FighterControl

Sorry to be a pain but I need to get this right if I can.

Recently I was given as a Birthday Present a home made Antenna built exactly as in the instructions for "Home made UHF antenna - cheap/effective - DIY guide".
viewtopic.php?f=182&t=4069

I have used it in my office (through a window) with great success and can get Brize and Gloucester clearly (the Hills prevent much from the west). Today I have a man onsite all day boarding my loft for use as storage. He has offered to install the antenna in the loft and run the cable down to the scanner.
Are we right to assume it needs to be mounted vertically as high up as possible in the loft?
If so does he attach it to a wooden beam or just rest it against something?

Andrew Smith

Hi,

Are we right to assume it needs to be mounted vertically as high up as possible in the loft?
If so does he attach it to a wooden beam or just rest it against something?

Spot on, best to avoid any water tanks and electric cables, and I have mounted mine on a beam. You will get attenuation being in the loft , but should be better.

Ian

Thanks Ian. I will advise how we get on and if it imrpoves reception.

Listen to something like Brize ATIS and move the aerial about in the loft to find the best spot. You may find that it's not the best spot for Gloucester, but that's radio. Outside is best, but not always possible. Hope it goes ok.
Roger

hregor wrote:Listen to something like Brize ATIS and move the aerial about in the loft to find the best spot. You may find that it's not the best spot for Gloucester, but that's radio. Outside is best, but not always possible. Hope it goes ok.
Roger

that's just what i did with my DIY aerial.. had my 8 year old son listing to Culdrose ATIS and shouting out the level of reception as i moved the antenna about..
" 5 bar dad... 3,... 5,.. 1.. "! ended up with it right against the roof truss and at an angle of about 45 degrees?!!
but move it an inch one way or the other.. and signal would drop right of!
best way, as said is to play about with it.. see where's best

Just some feedback from moving my aerial into the loft. A big improvement all round. Best position found to be vertical at the highest point in the loft furthest from the water tank. Whereas previously I had good coverage of both sides of Brecon 133.6 and the equivalent miliary 133.9 I now have excellent coverage of Gloucester and Brize plus some of the Daventry corridor. I even picked up the on site walkie talkie traffic from the Cheltenham Racing Festival which was a big surprise. Many thanks to all those providing advice, it is much appreciated. Andrew Smith