Re: What I should have done

On Nov 14, 1:28 am, r�Bst�R <thedeerhunter...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the info - lots of that I wasn't aware of.  Particularly
that no FM is in the clear, although it isn't surprising, and
something I'd have expected, but you're the first person to confirm
it.  I had to look up Have Quick, I'd heard about it, but I couldn't
remember it worked.  Still unencrypted, but frequency hopping.  As far
as I'm aware the reason AM is still used for aircraft is that it can
still be heard at low signal levels, unlike FM which you lose in the
mush.

I used to have a Log Periodic, I used to use it on a rotator at home
(it got lost in a move).  Can't remember the frequency range it had,
VHF/ UHF I think, but it was quite big, certainly too big to use
mobile, or too big for me to use mobile.  This one looks useful

http://www.wade-antenna.com/TACO/Logs.htm

Different design to the one I had - and so much smaller

I'd love to get hold of some ex-military gear, I think the specs are
so much higher than the civilian equivalent.

You use (I think if I have the right person) the AT-197/GR discone?
Reminds me of the discone's I used to have, I couldn't, at the time,
get one for the range I wanted, so I cut the elements so the antenna
work resonate to a higher range.  It seemed to work ok.

Good point about the trunking data channels, they are a pain in the
arse.


I have the AT-197/GR. Actually two, though one needs some work. It is
no-gain of course, but wideband .The advantage is the antenna is
designed to be field assembled, so it breaks down easily for
transport. I sometime bring one for red flag, then use a J-[ole cut
for groom tower for VHF air. VHF isn't all that wide, so the j-pole
works well.

Figure on about $100 for any of these military surplus antennas. I did
get one of my as-1430 (need to verify that number) for $20, but it was
without the transport case. The military discone uses a HN connector.
The HN to N adapter is pricey unless you find it surplus. A better bet
is to look for old cables with the HN connector, then change one end
to a conventional N.

I never used the TACO antenna since it is way too new to show up
surplus. I would expect it to be good, but I believe it is not
designed to be used in the field.