WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

(For what it's worth)


Still in the pack. This is actually Meg's; I already unpacked mine and tested it on the floor. We bought from Andrews and shared freight (Strictly were out). These had S0-239; they were out of N-type.
4.5dB on 2m and 7.2db on 70cm. SWR is less than 1.2 : 1 from 144MHz to 147Mhz and about 1.4 above 147MHz. On 70cm it's about 1.3-1.5 from 433-442MHz


Finally installed properly. I had it on the short mast my ¼wave was on and it was on a bad lean (maybe 7-10°). Turns out the roof beam the mast is bolted to has a twist. Still has a slight lean. Now has 2.5m of 40mmØ reducing to 32mm reducing to 2m of 25mmØ then the antenna on top. Replaced the RG58 with a 15m pre-assembled RG213 with N-types either end and a N-type to PL-259. The coax runs up the inside of the mast and the connector just barely fits up the 25mm section. Mast joins are simply the upper section slid inside the lower section with a SS hose-clamp stopping the upper from sliding all the way down. Then sealed with non-corrosive bathroom sealer and wrapped with a couple of layers of self-amalgamating tape. No, I didn't install the TV antenna and it is on a shocking lean.

noice !
You will notice a difference when a duct is open.

I hope so. You always seem to get a much better signal than me. Man am I sore. Climbing into the roof-space in this house sucks bigtime

Roof space with itchy insulation = world of hurt

S meters between radios will vary a fair bit.

VK6ZMS wrote:Roof space with itchy insulation = world of hurt

S meters between radios will vary a fair bit.

Fairy nuff. I thought they would be calibrated on a known level. You probably have less feed line. Did you have any issues with permission to install antennae on the roof?
As for the insulation (and splinters from beams) I go long and long with rubber gloves and safety boots. Learned that one the hard way

robbage wrote: Did you have any issues with permission to install antennae on the roof?

I thought most councils had a standard 20 meters (from ground level) local law - that's the "standard" position from WALGA or DLGRD or someone - of course some may have amended that for their areas.

I think Martin's in multi-storey units/flats. Everything changes when you're sharing walls, roofs, parking areas etc.

Edit: Strata title or strata management or some damned thing like that.

There are three seperate villas on a block here, I chose the X30 because it has a low profile so far no grief from the corporate body.

Ah - I didn't think of units and villas. Y'all should move out here

I'd love to.. away from the rules and the rf noise and the small blocks. That reminds me, what's the story with that 30 metre mast? Is that a happening thing?

robbage wrote:That reminds me, what's the story with that 30 metre mast? Is that a happening thing?

Haven't managed to catch that mob for the last few weeks - silly season keeps getting in the way! However I suspect it's going to prove too hard to get it over here. A shame, it'd look great behind the shack

Bummer. I guess it can't be wrapped and 'card only' written on it. A truckie coming this way with no load would be handy. I wonder what the longest section is

robbage wrote:A truckie coming this way with no load would be handy.

Yeah, they are a mythical beast though! Works in the other direction... Perhaps Santa will manage to stuff it in his sack? Or drag it behind the sleigh?

robbage wrote:Climbing into the roof-space in this house sucks bigtime

Im a first year apprentice electrician, i know all about it,lol.
but now the aireal is installed properly and the coax is run properly, hopefully you wont have to play around with it for some time yet.

nra555 wrote:

robbage wrote:Climbing into the roof-space in this house sucks bigtime

Im a first year apprentice electrician, i know all about it,lol.
but now the aireal is installed properly and the coax is run properly, hopefully you wont have to play around with it for some time yet.

Hopefully not, but there will be HF and 6 metre antennae to come. I work with electricians and I know what they have to deal with, so I'll stick with electronics.