Hi
I installed the ELAD 1090MHZ amplifir and bias tree as per the instructions and paying close attention to the RF,DC in etc.
I am receiving around 40 (MYFIGHTS) and the polar diagram is showing a distance of about 170 miles from my home if i apply or remove the 12v feed via the bias tree it makes now difference to the polar plot or my flights,even if i leave it for several hours.
The antenna (company southhampton) and amplifier are currently installed in the loft prior to going outside on the roof within the next month or two.
I would appreciated your comments.
The only option I think is too return both items to W&S for replacement or repair.
being 2 months old.
Paul MW0CVW.
Hi Paul,
I have the Elad preamp and the Radar Extender antenna.
My preamp is also in the loft as it was too windy to get it outside when I bought it so I put it in the loft and there it stayed.
At the moment with the preamp on I am getting 48 aircraft in Myflights ( this is quite low it usually is over 100) and 250 messages/sec. My range is max 250 NM to the north east, about 150 to the north and north west and my poor direction is south and west about 80 miles.
Turn off the power to the preamp and all seems the same, then suddenly my messages/sec go down to about 40.
I have not tried the antenna without the preamp straight into the Radarbox. Will have to try this soon.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Terry,
Thanks for th information much appreciated.
One interesting point I have noted is when I remove the power (12v d.c) from the Elad Pre-amp and leave it for a couple of minutes it makes no difference the the live (MYFLIGHTS).
The way your system operates is what I would expect as the ELAD amplifies (LNA) is an active device.
I have returned the unit (amp & bias tree) today, back to W&S.
Let you know what they find.
Kind Regards
Paul MW0CVW.
may be that the preamp is over loading your radar box
i have read many posts about this problem
most people go for a high gain antenna and not pre amp unless your running over 15mtrs or so of coax
use a high quality low los coax w103 for example
Neilman2424
The coax cable run is about 12 metes long and westflex 103 with associated connectors N-type and SMA fly lead to the Radar box from the Bia Tree.
Your comments are appreciated and noted.
Kind Regards
Paul MW0CVW.
Hi MW0CVW,
I was just wondering did you hear back from W&S regarding your ELAD gear,
I'm in a very similar position, just getting ready to install the antenna on the roof, I haven't noticed any difference with the mast amp on or off !
Maybe when it's mounted outside there might be some gain ?
Cheers.
Conor.
I've just installed the Watson extender above the roof with the ELAD on the mast and I'm not happy at all. The performance is considerably worse than the little radarbox magmount which is sat just above the gutter. This is going to be coming down very shortly and will be returned. What a waste of 250 quid
Update on this one: When I went to unscrew the bnc-sma patch lead from the back of the radarbox the number of msgs/sec and aircraft shot up so I put the meter across the connectors and there was a bad connection across the centre. Undid the sma plug and it was a botch job so after remaking the connection properly the antenna seems to be working very well. If anyone else is having this problem then beware of the patch lead.
Cheers for that information WAL 2T
Quote from: WAL 2T on April 22, 2009, 04:57:40 PMIf anyone else is having this problem then beware of the patch lead.
Hi WAL 2T (not a car registration?) can you give us a clue as to who supplied the patch lead?
Quote from: CoastGuardJon on April 22, 2009, 08:22:20 PM
Quote from: WAL 2T on April 22, 2009, 04:57:40 PMIf anyone else is having this problem then beware of the patch lead.
Hi WAL 2T (not a car registration?) can you give us a clue as to who supplied the patch lead?
Hi,
The patch lead was part of the kit supplied by W&S. The problem was that insufficient core was exposed and the inner dielectric was badly cut, also melted probably due to an insufficiently hot iron being used for the tinning (left on too long).
cheers
Chris
ps. WAL 2T is of course one of the EGGP SIDs :)
Hi
A good idea to check if your pre amp is working or not is to measure the current. I have dones some tests on this when I had a similar problem which turned out to be ny antenna.
Have a read of my notes here; http://www.amsnw.myzen.co.uk/gp1090.html
It may help. Also note the pre amp is a mast head pre amp designed to overcome the losses in a long (15mt) run of cable. Not really a signal booster in the raw sense.
Andy
Quote from: WAL 2T on April 22, 2009, 04:57:40 PM
Update on this one: When I went to unscrew the bnc-sma patch lead from the back of the radarbox the number of msgs/sec and aircraft shot up so I put the meter across the connectors and there was a bad connection across the centre. Undid the sma plug and it was a botch job so after remaking the connection properly the antenna seems to be working very well. If anyone else is having this problem then beware of the patch lead.
Ive just got one of these, went to unscrew the patch lead from the Pre amp box, and the end piece came away...looks like it was put together by a ten year old. getting it fixed locally. For the money you would expect competent assembly!
Ive just got one of these, went to unscrew the patch lead from the Pre amp box, and the end piece came away...looks like it was put together by a ten year old. getting it fixed locally. For the money you would expect competent assembly!
[/quote]
That patch lead is particularly nasty, didn't like the look of it when it came out of the box. I'll be replacing mine with an RG213 patch lead terminated with large entry BNCs then use a BNC-SMA adapter to connect to the RB. The only issue being the weight of the cable and connectors at the back will probably cause the radarbox to tip.
Hello,
My Elad pre-amp will be back via the carrier tomorrow from W&S.
The unit was faulty and has been replaced for a new unit.
during the phone conversation,comments where noted a few of these units have been out of box failures.
Yes i did check the current which on the faulty unit was about 70Ma max,not the stated 100ma,so there must have been a faulty gasfet or associated component.
let you know how things work once the unit is back in operation.
Paul MW0CVW
EGNR/EGGP Welsh border
Quote from: WAL 2T on April 22, 2009, 10:26:50 PM
Hi WAL 2T (not a car registration?) can you give us a clue as to who supplied the patch lead?
The patch lead was part of the kit supplied by W&S. The problem was that insufficient core was exposed and the inner dielectric was badly cut, also melted probably due to an insufficiently hot iron being used for the tinning (left on too long).
ps. WAL 2T is of course one of the EGGP SIDs
Hi Chris thanks for the extra info.. EGGP SIDs ??? I'm still none the wiser.............
Hi Chris, many thanks for the PM and link.
Now I'm a bit wiser!
Hi
Received my Elad 1090 Mhz amplifier and Bias tree back from W&S after several phone calls.
Re-installed the units as per the instruction and left Airnav running for 24 hours to see what the change would be to the polar diagram.
I cannot notice any change so checked the wiring and power supply voltages and noted the following.
my ELAD amplifier is connected to 12v D.C but only draws 50ma (100Ma) specification. Note: checked this on two seperate meters (current range).
So my questions is do I have another faulty unit,as I dont think W&S have checked this replacement unit as the packaging was sealed and different serial numbers on these units.
I would appreciate if anyone can confirm what current measurement they are getting on their working system.
I would of expected some change in the polar diagram.
thanks
PAUL MW0CVW
Quote from: CoastGuardJon on April 23, 2009, 08:33:28 PM
Hi Chris thanks for the extra info.. EGGP SIDs ??? I'm still none the wiser.............
WAL 2T is a Standard Instrument Departure from EGGP, runway 27:
Climing out on runway heading, 1.5 Miles from Liverpool VOR, Turn to 299 Degrees towards to intercept the 199 Redial of Wallasy VOR and Crossing WAL VOR at 2500 or above climbing to 4000.
Quote from: MW0CVW on May 04, 2009, 07:13:32 PM
Hi
Received my Elad 1090 Mhz amplifier and Bias tree back from W&S after several phone calls.
Re-installed the units as per the instruction and left Airnav running for 24 hours to see what the change would be to the polar diagram.
I cannot notice any change so checked the wiring and power supply voltages and noted the following.
my ELAD amplifier is connected to 12v D.C but only draws 50ma (100Ma) specification. Note: checked this on two seperate meters (current range).
So my questions is do I have another faulty unit,as I dont think W&S have checked this replacement unit as the packaging was sealed and different serial numbers on these units.
I would appreciate if anyone can confirm what current measurement they are getting on their working system.
I would of expected some change in the polar diagram.
thanks
PAUL MW0CVW
Hi Paul
When I had a problem with my system (It turned out to be the aerial) I measured about 75 to 80mA currnt taken @ 12.2VDc on my Elad 1090 pre amp.
This I would consider normal. The spec says 100mA but I think that is to make sure you use a 100mA psu or better.
ANdy
I'm seeing 70mA drawn off the psu, measured with a Thandar DMM. ELAD is powered off the low current circuit of the 30A shack supply.
The ELAD does make a difference to the number of aircraft you see in myflights here: on average a 10% increase but the additional aircraft are not necessarily at the fringes of reception range.
I had a problem with my Elad last year, and it was replaced. Coincidentally, I also suffered from water ingress in my antenna (which was also replaced). I did wonder at the time whether or not the two events were related.
DC
Quote from: Deadcalm on May 06, 2009, 07:37:51 AM
I had a problem with my Elad last year, and it was replaced. Coincidentally, I also suffered from water ingress in my antenna (which was also replaced). I did wonder at the time whether or not the two events were related.
DC
Water will flow along co-ax by capilliary action, so may well be related.
So what are we saying, say with the supplied aerial?
I have been following this thread with interest.
I have had the Elad preamp for about two months now.
Suddenly this afternoon it packed in!
One minute I was getting 300 - 400 messages per second and about 100 aircraft in Myflights the next I was down to 2-3 M/sec and about 10 flights.
I took the Elad out of the circuit and up went the flights etc. Put it back in and down they all went.
Looks like I will be onto W&S tomorrow for repair or replacement!
Terry
Whilst waiting for my faulty units to be replaced, I invested in a Kuhne pre-amp and T Base. I also bought an (I think) AS1105 (the antenna with the extra coil).
Together they've given excellent performance. I had my doubts about the quality of the Elad gear, and now it (and my replacement Wimo antenna) serves as a spare antenna set up, just in case.
DC
DC, who supplied the Kuhne and what price are the pre-amp and Bias T please?
CoastguardJon, I got both units direct from Kuhne.
my contact there was Kerstin Bayreuther (
[email protected])
An extract from an E mail from Kerstin details the prices (September 2008):
"..many thanks for your enquiry and your interest in our products.
We are pleased to offer you the following prices:
1x KU BT 271 N 47,00 €
1x KU LNA 1090 A TM 163,00€
Shipment to France 14,00 €
All prices are within German VAT.
We can deliver all modules from stock.
Subject to prior sale..."
Hope this helps
DC
Hi Guy's,
I have been running the Elad Bias T and pre amp since I got Airnav. I have to say I have had no problems with it and when I disconnect the Bias- T I lose at least half 'my flights'. Also I notice that the 'blu globes' disappear on quite a few also so information regarding tracking/altitude etc is lost.
Hi DC, many thanks for the additional info., not as expensive as I thought it would be. With the current £ - € rate so poor, I was expecting it to be dearer.
just like to add some more positives for the ELAD.
When I connected mine up to the antenna in the loft, my typical count went from 40 to 140 !
When I switch the DC supply off, it goes back down to about 70
Quote from: t1mb0 on June 05, 2009, 08:40:53 PM
just like to add some more positives for the ELAD.
When I connected mine up to the antenna in the loft, my typical count went from 40 to 140 !
When I switch the DC supply off, it goes back down to about 70
Hi Tim, that info. is quite telling, you obviously had some poor connections between the twig and the RB, by inserting the amp. it's disturbed and improved connections.