Amateur Radio – APRS (KJ4NET)?
We are attempting to track a high altitude balloon using APRS equipment. We have not been able to get adequate range on ground level (< 1.5 miles). After some extensive troubleshooting, we believe that our antenna is to blame. We built a dipole antenna for a specific frequency (144.39 MHz). We followed the directions for building a dipole antenna. We used a center insulator with two arms made of uninsulated copper wire. Our connections are well soldered and the lengths of the arms are correct. Surprisingly, we have better range with the cheap omni-directional antenna that came with a small handheld radio than with the dipole antenna. Without seeing a picture of the antenna, does anyone have any ideas on where we might be going wrong? Or even some good links to information regarding the construction and use of dipole antennas? By the way, my callsign is KJ4NET.
[affmage source="ebay" results="20"]excavator[/affmage]
try using a J-pole or zepp. You’ve got hundred or thousands of feet below the balloon. Use it. BTW zepp stands for zepplin. That is where where those antennas were first used.
If you’re using an HT, they are supceptable to outside interference, namely your TNC. It could keep the radio from receiving very far. Separate the two and/or put shielding around the TNC.
What are you trying to communicate with? Is it a temporary station or a well installed digipeater? 1.5 miles between two HTs is not too bad.