Still can not receive on BS1 any range after.

[John Roe]

A while back I had the kind help of one of your members set up Base station for me, since then I'm have had to test through elimination all components for the antenna, at last with my Collineer antenna, I am receiving an aircraft with a range of 50nm, I use to get 275nm easy before I had BS1 issues 2 years ago, now up  and running, I am still bewildered to why I can not get any range, I also am interested to replace this antenna and buy a new one, where from I do not know and ask for any help please,, cheers john

[Anmer]

Hi John

I thought you tested a different antenna without a pre-amp and your range imprtoved?

[John Roe]

Hi Anmer,

We brought down the 2.4GHz Colliner  to on the house roof, stood it against a pole and with 2m cable to the box, received some nearby ac because of heigh and obstacles, assumed it was ok without the pre-amp and put it back up on the tower. Today with the older pre amp tested the volts at the head put it all back together,  so everything has been tested and eliminated for faults, as far as can be seen, but can not test the pre amp here, would have to send it back to Germany, I can only assume the pre amp is shot, and get another , then see what happens and if not that, then buy another equall type antenna, from where I do not know.

cheers.

[IanH]

This might be an option for a replacement:

https://www.buyraspberrypi.com.au/shop/flightaware-5dbi-66c-26-inch-1090mhz-antenna/

Should be plenty of reviews out there since they have sold many of them.

For example https://www.rtl-sdr.com/review-flightaware-ads-b-antenna-and-filter/

Or try making your own antenna to test your set up without spending much money: https://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=112703.0

[John Roe]

Hello IanH,

Thank you for the supply of information on Antennas, but have to admit, I have trouble understanding things like information and write up instruction, but as I made the Collineer some 7 yrs ago, it worked fine with regular radius of 250 - 275nm on a 27m tower, understanding how it works, no I do not, but when inspecting its construction, it does not make sense to me as it is a dead short, the 12v power is sent in to the center core and the negative is the outside core, to the end is the half core and joined, so how does it work, I don't understand it at all.
I have had the antennae out of its housing and checked all solder joints for continuity, good, no breaks, then why will it not work now. must be a soldier break that will be only found by x-ray. I wish there was someone here in Perth that I could consult physically.frustrated.  cheers.

[Anmer]

Hi John

How well does your antenna work without the preamp?

Have you tried it back on the roof with the pre-amp removed?

[John Roe]

Hi Anmer,

It does not work at the top of 27m tower without a preamp, and on the roof with a temp 2m cable, it appeared to work for closeby ac without the  preamp.

cheers john

PS, just arranged for the 45ft cherry picker back on thurs to get antenna down again and do other tests..

[Anmer]

Hi John

If the antenna worked without the preamp using a temporary 2m cable, I'd check the cable running to the roof.  And the pre-amp cable connectors.  Are they free of corrosion?

[John Roe]

Hi Anmer,

Yes the main cable is ok, tested for continuity and read 12 volts at top of the cable, no short detected, I will re-check the cable connections again on Thurs.    cheers.

PS, will double check connectors, did so yesterday that connect to preamp are ok, need to double check a join, the main cable free.

[Anmer]

Thanks.

A "damaged" cable can "pass" a DC continuity check, especially if there's a kink in the cable.  Enough to short a signal.  Try and make a visual check along its length.

[John Roe]

Hi Anmer,

Yes I will check that regardless even though there should be no way it can kink as it is clamped the masthead and hangs down the center of the triangle mast frame.

cheers john.

PS.  Does any one know if the amp  can be used with the 3m cable from BS to Antenna just standing it up on the roof?.

P.S.S. due to a recommendation by a fellow member to recheck the cable regardless again and again now has determined it faulty or it's fittings, to repair or replace it all,  thank you for your assistance Anmer.