SBS-3 and Advice for a new Aerial

[Oley 2 BRAVO]

Good morning - new to Radarspotting so I hope I'm posting in the correct area. Please be gentle with me!

I've used the Kinetic SBS (originally a 1 and currently a 3) for almost 12 years and have happily used the standard aerial. I moved house just over a month ago, and as expected reception is significantly worse due to the geographical location. In order to hopefully boost reception I'm toying with mounting a much larger aerial either in the loft or externally on the chimney. I'd be grateful for some advice please as I'm not particularly technical

The first question is as follows; is reception likely to be improved if the new aerial is mounted externally rather than internally assuming that I if I mounted it internally, it could be positioned high in the loft?

Secondly what sort of aerial would you recommend please? I see that one retailer offers a Panorama BS-1105 kit which I guess would provide me with everything I need for the installation but I have heard that some users have experienced problems when using the aerial externally due the plastic cracking. If this is true, then what would you recommend please? And if it is another make of aerial, would it be possible  to get it in a kit with everything I need, or if not what else would I need in addition to the basic aerial please?

I trust that the above is clear and I look forward to receiving any advice.

Many thanks

OLY2B     

[Anmer]

Welcome.  I'll try and be as gentle as best I can. 

Good reception is typically a result of having the antenna placed as high as possible with the shortest coax run using low loss cable.

Loft installations can be good, but some roofing material can affect signals.  You should be able to run a test using the existing magmount.

External mounting is best but that may require a mast/pole and, possibly, an antenna rigger to make the installation.  And you have to get the coax into the house which may require holes in walls.  Or slipped under a roof tile.

My external antenna is 15 years old.  Now on the coast and no plastic cracking.  Some Jetvision antennae have suffered from water ingress where the cap seal wasn't good enough.  I've had this with a Jetvision external antenna.

For an external setup you will need:

1. Antenna
2. Coax with suitable connectors for antenna and receiver.
3. Optionally. self-amalgmating tape to seal the antenna/coax connector.
4. Mounting kit for the antenna.  Maybe a mast/pole and fixings or wall or a window fixing.

Low-loss coax can be 10mm or 15mm diameter.  But I've not noticed much signal loss using 6mm coax such as Panorama CS-29.

Any reputable dealer, such as Moonraker, will offer sound advice on what you need.

Attached is my window mount.

[attachment deleted reduce file load]

[Oley 2 BRAVO]

Hi Anmer - thanks for the swift response ... and for being gentle.

Thank you for the advice which is very much appreciated. Which ever option I go for I'm going to use the guy who fitted our television aerial to do the installation so it will be done professionally.

OLY2B

[reheat101]

Hello Oley 2 BRAVO,

Yes Anmer is right,

Also as you have a SBS-3 you should make use of the airband ?

Head over to moonraker.eu and have a look at the following,

1, Radar-110 Antenna (SKU: 11-575) £69.95.
2, Comet AB-380 Air Band Antenna (SKU: 48-112) £89.99.
3, RG-58U Cable 50mtr Drum (SKU: 16-0031) £24.95.
4, N Type Connector (SKU: 50-178) £2.24 each you need Two.
5, SMA Connector (SKU:50-230) £1.00 each you need two.

I Think the connectors are right, maybe phone moonraker first,

Regards,

Lee.

[Anmer]

Personally I'd steer clear of RG-58 cable.  It suffers from high attenuation (signal loss):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable

[Oley 2 BRAVO]

Hi reheat101 and Anmer (again).

Thanks very much for the additional information. I've never used the airband capability of the SBS-3 as I've always been more than happy with my ancient Yupiteru airband radio which is very portable. I am having reception issues with that as well since I moved house so that might be the way to go too. If I can then route the airband signal (somehow) using a Bluetooth "dongle" to a Bluetooth receiver that might resolve that issue. Fantastic information for which I am very grateful.

Anmer - what Coaxial cable would you recommend please? RG-213?

OLY2B

[Anmer]

RG-213 is OK.  But it's 10mm diameter and hard to bend (and pricey).

Check with the retailer.  Ask if they have any 6mm diameter, low loss coax.  Such as LMR-240.  Depends how long a run you need?

[Oley 2 BRAVO]

Many thanks again.