unless you have a metal sweetie or biscuit tin lid around.

[shakysen]

good morning Tom. antenna supplied with sbs-3 has 3dbd gain? if so would i be wasting my money buying something like a1090 s which is 0dbd?

                                                                                        regards billko

[viking9]

Good Morning bilko,

Well I don't think you would be wasting your money. If you are on a budget or you live in an apartment and you can't erect an antenna up in the clear then try the whip. If you are going to erect an antenna 10 or 20 ft above the roof line then I would go for something like the 1090J which has an N type connector and can easily be fed with Westflex 103 or suchlike. Just remember that as you increase gain you flatten the doughnut radiation/reception pattern and may miss aircraft close in and immediately above.

My post was not meant to be a sales pitch for the SBS antenna, merely a statement of my experience with it. I wouldn't swap my 1090SJ.

[shakysen]

Tom.im not implying its sales pitch.this is a very interesting hobby,with a lot to learn!.This my first sbs unit.So with people like mike, yourself.and smudger.Who have been using these units for a long time.so newbies like me tap into that knowledge.

                                                                            regards billko

[Anmer]

In my experience the key things are:

- Antenna location - height and avoiding obstacles that could block the line of sight signals
- low loss coaxial
- minimum coaxial run length
- optionally, a mast head preamp

If the antenna is to go outside, make sure it's suitable for prolonged outside use.

I've had an external antenna for six or more years and found the Kinetic LAL-NLA kit just as good and at a lot less cost.  However, there have been some reports of power issues for the preamp and I too reported a problem when I did the test.  But when it was working it was very good.

http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item11

But, others have reported excellent results with the supplied magmount when it's located in a good position.

[shakysen]

Hi Tom  Gone on your recommendation an ordered a 1090sj But still going to mess about building them.

                                                                  regards Billko

[viking9]

Good for you.

Tom

[shakysen]

Hi Mike I have just taken delivery of KAL-NLA Antenna kit minus the coax. I read in your review that you used 6mm coax instead of the 10mm was it (aircell)-5 or 7
I tried out Toms suggestion about a ground plane on mag mount .It made a improvement  it must be said.Wondering if any advantage would be gained installing a
12in dia ground plane.on the external antenna?.  Your advice would be much appreciated

.                                                                                                                                                Billko

                                                                                                                     

[Anmer]

The coax came with the kit and, compared to my 10mm Ecoflex, I couldn't see any noticeable difference.  Not sure what make it was.

I've never used an external antenna with a ground plane.

[shakysen]

Hi Mike.No coax with the kit !.I'll keep looking.As for ground planes I like experimenting with antennas built some weird ones over the years.



                                                    Billko

[Anmer]

Where did you get the kit from?

[shakysen]

Hello again Mike. I got my sbs-3 and antenna kit from lam communications.
                                                           
                                                                                                               Billko

[Anmer]

The kit I reviewed included the masthead preamp, Bias-T, power supply and coax as well as the antenna.

[shakysen]

   Mike it was the nearest i could find To the kit you reviewed.Minus 10 mtr coax'No adapter BNC- SMA' Antenna same.
   By the way I've just retrieved off my door mat a book You and Hamish had a hand in. looking forward to reading it( using the sbs-1)
                                                             
                                                                                        Billko
                                     

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                 

[Anmer]

Which book was that?