Recommendation for ext ant

[G6EZG]

Hi all

Now I have my radar box up and running. What external ant do you chaps recommend

Ivan

[Anmer]

If you want a specialist antenna (and not make your own), a few years ago I tested the Taylor Made RF TMRF-1090 Antenna and got very good results.  There's a Review here:

http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item101

Other products are available.

[G6EZG]

Hi Anmer

Yes I have just read your review and looked at his web site.
I see he does another type for a few pounds more
I will give him a ring and ask about them

Ivan

[Radio2.0]

i use this:
http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_vhf_air.html#adsbout
and this:
http://www.amateur-radio-antenna.com/ism-aeronautical-antenna/secondary-radar-1090/antenna-secondary-radar-flu-sr-y13.php

i also can recommend antenna from this guy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/stanislavpalo130/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

specialy this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antenna-5-8-great-coverage-ads-b-flightradar-24-1090mhz-high-gain-N-connector-/301566020068?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4636bc49e4
I use 3 on my friend house to revice all low altitude aircraft. For beginner an great Antenna and price!

But an LNA and Filter is more important.

[mhm]

I can recommend the TMRF 1090 I have had one on my chimney since February 2013. Well worth the money.

Mine was installed outside by a tv antenna installer, well worth the cost, its survived numerous storms and high winds with no problems.

Plus you get Chris Taylors expert advise as he knows the products well.

[Nigel]

I fully endorse the TMRF-1090. After reading Anmer's report, I have just bought one from Chris Taylor together with 10m of CS29 coax cable. I've had it fitted on the chimney stack by a tv aerial installer. Attached are polar diagrams from the original magmount supplied with the Puck located in the loft space and the latest plot from the TMRF-1090. Overall there is an excellent improvement. The service and advice provided by Chris Taylor was also excellent. The antenna arrived in less than 24 hours from placing the order. 

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[Radio2.0]

My Range and Feet can find here -> http://planes.webernetz.net/virtualradar/desktop.html
Receiver -> Wien 

[Joker767]

I am also thinking of replacing my GP-1090 (http://www.wimo.com/download/gp-1090.pdf) with a TMRF-1090. Does it make sense to operate the TMRF with the amplifier of the GP-1090 or not? I can say, that I cannot see a difference in range or quality of signal with or without the amplifier right now...

[Anmer]

When I used a preamp with either antenna, I was getting approx 10-15% more contacts.  But it may depend on local coverage.

Also check that the Bias-T is sending power to the preamp.

[Radio2.0]

This antenna cost more than a individual Products.
I use his Filter and LNA and it work great!
http://www.hftechnik.at/shop/

[G4UMW]

It largely depends on how long your coax feeder is. A correctly-designed preamp is really only intended to compensate for the signal losses in the feeder. Too much gain can cause problems with saturation, reduced intermodulation performance and other nasties in your receiver which can severely reduce the number of contacts you get.

[Radio2.0]

My Cable is ~5m. I dont know which buy the Amateurradio Shop Owner say its "the best" so i must trust him.
My Setup look like this Antenna -> 5m Cable -> Filter -> LNA -> Dongle and yes i see an different between LNA or not!!!!

It depend that kind of receiver you use. If the receiver have an internal filter and lna there is no external necessary but for dongle its important!

[G4UMW]

...but for dongle its important!

The filter certainly, because a dongle is a wide-band receiver with very limited front-end filtering. Preamps are a subject for discussion but this article makes interesting reading. Note the suggestion to operate the dongle at unity gain i.e. with no amplification of the signal obtained from the antenna other than that required to overcome feeder losses. For optimum results your LNA should be located as close as possible to your antenna.