Signal Problems

[thedouth]

I have recently moved house . I have set up my radarbox on the second floor next to a window . I pick up hardly any planes unless the window is wide open . The window frames are steel . Would this affect my antenna signal . Any ideas please

[neroon79]

A window frame made of steel alone won't be a problem. Unfortunately you might have a window which had been coated with a thin layer of metal to block out UV and IR radiation. This is done to reduce the "solar heating" of rooms during the summer and to keep the IR radiation in the room during the winter. Disadvantage: it blocks almost all VHF transmissions too.

Ingo

[thedouth]

Could I put the antenna onto the outside of the frame and use the steel as a plate, that way the window wont have to stay wide open

[Runway 31]

That should be OK as long as the antenna is vertical, give it a go and see how it goes

Alan

[thedouth]

Thanks Alan, I shall give it a go . How about being on the inside of the frame, Would that work also

[neroon79]

I fear that putting it inside will result in no airframes received. But I would try it out anyway, just in case.

Ingo

[thedouth]

Thanks for your replies Ingo. I will try inside and outside

Ben

[thedouth]

Just to confirm that it works fine with the antenna on the outside on the window frame. Thanks for your input

Ben

[Runway 31]

Thanks for advising, just remember that the antenna is not weather resistant, it doesn't like rain

Alan

[thedouth]

Don't worry I don't leave it out there lol

Ben