Hello, I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the WNW. I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted outside, so I am limited in this regard. Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in? If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working within the next month or so. Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have. Regards. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
More important than the gear will be your signal path. Checking your callsign, I don't see where that building has clear view of the sound. I see it's buried among giants. Do you have any zoomy photos showing Gold Mtn? If you do indeed have a path, then any client should do. Have you read http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware.html ? We use a QRT-5 @ The Westing Building (2 blocks from you) to link to Gold Mtn. You can use something higher gain if you have the room. We needed something that could press up against the glass at a high angle due to the orientation of the Westin. --Bart On 4/23/2017 1:24 PM, Grace B Thomson wrote:
Hello,
I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the WNW.
I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted outside, so I am limited in this regard.
Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in?
If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working within the next month or so.
Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have.
Regards.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
Hi Bart, My view toward Gold Mtn is blocked, but my clear view is more toward Bainbridge Island, the Bangor Base, Green Mtn etc. Do You think there is a chance that I will be able to make this work? I don't mind taking a chance and trying it if there is any hope of it working. Thank You Bart. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z On 4/23/2017 2:22 PM, Bart Kus wrote:
More important than the gear will be your signal path. Checking your callsign, I don't see where that building has clear view of the sound. I see it's buried among giants. Do you have any zoomy photos showing Gold Mtn?
If you do indeed have a path, then any client should do. Have you read http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware.html ? We use a QRT-5 @ The Westing Building (2 blocks from you) to link to Gold Mtn. You can use something higher gain if you have the room. We needed something that could press up against the glass at a high angle due to the orientation of the Westin.
--Bart
On 4/23/2017 1:24 PM, Grace B Thomson wrote:
Hello,
I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the WNW.
I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted outside, so I am limited in this regard.
Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in?
If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working within the next month or so.
Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have.
Regards.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
Just a thought. I've done this before with excellent results, and also with very poor results. The glass matters. If it's just standard window glass, like in a house, it's invisible (well, for all practical purposes) to RF, and won't present an issue. But if it's "office building glass" (ie, tinted, etc), I've had cases where it's almost completely opaque to microwave RF. Might be worth testing with borrowed gear (assuming line of sight works out) before spending any real money. Jeff N0GQ On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 2:57 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hi Bart,
My view toward Gold Mtn is blocked, but my clear view is more toward Bainbridge Island, the Bangor Base, Green Mtn etc.
Do You think there is a chance that I will be able to make this work? I don't mind taking a chance and trying it if there is any hope of it working.
Thank You Bart.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
On 4/23/2017 2:22 PM, Bart Kus wrote:
More important than the gear will be your signal path. Checking your callsign, I don't see where that building has clear view of the sound. I see it's buried among giants. Do you have any zoomy photos showing Gold Mtn?
If you do indeed have a path, then any client should do. Have you read http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/ Client%20Hardware.html ? We use a QRT-5 @ The Westing Building (2 blocks from you) to link to Gold Mtn. You can use something higher gain if you have the room. We needed something that could press up against the glass at a high angle due to the orientation of the Westin.
--Bart
On 4/23/2017 1:24 PM, Grace B Thomson wrote:
Hello,
I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the WNW.
I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted outside, so I am limited in this regard.
Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in?
If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working within the next month or so.
Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have.
Regards.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
-- -=jeff=-
Hi Jeff, Thank you for those observations. I used to have Clearwire and that worked well here. I don't know if that is significant...? Thanks. Regards. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z On 4/23/2017 4:01 PM, Jeff Francis™ wrote:
Just a thought. I've done this before with excellent results, and also with very poor results. The glass matters. If it's just standard window glass, like in a house, it's invisible (well, for all practical purposes) to RF, and won't present an issue. But if it's "office building glass" (ie, tinted, etc), I've had cases where it's almost completely opaque to microwave RF. Might be worth testing with borrowed gear (assuming line of sight works out) before spending any real money.
Jeff N0GQ
On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 2:57 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com <mailto:gracebt@eskimo.com>> wrote:
Hi Bart,
My view toward Gold Mtn is blocked, but my clear view is more toward Bainbridge Island, the Bangor Base, Green Mtn etc.
Do You think there is a chance that I will be able to make this work? I don't mind taking a chance and trying it if there is any hope of it working.
Thank You Bart.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
On 4/23/2017 2:22 PM, Bart Kus wrote: > More important than the gear will be your signal path. Checking your > callsign, I don't see where that building has clear view of the > sound. I see it's buried among giants. Do you have any zoomy photos > showing Gold Mtn? > > If you do indeed have a path, then any client should do. Have you > read > http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware.html <http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware.html> > ? We use a QRT-5 @ The Westing Building (2 blocks from you) to link > to Gold Mtn. You can use something higher gain if you have the room. > We needed something that could press up against the glass at a high > angle due to the orientation of the Westin. > > --Bart > > On 4/23/2017 1:24 PM, Grace B Thomson wrote: >> Hello, >> >> I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) >> with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are >> buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the >> WNW. >> >> I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work >> mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working >> well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted >> outside, so I am limited in this regard. >> >> Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal >> 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in? >> >> If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the >> best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I >> am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like >> it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working >> within the next month or so. >> >> Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have. >> >> Regards. >> >> 73 >> -Grace >> KC0BTM >> NNNN >> z >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> PSDR mailing list >> PSDR@hamwan.org <mailto:PSDR@hamwan.org> >> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr <http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr>
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org <mailto:PSDR@hamwan.org> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr <http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr>
-- -=jeff=-
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
Hi Bart, I am looking at the L-Com HG5822EG antenna with the RBMetal 5SHPn. Do You think this is a workable configuration: http://www.ispsupplies.com/L-Com-HG5822EG http://www.ispsupplies.com/MikroTik-RouterBOARD-RBMetal-5SHPn Thanks Again for your response! and for the others I received from psdr@hamwan.org folks!... Regards. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z On 4/23/2017 2:22 PM, Bart Kus wrote:
More important than the gear will be your signal path. Checking your callsign, I don't see where that building has clear view of the sound. I see it's buried among giants. Do you have any zoomy photos showing Gold Mtn?
If you do indeed have a path, then any client should do. Have you read http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware.html ? We use a QRT-5 @ The Westing Building (2 blocks from you) to link to Gold Mtn. You can use something higher gain if you have the room. We needed something that could press up against the glass at a high angle due to the orientation of the Westin.
--Bart
On 4/23/2017 1:24 PM, Grace B Thomson wrote:
Hello,
I live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Belltown (98121) with windows facing Southwest. I am on 3rd Avenue, so there are buildings facing me, but I have a clear shot across the Sound to the WNW.
I wonder if anyone can advise me regarding an antenna that might work mounted indoors (near the window) that has a good chance of working well. Unfortunately, the building does not allow anything to be mounted outside, so I am limited in this regard.
Would it be better to have a device separate from the antenna (Metal 5SHPn for example), or a unit with an antenna built in?
If You think an indoor solution is possible, Can You suggest some of the best hardware configuration alternatives. I am on a fixed income, so I am looking for an economic solution to start out with. If it looks like it is possible, I would like to purchase equipment and get this working within the next month or so.
Thank You in advance for any thought or advice that You may have.
Regards.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 10:34 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hi Bart,
I am looking at the L-Com HG5822EG antenna with the RBMetal 5SHPn. Do You think this is a workable configuration:
http://www.ispsupplies.com/L-Com-HG5822EG http://www.ispsupplies.com/MikroTik-RouterBOARD-RBMetal-5SHPn
That antenna is only 22 dBi. For a few more dB and MIMO support (also cheaper), you could get a DynaDish: https://www.streakwave.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=DynaDishG-5HacD Or, like Bart mentioned, the QRT-5 is good for window shots. But if you can't see a site out the window, neither will likely work from that location. Tom
Hi Tom Tom, I will have a look at that. I hope that I can get something to work, but given my situation here, it may be better to wait until I have a better location to work from. Perhaps HamWAN will turn out to be yet motivation for me to move to a higher QTH. Thank You for your help! Regards. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z On 4/23/2017 11:02 PM, Tom Hayward wrote:
On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 10:34 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hi Bart,
I am looking at the L-Com HG5822EG antenna with the RBMetal 5SHPn. Do You think this is a workable configuration:
http://www.ispsupplies.com/L-Com-HG5822EG http://www.ispsupplies.com/MikroTik-RouterBOARD-RBMetal-5SHPn That antenna is only 22 dBi. For a few more dB and MIMO support (also cheaper), you could get a DynaDish:
https://www.streakwave.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=DynaDishG-5HacD
Or, like Bart mentioned, the QRT-5 is good for window shots.
But if you can't see a site out the window, neither will likely work from that location.
Tom _______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
Hello Again. Even though I can't see in that direction, I can hit the Gold Mountain 2m Repeater from inside my apartment with an at 1 watt and the signal from the repeater here is full quieting. Should this give me any significant hope that I might have some luck with a path at 5+ Ghz? Just a thought... Thanks again. Regards All. 73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z On 4/23/2017 11:02 PM, Tom Hayward wrote:
On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 10:34 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hi Bart,
I am looking at the L-Com HG5822EG antenna with the RBMetal 5SHPn. Do You think this is a workable configuration:
http://www.ispsupplies.com/L-Com-HG5822EG http://www.ispsupplies.com/MikroTik-RouterBOARD-RBMetal-5SHPn That antenna is only 22 dBi. For a few more dB and MIMO support (also cheaper), you could get a DynaDish:
https://www.streakwave.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=DynaDishG-5HacD
Or, like Bart mentioned, the QRT-5 is good for window shots.
But if you can't see a site out the window, neither will likely work from that location.
Tom _______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
Grace, Propagation on VHF/UHF is more forgiving than 5GHz. I will bounce off hills and nearby buildings to reach you. -Doug- On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 12:38 AM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hello Again.
Even though I can't see in that direction, I can hit the Gold Mountain 2m Repeater from inside my apartment with an at 1 watt and the signal from the repeater here is full quieting. Should this give me any significant hope that I might have some luck with a path at 5+ Ghz?
Just a thought...
Thanks again.
Regards All.
73 -Grace KC0BTM NNNN z
On 4/23/2017 11:02 PM, Tom Hayward wrote:
On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 10:34 PM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hi Bart,
I am looking at the L-Com HG5822EG antenna with the RBMetal 5SHPn. Do You think this is a workable configuration:
http://www.ispsupplies.com/L-Com-HG5822EG http://www.ispsupplies.com/MikroTik-RouterBOARD-RBMetal-5SHPn That antenna is only 22 dBi. For a few more dB and MIMO support (also cheaper), you could get a DynaDish:
https://www.streakwave.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=DynaDishG-5HacD
Or, like Bart mentioned, the QRT-5 is good for window shots.
But if you can't see a site out the window, neither will likely work from that location.
Tom _______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
_______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 12:38 AM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hello Again.
Even though I can't see in that direction, I can hit the Gold Mountain 2m Repeater from inside my apartment with an at 1 watt and the signal from the repeater here is full quieting. Should this give me any significant hope that I might have some luck with a path at 5+ Ghz?
In downtown areas we often see 5 GHz reflect off buildings which allows for non-line-of-sight paths. There's no good software (or building materials data) to predict this, so I can't tell you whether it might work in your case or not. Reflections will always be a poorer signal than direct. It works best with closer sites, so it's unlikely to work with Gold due to the distance. Capitol Park or the upcoming Beacon site might provide better reflections for you. To know how much signal you'll get at your place, you're just going to have to test. Don't get your hops up. I predict you won't get anything. Tom
Grace, If you can wait a bit, I will have a portable unit we can test with (or I can lend you for testing). That's probably the best option unless you find someone else with some portable kit. -Doug- On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 8:15 AM, Tom Hayward <tom@tomh.us> wrote:
On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 12:38 AM, Grace B Thomson <gracebt@eskimo.com> wrote:
Hello Again.
Even though I can't see in that direction, I can hit the Gold Mountain 2m Repeater from inside my apartment with an at 1 watt and the signal from the repeater here is full quieting. Should this give me any significant hope that I might have some luck with a path at 5+ Ghz?
In downtown areas we often see 5 GHz reflect off buildings which allows for non-line-of-sight paths. There's no good software (or building materials data) to predict this, so I can't tell you whether it might work in your case or not. Reflections will always be a poorer signal than direct. It works best with closer sites, so it's unlikely to work with Gold due to the distance. Capitol Park or the upcoming Beacon site might provide better reflections for you. To know how much signal you'll get at your place, you're just going to have to test. Don't get your hops up. I predict you won't get anything.
Tom _______________________________________________ PSDR mailing list PSDR@hamwan.org http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
participants (5)
-
Bart Kus -
Doug Kingston -
Grace B Thomson -
Jeff Francis™ -
Tom Hayward