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| howto:aredn:sc_nanaimo [2021/11/02 16:29] – created va7fi | howto:aredn:sc_nanaimo [2021/11/03 16:37] (current) – removed va7fi |
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| ====== Connection Test Between Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast ====== | |
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| On July 4, 2021, Chris (VE7TOP) and Patrick (VA7FI) made a successful connection on 5.860 GHz (Ch. 172) between Nanaimo (49.227263, -123.975836) and Roberts Creek (49.45465, -123.64199): a distance of 35 km. | |
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| ===== VA7FI's Setup ===== | |
| Patrick installed a [[https://www.amazon.com/MikroTik-Wireless-Satellite-Antennas-RBLDF-5nD-US/dp/B072LQMD7N|Mikrotik LDF-5]] (the ''n'' model, <fc #ff0000>not</fc> the ''ac'' model) on a used TELUS satellite TV dish. | |
| * The first task was to mount the LDF-5 to the dish roughly where the old receiver was. Unfortunately, the arm and the LDF-5 mounting bracket were both a bit too short so the LDF-5 was too close to the dish and too low: \\ {{:howto:aredn:tooshort.gif}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:1original.png?400}} {{:howto:aredn:2tooshort.png?400}} | |
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| * So a second arm was bolted on top of the first to raise the LDF-5 and move it a bit further away: \\ {{:howto:aredn:good.gif}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:1original.png?400}} {{:howto:aredn:3good.png?400}} | |
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| * Initially, the dish was mounted on a post with a 45° angle, but after field testing it, it was found to be unnecessary and a vertical post will be used next time. \\ {{:howto:aredn:ready1.png?410|}} {{:howto:aredn:ready2.png?400|}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:ready3.png?810}} | |
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| * Here's Patrick's setup and the view from the dish. The red circle marks the spot where Chris is. The [[https://elkantennas.com/product/dual-band-2m440l5-log-periodic-antenna/ |log periodic]] was for VHF communications between Chris and Patrick to perform the adjustments. \\ {{:howto:aredn:setup.png?800}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:view.png?800}} | |
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| * Here are Patrick's settings: \\ {{:howto:screenshot01.png?800|}} | |
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| * For the first test, Chris used a dish (FIXME: add details). After adjusting the dish's directions and elevations, the best signal strength received by Patrick was above -60dBm (which is pretty impressive!) with an SNR of over 35dB: \\ {{:howto:screenshot02.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot03.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot04.png?800|}} | |
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| * For the second test, Chris switched to a 120° sector antenna (FIXME: add details). Here, the best signal strength received by Patrick was a bit above 80dBm with with an SNR of about 17dB: \\ {{:howto:screenshot05.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot06.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot07.png?800|}} | |
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| These two tests show that it is possible to establish a connection between Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast. The 120° sector antenna might be pushing it a little bit, but a 45° sector antenna would be enough to cover Gibsons through Sechelt and would offer an additional 6dB of gain over the 120° sector antenna. | |
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