Hi all,
Today after a descent wait a package from Moonraker in the UK arrived!!!
Im now the proud owner of a Moonraker RADAR-100 Kit-10 (11-567) antenna setup!!
Sometime in the next 48 hours I hope to take down my old setup and redo everything.
As well as the Moonraker (with pre-amp) is a KAL-BS1105 going up, this Im going to have connected to my SBS3 dedicated to PP (once I get that working properly again) and the Moonraker will be dedicated to MMS2 connected to my SBS1er1.
I should also get a height gain of two / three feet, some might say 'so what!' but in my case I am located in the worse of the worse for this hobby and any gain in height is a massive increase.
The pic is my current setup.
I look forward to reporting how things go!!! IM EXCITED! 8) 8) 8)
CAM
PP - v5
MMS2 - TVL1
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Sounds just like a kid at crimble... ;) and why not...
Stay tuned....
Last night we got the new 'antennas' up looks very impressive!!!! 8)
Early reports indicate a MASSIVE improvement. I hope latter today to get some more detailed info regarding this.
Now all I got to do is get PP fixed and see how the other antenna goes!
CAM
MMS2 TVL1
PP v5
Everything is now up - and been working for 48 hours!!
Ive completely redone my antenna. So now I have the Moonraker RADAR 100Kit with pre-amp and a Kinetic BS105 5db with ground-plane antenna with no pre-amp.
The Moonraker is used for MMS2 and the BS105 for PP.
So far I am really impressed with both antennas. Even the BS105 is performing well. :P
However, nothing for me is going to fix the fact I live in a tremendously bad area for this hobby!! I live in a suburb called Douglas in Townsville - look it up and you'll see! ???
Stats so far:
NORTH = 120NM an improvement of 40/50NM
EAST = 210NM an improvment of 100NM
SOUTH = 170NM an improvement of 70/80NM
WEST = 180NM an improvement of 60/80NM
Nothing will improve my S/W approach where a significant amount of traffic comes the mountain range plus islands just cant be beat for me.
If I was able to gain another ten feet I know I would achieve another significant improvment, that isnt going to happen unfortunetly!!!!!! Maybe my next post???
Any questions of thoughts sing out.
CAM
MMS2 TVL1
PP (Mlat) v5
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I have a similar set up and found the pre amp under the 1105 was a big improvement but under the moonraker it was negligable
Which courier handled the Moonraker antenna? (Just curious as it is very good but a bit long to ship ecconomically
Regards
Hi Chris,
Im thinking about puting a basic Pre-Amp on the BS1105 wait and see.
To answer your question UKMail Express and Mair then via Australian Air Express, does that help?
CAM
Thanks I will get prices from our courier
Regards
Big Red are you seeing any upclose effects like the doughnut hole effect from that antenna?
Later
Morning Mixism,
If you mean when a contact is overhead or very close I get a stuttering effect.... yes I do (is that what you mean), while annoying the BS1105 is filling that gap. The distance increase is far outweighing the issue.
Let me know.
CAM
I would have to draw a diagram to show it properly but as the gain increases you will get more range and more donut. I have always said the BS1105 is the best all rounder and while the new Moonraker high give more range I lose some close in stuff so the BS1105 and Moonraker on a switch work well.
At the end of the day Cam you have 2 good antennas which is way better than many who only use the mag mount have fun and I look forward to your conclusions in a week or two
Regards
Chris
Chris,
When you mention 'switch what do you mean?'
CAM
I have an antenna switch so I can switch between two antennae I always compare against the BS1105 as my reference and when I have a full screen I swap antenna to see if it increases or decreases count.
I have just set my mac up to run XP and Vista at the same time so I can have two SBS's on the same machine and then I can have one on each antenna It looks odd in coherence to see 2 basestations running side by side
Ohhhhh, now you have pricked my interest!!! 8)
I must look into getting a switch, Im using paralells too, but Im using the BS1105 purely as a standalone (SBS3) for PP and the Moonraker seperately on BS for MMS2 (SBS1er1).
A switch would be handy!!! hmmm we must talk more!
CAM
MFJ-1702CN available from Andrews is probably your best option you will need some N-SMA patches etc
If you have a mac and paralells you need two installs of windows I used vista and xp as I had them both and I have the SBS-3 on vista and the SBS-1eR on xp works fine but you have to get one running before you plug the other one in or as I have it the 1er on USB and the SBS-3 on ethernet.
Email me direct if you need any help
Cheers
OK... today we placed the antenas on a new master pole ontop of the roof!! At least a fifteen feet gain!!! Which in my case is awesome!! :)
To early to prodict but.... I can see ground traffic moving around the hard-stand magnificently well!!! ;D
Distances for the Moonraker.... not enough aircraft up to tell at the moment.
In the next day or so I will be able to let you all know as well as photos version three!!!
CAM :P
Thanks Cam.
It's like watching a live birth :)
Well I'm even more excited!!! :) :)
Version four of antenna upgrade has been completed and will be returned to the top of roof in the next 48hours!!
We have completely redone the pole, the Mooonraker is now now sitting on-top of the fifteen foot pole with pre-amp and the BS1105 is siting out from the pole about four feet below with ..... a Elad pre-amp!!
It looks good.... I promise pics will be posted.
Previously both antennas were on a tea-piece at the very top of the pole, SBS-plotter was showing serious signal definency for both antenna, it seemed in theory the Moonraker donut-effect was impeding upon the BS1105. The change and angle / direction of antenna with pre-amp on the BS1005 should provide serious improvement.
The overall height for me once everything is up is approximately 35 / 40 feet.
Stay tuned!! ;D ;D
CAM of Townsville.
Well here they are....
The Moonraker is performing extremely well no real surprises with the SBS plot either. Current hieght is it for me. Im about 40feet all up.
The BSC1105 is about three feet below the Moonraker. My previous setup had them both on the same horizontal beam and I was sure this was causing signal loss for the 1105... any comments / thoughts? ???
So on the second pic its lower... performance with a bran new Elad power amp..... lacking in the extreme. I think its height and position of the antenna. :(
Sadly this setup will have to do for awhile before I can get up there and change things around. But I am putting back up the old flag poll for the discone and also an orginal SBS1 antenna... experiemntal purposes only !!! ;)
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Setup with Moonraker and BSC1105 latest configuration - as per message above.
CAM
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All you need now is aircraft ;D
You have a nice setup now.
In the pics it looks like the downleading coax is passed straight downwards.
As a precaution may I suggest that you include a loop before attaching to the PreAmp.
Reason that the shear weight of the cable cannot pull it out of plug by the time.
Even though carefully fixed to the mast in sufficient number I would not trust them
giving a bit away in varying temperatures.
regards
Hi Klaus,
Cheers mate! Thanks for the feedback, the next time Im up there I will loop the coax accordingly. Im also going to reposition the 1105.
CAM