airtraffic

Author Topic: Help with a portable antenna  (Read 6197 times)

Offline gfw123

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Help with a portable antenna
« on: November 21, 2005, 01:46:41 PM »
So, I went and bought a ICOM IC-A6 scanner/transmitter (mostly for use in the plane). However, I really want to be able to take it and go park next to the airport and listen in. I have found that even sitting next to the airport I still get breaks in the transmission so I miss whole words in what they are saying (both tower and pilots). I did not expect this, I would think that I would get great reception sitting right there. So, a couple questions:

1) Is the IC-A6 working OK? (squelch setting does not matter).
2) Will a new antenna help?
3) Is this kind of break up common (it even happens with ATIS which
    is generally a constant transmission right?)

Anyone have any recommendations for a nice portable antenna to replace the one that comes with the A6? I read the FAQ but it seems all of those are for semi-permanent placement.

I just hope the A6 works better in the air when/if I ever need it!

--greg.



Offline ZOTAN

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Help with a portable antenna
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2005, 11:47:27 PM »
Im not sure If your scanner has a signal stalker, but If it does turn it off. I was having the problem with broken transmissions but it turns out it was the signal stalker.

Offline msk1172

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Help with a portable antenna
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2005, 02:12:58 AM »
When I fire up my handheld from the parking lot or out on the ramp (the twr's xmitters are right there) I get loud and clear reception.  This leads me to believe that either a. your handheld is bad, or b. the field has some sort of remote antenna site i.e. the transmitters are not located directly on the field.   However if you have line of site on aircraft in the air then you should definatly get good reception from them.  

Mike

Offline Sirclown82

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Help with a portable antenna
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2005, 12:06:26 PM »
Always get rid of the original antenna, and get a aftermarket. Most of the time the supplied antenna provides you no real value.

Offline Scrapper

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Help with a portable antenna
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2005, 12:59:02 PM »
I have a Uniden BC 246 and it works very well when I'm near the transmitters (ie. at the airport), however as mentionned in one of the other reply, it is advisable to get another antenna for increased performance.  I live only 15 or 20 miles from halifax international, and although at the airport itself from one of my favourite viewing spots the reception is crystal clear, from my house, it is sometimes difficult to hear the airport (althogh aircraft are no problem, for obvious reasons, because they are above the horizon...)
On another note, I was very much looking forward to my first flight with my scanner (since as mentionned in my other post today, not every airline has channel 9 to listen to ATC).  However, was surprised to find that once airborne, it becomes almost impossible to hear ATC within the fuselage of the plane... it's a little better to hear the cockpit since the transmitter is close by... so it became hard to keep up with freq changes when moving from one sector to another since you usually miss the centre's call to switch to the following freq... however the 246 helps in that it has a close call feature which homes in on any close radio transmission without knowing the freq and locks on that freq, so if you select that you can still follow the cockpits transmissions without having to follow the freq reassignments... but it was still a letdown, because the idea I think is to be able to hear all the OTHER aircraft around you... (at least for me as an air controller, this is the most interesting part)

Offline gfw123

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fixed
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2005, 10:08:19 PM »
Just to let you know, it was a bad radio. I got it replaced today and it now sounds great, and the reception is a LOT better. If you ever get a chance to shop at the pilot store there on Boeing Field I highly recommend it, the woman that works there is very helpful and knowledgeable.

--greg.