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Charliebrown
Advanced Member
Username: Charliebrown

Post Number: 645
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2018 - 4:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Every since I was about 13 year's old I have been locating hot spot antenna location's by carrying the antenna around or using a walkie talkie to find the best radio signal. My question is there any other way to do this? ANY HELP FROM TECH'S OR ANYONE IS WELCOME. P.S. I have used the software from RADIO MOBILE The only problem with this software is it will not pin point the hottest spot. It just tell you the area of a good or poor signal. In my area a few inches can make or break the signal
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 1928
Registered: 4-2004


Posted on Monday, November 05, 2018 - 4:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The problem with so-called "hot spots" is that they may be fantastic for the signal(s) you are using for testing and absolutely lousy for signals coming from another location. This is especially true at VHF and higher. As an example, in 92 when trying to work out coverage for a 6 Day International Bike Enduro, we tried several locations on the roof of the HQ (4 floors up). Most proved OK for coverage some areas of the courses and abysmal for covering other areas. This was despite trying everything form a 1/4 ground-plane to a 3 element beam. The end solution was to work out what locations worked best for what sections of course, and move the base antenna at night to make it work.

Now admittedly, this was trying to get coverage into some deep valleys and tree crowed mountains, and not the normal base station situation. It does go to show my point.

Having said all that, I have never been too hot on software answers to this question, other than as an advisory, and have always preferred the "try it and see philosophy. Using that, my parents had the best TV reception in there area (known for bad reception) and had an antenna that was 20ft BELOW everyone else. I had them set to pick up a nice clean bounced signal from a nearby shopping centers metal roof. Which is another factor software seems not to take into account - the nearby enviornment and how it may affect RF.
Tech237
N7AUS

God made me an athiest, who are you to question his wisdom?
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Charliebrown
Advanced Member
Username: Charliebrown

Post Number: 646
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, November 05, 2018 - 8:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Tech 237, I have acre's of ;land and I have tried everything over the past year's. I have found a (HOTSPOT) FOR 11 METER'S BACK ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. I FOUND IT WITH A WALKIE TALKIE. TOOK YEAR'S TO FIND. BUT it is totally different for 2 meter and 70cm installation. I can't of course run 750 foot of line and put it on top of the mountain . Way to much line loss. So with that being said that leave's only my yard for location. I have tried carrying an antenna and my ham mobile with a battery pack and a ham walkie talkie to try to find a (HOTSPOT). So far all I have found is bad spot's. According to the software my entire yard is a good spot for signal. So, far be it for that being correct. There is a few places better than other's but nothing as far as a ( HOTSPOT). I just wanted to see if anyone had a better and faster way. Thank you once again for the advice.
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 1930
Registered: 4-2004


Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2018 - 5:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Charliebrown - you could always set up a remote base up there and use an LAN to connect to it
Tech237
N7AUS

God made me an athiest, who are you to question his wisdom?
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Charliebrown
Advanced Member
Username: Charliebrown

Post Number: 647
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thank you TECH 237. I will have to research that to see how I can have power back on top of the mountain and how to make it to where thief's and other's can not destroy it.

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