Chris Taylor from Taylor Made RF asked me to do a review of his new 1090MHz antenna. I'm always happy to test new equipment and would like to share my findings.
First of all I have a GP-1090 external antenna with masthead pre-amp that's been on my roof for over 7 years and still going strong. I have no plans to replace it and didn't fancy clambering over the roof in the freezing cold. So I rigged up a temporary mast in the garden and was pleasantly suprised to achieve a maximum range of 213 NM, comparable to my GP-1090.
There are plenty of external antennas on the market and I haven't tested them all and can't recommend which is the best. All I will say is that an external antenna, located as high as possible and free of adjacent obstacles, such as hills, buildings and trees will deliver significantly more aircraft than the supplied magmount on the windowsill.
What I have discovered is that the 5mm diameter low loss CS-29 cable is a lot easier to handle that the 10mm Ecoflex that I have at the moment and I didn't notice any adverse affects on range.
My full review in in the Guides (http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item101) section.
Thanks Mike
An excellent review. I look forward to sending some more goodies for review soon ;-)
If anyone orders an antenna and mentions Radarspotting.com when ordering they will find something extra in the package
You can order the antenna from here http://www.taylormaderf.com/page28/rapidcart-3/store.php
Regards
Hi Anmer,
Thanks for the review. But I think it would be more helpful if people could access your review, also without having to signup with this forum and post some pictures of your results, for immediate inspection.
Quote from: E:V:A on March 15, 2013, 11:31:39 PM
But I think it would be more helpful if people could access your review, also without having to signup with this forum and post some pictures of your results, for immediate inspection.
I was always told that if you give things away, they're not valued as much as having to work for them.
Downloads are only available to members, as they are on most forums. And since membership is free, as are downloads, I don't see an issue with that.
Quote from: E:V:A on March 15, 2013, 11:31:39 PM
for immediate inspection...
Stand by your beds! ???
hi,
What is the diameter of the stub pole on the TMRF-190?
I'm thinking of buying a Moonraker LMAL 33' Aluminium telescopic portable mast
and was wondering if the stub pole will fit into or around the top section of the mast.
regards
Tony
Here is a link to the photos of both of my antennas
TMRF 1090 and TMRF BS-V/U on my roof. Both were purchased from Taylormaderf. They work very well.
I have removed the link as photos no longer on site
Quote from: Dreamliner787 on April 01, 2013, 02:00:23 PM
What is the diameter of the stub pole on the TMRF-190?
30mm.
thank you
One month on and the prices quoted in the review are a bit out of date. The antenna is the same price but with 10 metres of cable it come to £99-95 and £10 postage.
Not yet convinced given that I would have to convince SWMBO and pay for fitting to the chimney ;)
Quote from: IanH on April 14, 2013, 06:27:41 PM
One month on and the prices quoted in the review are a bit out of date.
Don't blame the author. Blame Taylor Made RF Limited for increasing the price. The prices in the Review were correct at the time.
Wasn't blaming the author - just pointing out to anyone reading your article, thinking about ordering and getting a bit of a surprise (like me!).
Ian
Quote from: Chris-G0WTZ on March 14, 2013, 09:03:13 PM
If anyone orders an antenna and mentions Radarspotting.com when ordering they will find something extra in the package.
Just curious - what can the item be ? SBS-3R ?
Having bored you all on Chat Box with my antenna's range :) I thought I would post a screenshot.
As you can see 4X-EKJ is showing at 245.5nm. From the position of the TMRF-1090 on my apartment block's roof there is no obstruction at all out to this point and hence the really good range.
I just wish I had 360 degrees of no obstructions ;)
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Very good.
Hi Bethsy
A shot of France UIR (W Sardaigna) show your antenna coverage............... super :)
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Alpey, thanks for posting your screenshot.
I reckon the top of my apartment block is almost 800 feet above sea-level, so it's no wonder, I suppose, that an unobstructed view out to the Med would show this sort of range.
Stephen
A simple comparison of the supplied Puck/SBS antenna and the TMRF base antenna same location using the same Puck
Thanks to Anmer for help with the outlines :-)
http://www.kinetic.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16159&sid=00e25a0040b8ccefb4d18721571bd29d
I've copied the images as those who aren't members of the Kinetic forum will not see them.
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Thanks for that Mike - I did eventually remember my Kinetic login but that makes it easier.
Surprised at low range for default antenna. I'm sure my SBS-1e gives me more than that with magmount in loft (just started to run SBSplotter to check).
I'm wondering what an external TMRF base antenna would add? And whether it is worth the cost of the antenna plus fitting.
Ian
Well worth the cost Ian
Ive had mine up almost a year both antennas have stood the bad weather and work well.
All equipment from Taylormaderf and fitted by local erector for TV's
Regards
mike
Quote from: IanH on January 03, 2014, 08:44:34 PM
Thanks for that Mike - I did eventually remember my Kinetic login but that makes it easier.
I guess it depends where the antenna is located. I got more range with the TMRF when I was testing it than Chris appears to be getting. And my location is 100 miles further north.
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Thanks for copying the pics Mike
I tested these to demonstrate to a customer at Elstree and the readings where only over half an hour!
I just thought others might like to see the plots
I have just got a nice pile of antennas to test and will be doing that over the coming weeks.
Keep an eye on my website for the results
Regards
Last Wednesday, after a horrendous journey down the M1 (rain, sleet almost snow) I turned up at Elstree to buy a TMRF-1090 from Chris. Took one away to avoid postage. The antenna is at a good price at the moment:
http://www.taylormaderf.co.uk/page47/rapidcart-61/store.php
Chris was very helpful and clearly busy that day so hopefully business is good. But remember if you do visit, his office/showoom is in a hangar - if you visit on a cold day, dress up warm as my wife found out ::)
Now I need to organise a man to put this antenna on my chimney.
I'm considering purchasing one of these & to have it mounted on the chimney, which cable would you guys advise getting?
I've tried searching for the CS-29 on the talormaderf site but cannot find it (i may be having a senior moment) ;D
Phone Chris Taylor at TM RF.
Quote from: Anmer on July 18, 2014, 07:12:22 PM
Phone Chris Taylor at TM RF.
Done & i now have it installed on my chimney and it's making a huge difference.
Thank you
Not a polar plot but a snapshot in time of contacts on an SBS-3 via a TMRF-1090.
Had the antenna installed on the chimney Wednesday and dramatically improved reception - out in the open and 10ft higher than the magmount in the loft.
Limited view to the South because of the hill my house is on but that same hill provides a clear view to the North. Most of the contacts are high altitude but there's a couple around Manchester at FL80.
Polar plots to be added.
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Thanks for the update Ian, looks very good.
Can't wait to get my external antenna installed when I move. Only sea to the south of me from 90 to 270 degrees.
Quote from: Anmer on October 03, 2014, 06:27:42 PM
Can't wait to get my external antenna installed when I move. Only sea to the south of me from 90 to 270 degrees.
Wow - what an opportunity half the arcing horizon out to sea
but what a pity again
that you seem to scorn with the world of MMSI, I mean Marine AIS tracking
sorry Mike , I just could not resist
best regards
;D ;D
Quote from: Truetrack on October 03, 2014, 08:42:48 PM
sorry Mike , I just could not resist
I may get an AIS receiver as my wife wants to know where the tankers are from and their destinations.
In the meantime, does this help?
http://www.marinetraffic.com/
Thanks Ian, we use that already.
Comparison of polar plots from magmount in loft versus TMRF-1090 on chimney. Same scale for both screen captures.
One slight problem - the increased traffic (double the message rate in PP) is causing my underpowered PC used for this to struggle - needs to move to something a bit more powerful.
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