WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

It happens. Hopefully it will get a bit more use

Funny how RLM is my closest repeater and I can get it loud and clear along Helena Valley road, but can't hit it from where I park my car. I can on the other hand hit RFM Freo and get about an S4 reading from there. Must be in just the wrong spot!

Could be an elevation issue from your place? What sort of angle do you reckon the top of the hill is from your place? It's not uncommon for people at the base of a hill with repeater atop to get better results from a 1/4 wave because of the high angle of radiation (compared to a high gain vertical which has a flatter angle)

no idea...it's flat as! Well ok some might argue that it's not but really it is...I'm not sure, I'll test again in a couple of days when I get my SG7900...see I do listen to advice
Edit: just double checked and that's not a quarter wave it's a 7/8

Aren't you at the base of the hills and the repeaters at the top? If so, can't see how that's flat.
So did you get an actual Supergainer or the clone? If you got a clone then you might want to coat the grub screws and holes with protective grease or similar. Looks to me like they use low grade stainless steel screws if Zebedee's is anything to go by.

got it from Strictly Ham so I should hope it's the genuine one.

Tyranus wrote:got it from Strictly Ham so I should hope it's the genuine one.

Yeah, they do the genuine article (that's where I got my 7200), though the clone I got for Simon seems OK too, but we will take Robbage's advice on coating the screws.

How long is the 7900?

1.58 metres. Andrews sells the brand-name and clones. The clones are about $50 cheaper and probably last 50% the time

Tyranus wrote:Funny how RLM is my closest repeater and I can get it loud and clear along Helena Valley road, but can't hit it from where I park my car. I can on the other hand hit RFM Freo and get about an S4 reading from there. Must be in just the wrong spot!

As Rob said it's elevation, you are in the shadow of 6RLM caused by the Darling scarp.

robbage wrote: If you got a clone then you might want to coat the grub screws and holes with protective grease or similar. Looks to me like they use low grade stainless steel screws if Zebedee's is anything to go by.

Loctite is a good idea on the grub screws to stop them coming undone.
Also SG antennas have different threads to Mobile One antennas .
It is very similar to a PL 259

VK6ZMS wrote:Loctite is a good idea on the grub screws to stop them coming undone.
Also SG antennas have different threads to Mobile One antennas .
It is very similar to a PL 259

Yep on the loctite. If you don't have loctite then you can make something similar by dissolving white sugar in water, making sure it's thick. It takes quite a while to dry though and will separate OK if you want to loosen the screws. Yep on the base thread as well, the Comet is the same. In fact all the decent high gain mobile antennae I checked out had that type of thread. My mobile antenna base is actually a SO-239 bulkhead socket and they fit perfectly HamShack sell the proper bases http://www.hamshack.com.au/index.php?pr ... ccessories last four items, but I'd avoid that mag base for a 1.6m antenna. You'll need to re-terminate with N-type

Yeah won't be doing mag bases...over them! So the antenna will require another mount point I can't use the current one I have? might have to do a join unless the cable is easily long enough, but I don't particularly want to be taking my car apart again

is RAP down at the moment?

Fastlane wrote:is RAP down at the moment?

Yeah, (or it was earlier at least) - there was an email about it...somewhere...rings a bell...

meg wrote:

Fastlane wrote:is RAP down at the moment?

Yeah, (or it was earlier at least) - there was an email about it...somewhere...rings a bell...

heard them talking about it being fixed on it last night.. mustn't have lasted long