Building and installing a PilotAware ATOM Station to detect and re-transmit glider and
Mode-S MLAT locations and provide Virtual RADAR SERVER December 2020.
Page 7 of 25
Location for the antennas
•
The antennas should be positioned vertically and as high as possible avoiding
obstacles that would get in the way of transmission and reception, such as walls and
chimneys. The antennas should be a minimum 30cm apart. The further away the
better. Only the PilotAware antenna is transmitting. (It transmits at 869.5MHz and
will not affect or be affected by VHF voice antennas)
•
Each and every installation will be bespoke
. A wide variety of antenna mounts are
commercially available from Screw fix, Tool Station and other suppliers in the UK. A
list of typical mounts is supplied at the end of these instructions.
•
The recommended antennas are all supplied with Female N-Type connectors.
Typical Antenna Array Construction.
The following screenshot shows a typical antenna array with all three antennas supported
by a single pole. Alternatively 3 individual poles can be used.
The parts for making up this, and where to get them, are described in the addendum
at the end of this document.
Making up the Co-Axial Cables
•
For maximum efficiency HDF 400 (double shielded low loss coaxial cable) or
equivalent and N-Type connectors should be used for all antennas. Although a
smaller cable like RG8X or LM240 can be used for short reaches up to 5 metres if
necessary.
•
HDF400 cable is fairly thick and will require a suitable Crimp tool to make off the
connectors. If you are just doing the one installation, it may be cheaper to have
these cables made up commercially. A crimp tool is about £15 from WiFi Antennas
Ltd or other suppliers.
•
The Male N-type connector on the Co-Axial cable should be offered to the Female N-
Type connector on the antenna and the connectors screwed firmly together. The
joint should be weather-proofed using self-amalgamating tape.
•
This should be repeated for the second and third cables.