Help Setting up KILN Feed

[aviator_06]

I live about 2 to 2.5 miles away from Airborne Airpark (KILN). I was woundering if someone could point me in the right direction on how to get started. I have a VHF radio/scanner. At the least I would like to be able to pick up the Tower Freq.  I'd like to keep everything as cheap as possible. Also how do i hook everything up to the computer?

Thanks!

[KSYR-pjr]

This is from a previous post of mine (as this question comes up a lot):

To host a feed you will need:

1)  A scanner with its own antenna

2)  Computer with sound card (that allows audio/mike input) -

        Note about a computer: It is preferable to have a dedicated PC/laptop but this is not necessary - the nice thing about a dedicated computer that hosts the feed is that what work you do on your primary computer (games, heavy graphics or video rendering) does not affect the feed - you can reboot and reload software all day long and it won't affect the feed.  Another nice feature of having a laptop handle the feed is that there is a built-in battery that will keep the laptop up during nuisance power outages and significantly reduce the chance for a corrupted OS (due to the computer going off unexpectedly).  I use an old Dell Latitude C500 (500 Mhz, 512 Mb RAM) laptop from about the year 2000 or so to provide the SYR feed.

If you don't have a second PC/laptop then it should not be a show-stopper but good feeds that keep listeners have high up-times.

3)  An always-on Internet connection - DSL, FiOS, Cable, etc. - Obviously the PC hosting the feed needs to be connected to the Internet.

4)  A simple audio cable that connects the scanner's external speaker/audio-out to the PC/laptop's sound card or mike input.

5)  Free software installed called OddATC that Dave (the site founder) will provide that is very easy to configure and set up to run.  This software takes the audio input from the scanner, converts it to a digital stream, then sends it up to the LiveATC servers.


-------  optional but significantly improves the feed -----------------

6) An outdoor j-pole or discone antenna.

7) a low-loss coax cable that connects the antenna to the scanner


------- really, really optional  ----------------------------------

8 ) A UPS into which the scanner, computer, and cable modem or DSL router are plugged to keep the feed running through nuisance power-outages.  This of course depends on the frequency of power outages in your area.  In mine there are at least four or five per year.


That's it.

[Glass-Cockpit.org]

Re: the coax from the antenna to your scanner.

Buy the best coax you can afford!

You can have the most amazing antenna on a 200 foot tower. You can purchase the best VHF/UHF/SHF receiver in the world.  But, it will all be at the mercy of the coax that runs between the two!

The cable should be made by Belden (THE best, IMHO!) At a minimum, I would use RG-8x. If possible, the jacket should be non-contaminating and the core should be solid, but foam will be okay as long as you're buying Amphenol. The center conductor should be stranded, not solid. The connectors should be silver teflon and manufactured by Amphenol. Chances are with most base station scanners, you will need a BNC connector at the radio end. Depending upon the antenna itself, you may need to have a PL-259 ( http://www.dxengineering.com/ShowProdImage.asp?URL=http://www.dxengineering.com/images/prod/pl-259_prod.jpg) or BNC ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BNC_connector.jpg ). Again, the connector should be silver teflon by Amphenol.

The coax run itself should be as short as possible between the radio and the antenna. DX Engineering can make you a custom cable to the exact length you need. This way, you're getting great cable, real RF connectors that have been properly soldered onto the cable (and NOT crimped!). Here's their page with the RG-8X: http://www.dxengineering.com/Products.asp?ID=239&SecID=127&DeptID=33

Please, please, please, avoid cheapy coax found at RS and CB shops. It tends to be inferior and just doesn't last!

73,
Pete, AA8GK
WWW.Glass-Cockpit.org

[KB6HLM]

Re: the coax from the antenna to your scanner.

Buy the best coax you can afford!

73,
Pete, AA8GK
WWW.Glass-Cockpit.org

I would disagree with this as I have tested all kinds of coax (100ft) from the best Hard Line to RG59 (75 Ohm TV COAX) and have found no noticeable DBI loss at aircraft frequency's 

So unless you just have money to burn don't waste good coax on your Airband VHF antenna keep the good stuff for your UHF needs

Note: however if you are using your antenna for multiband monitoring ? (not recommended for ATC feeds) then by all means  "Buy the best coax you can afford!" Pete, AA8GK

73s
Glenn KB6HLM
Las Vegas, Nevada