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Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: W3MAT on September 02, 2013, 07:07:23 PM

Title: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 02, 2013, 07:07:23 PM
Today I did switch over to the J-Pole antenna.  The reception of the 128.575 did improve a bit, as did the others.   I'm also hearing the controller switching flights to 121.325, possibly due to the storms moving through the area.  Looking at the flights scheduled from ORD-LGA, most have been delayed or cancelled.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 03, 2013, 10:21:41 AM
Thanks for the feed ! Busy radio with all the EWR/LGA arrivals.

I see these two are listed ....

Quote
New York Center (Sector 72 Burni High [FL180-260]) 127.725

Quote
New York Center (Sector 93 Swissdale Low) 123.625

Just wondering if anyone knows the status of these two sectors/frequencies ?

From what I can tell the Burni Hi sector is usually combined into the Milton High Sector (128.575). Do they ever split these sectors ? In the past I have noticed they use 127.725 in this area in the late overnight hours.

When the IPT feed was active I never heard 123.625 in use. Do they ever use this frequency ? Seems like 134.800 and 124.900 cover it all ?

FYI the latest ZNY Letter to Airman Sector/Frequency chart that I can find is attached below. Trying to locate an updated version if anyone has it ? 

Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 03, 2013, 11:22:05 AM
123.625, 124.9, 134.8 are all used by the controller simultaneously.  For example, when an aircraft is going to SCE I hear the plane on 134.8 and the controller on 123.625 (no delay set on either frequency so I can get both sides of the traffic).

Same is true for IPT arrivals, I hear the aircraft on 124.9 and ZNY on 123.625.  When I get to Williamsport or the Montoursville area (Olive Garden or Red Lobster) I do hear ZNY on 124.9.  I usually loose the aircraft once they cross Picture Rocks and get established on the localizer.  That mountain is just too big for my little antenna to get over and drop down the other side.. :-D

As for 127.725, this frequency gets paired with 128.575 around 22:00 EST each evening.  Aircraft gets assigned to 127.725 and ZNY simul braodcasts on 128.575 and 127.725.

You need a scanner that you can manually activate and deactive the "delay" feature.  Those with a built in delay, like the Uniden BC350, is not the greatest for scanning ATC.  Just my opinion.

Have a great day and enjoy the feed.

Loon
W3MAT
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 03, 2013, 11:48:24 AM
W3MAT,

Quote
123.625, 124.9, 134.8 are all used by the controller simultaneously.

Okay thanks. I was wondering if they were transmitting on 123.625 as I never heard any aircraft get handed off to it. I also noticed using the ZNY IPT feed (when it was up) that they had the capability to cross-couple 124.900 and 134.800 but that they would only use this function occasionally. (for those not familiar - frequency Cross Coupling is a feature wherein the received voice on one radio in a pair of radios is transmitted over the other radio in that pair without operator intervention).

Quote
You need a scanner that you can manually activate and deactive the "delay" feature.  Those with a built in delay, like the Uniden BC350, is not the greatest for scanning ATC.  Just my opinion.

Yes, agree with this. The BC350 is a good radio but I'll never use it for airband scanning for this reason.

I was listening to your feed this morning (using Flash) with no problems, but over the last hour I have not been able to get the audio to work ? No problems with other feeds.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 03, 2013, 11:52:55 AM
I just opened it up in flash and it's working fine.  Anyone else having issues, let me know, I'll shut it down completely and restart it.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 03, 2013, 12:05:33 PM
Just tried it again and I see when I'm using Internet Explorer it still wont open, but I just tried it now using Google Chrome and it works fine. So it must be a problem with IE at my end. Although it's odd that I can still get other feeds to load using IE ?
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 03, 2013, 12:52:50 PM
The BC 780 enables you to set the delay per channel, has better ears than the 350 and can be programmed via RS-232. I think a pair of them out there with two feeds (or one in stereo) would get the job done quite nicely.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: ferraraj on September 03, 2013, 03:14:43 PM
Loon...are you now able to add to the scan 121.32? Are you hearing the ground side? Since that sector is only open about 8 hours a day...shouldn't add too much to the reception "clutter". BTW...that sector only handles JFK arrivals (and Genl Aviation Newark Satellites-TEB & MMU)

Jim
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 03, 2013, 04:00:02 PM
Loon...are you now able to add to the scan 121.32? Are you hearing the ground side?

Jim

Jim,
I did not add it today, but I will put it in for you tomorrow morning.  I know we used to receive it here on the scanner at work, so I will plug it in now and see what I can hear.

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 03, 2013, 04:23:20 PM
Jim...  I am receiving both ZNY and aircraft on 121.32 on the scanner here at work, which is not on the best of antennas, so I feel relatively confident it should be good in the scanner providing the feed.


Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: ferraraj on September 03, 2013, 09:46:46 PM
Super...thanks Loon! I look fwd to listening...esp next time the wx turns!

Jim
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 08:15:43 AM
Good Morning All,

I added 121.325 to the scan list and I do have the delay set for this frequency, just like I do for 128.575, so not to miss both sides of the traffic.  I also added 129.4, but not sure if I will be able to receive anything on it.  We'll give it a go and see what happens.   Enjoy!

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 04, 2013, 12:03:32 PM
Thanks for the 129.4, Loon, but I think it will be tough without a bigger magnet. Traffic will be rare, but if you hear phone patches and discussions about sick or unruly passengers, stuck lavatories and landing gear, you'll know you're getting it. In your area it will really light up when the wx is bad east as all these pilots discuss fuel and alternates with their dispatchers. I pick them up all the time from Long Island, as far out as Buffalo and south to Baltimore, but I don't get the ground side, which is simulcast from multiple locations (including LGA just 12 miles from my antenna), so you may actually hear the ground talking to a plane way out of range. That's why I am looking for a ground station I can merge.

FWIW, I did a path analysis from your QTH at 600' MSL, and even though it is only 14 miles crow fly to that ARINC transmitter at 2100', you've got a 1400' ridge 5.5 miles to the north that is just 100' too high. If you hear it at all it with your present setup it would mean it can be brought up to useful with appropriate gear.

On the other hand North Mountain is 29 miles line of sight, and a 2 or 3 element, wide-band
yagi would not only bring that ground transmitter up to full quieting but get all those planes climbing and descending at lower altitudes to the east even better. Higher ground to your NW will always limit your coverage that way, so a beam to the NE would not affect that or overhead traffic to any degree.

I can send you the mapping if you want it.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 01:14:33 PM
The feed is now on a 3 element Yagi facing NE,  pointed right towards North Mountain.

Any difference?

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 04, 2013, 02:57:40 PM
Quote
Any difference?

From what I've heard so far it sounds better to me. The controller on 132.15 is very clear, 5/5.

Interesting that the controller on 132.15 is noticeably stronger than the controllers on the other frequencies. I believe they are all transmitting from the same North Mountain location ? Except 124.900 and 127.725 that are from the Williamsport site ?

I also see the loud hum is gone, it sounded like some sort of computer interfence ?

Very good feed ! Kinda busy with the extra frequency added. I would always be happy to donate another radio to split things up if you can accomodate it.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 03:16:18 PM
You know, I worked on tracing that hum for the past two days and could not find it.  The only thing I noticed was when I unplugged the power cord feeding the laptop it would go away, plug it back in...hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.   After reading InterpreDemon's post about the Yagi I decided to do a real quick antenna change, since I just happened to have a Arrow Yagi in the radio room.  I took down the J-Pole, put up the Yagi, secured the coax, headed back in the radio room to check on my results and the first thing I noticed is the levels on the OddATC meters have dropped to almost nothing.... meaning the hum is gone!  Where it went, I haven't a clue, and I really don't care as long as it never comes back.  I did notice that reception, in my opinion, is much better.  The controller on 128.575 is still not full quieting, but much better, and like JetScan1 stated, 132.15 is 5x5.  Also, 123.625 has gotten stronger.  I do not know where that transmitter is, but is has to be to the east of me somewhere. 

JetScan1 wrote:
Interesting that the controller on 132.15 is noticeably stronger than the controllers on the other frequencies. I believe they are all transmitting from the same North Mountain location ? Except 124.900 and 127.725 that are from the Williamsport site ?

I also find this interesting.  The only thing I can figure is that possibly the antenna for 132.15 is at the top of the tower and the antenna for 128.575 hung mid-tower or lower.  I don't know, just a guess.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 04, 2013, 03:26:09 PM
Quote
The only thing I can figure is that possibly the antenna for 132.15 is at the top of the tower and the antenna for 128.575 hung mid-tower or lower.  I don't know, just a guess.

I wonder how directional ATC transmitters are ? Maybe different transmitter power outputs ?

Anyway, reception sounds good, getting traffic climbing off PHL checking onto 124.625 at around 10000-12000 feet about 4x4, around 80 miles away. This radio is located in Williamsport right ? What type of scanner are you using ?
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 03:46:01 PM
The scanner and yagi are located about four miles northwest of Mifflinburg, or about 20 air miles south and west of Williamsport.  I am about 3/4 the way up a hill, or ridge, which does help.  I've been listening for about an hour now, and am impressed with the reception of the Yagi.

I also noticed 121.325 just came alive shortly after 3:00pm. 

The scanner I'm using is a Uniden BC-95XLT
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 03:53:24 PM
Just Google mapped my location to PHL...107.16 NM
Not bad...
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 04, 2013, 05:48:27 PM
Loon, yagi definitely better, and if you brew up a wide-band one it will be better for the spread of frequencies you are dealing with. I have a couple good models that I have built and that work very well, if you are interested.

Now, if you are able to get any of that 129.4 on the mountain up north, I'll give you the equipment for that one... commercial grade 129.65 2-el beam, GRR-23 receiver and windows box to send a 64k, low-latency tie-link over here and I'll add it to the 129.4 net I am trying to build. I have attached a pdf of that network.

In order to cover such a large area ARINC simulcast transmits from the locations indicated, each site with a slight frequency offset from its neighbors, and the airborne gear (running ARINC specs) has notch filters to eliminate the heterodyne. So, if a plane is up over Maine, your ground station will be transmitting even if out of range of IPT, and all I have to do is merge your signal via voting system with my ears down in Long Island (which pick up anything out to 250 miles at flight levels) which are linked here with a similar connection. The receivers are not squelched on site, the wide band audio just comes here and I employ a noise squelch and voting system, so the cleanest signal is the one that will go into the stream.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 04, 2013, 05:58:50 PM
Loon, pay attention to the folks the weaker controller is talking to, I think you'll find he is talking to flights to the east, so he's probably got a directional array and you are on the back side of it. The fact that the others are banging now says you have done about all you can do for the time being until more listening data is analyzed. The next immediate chore is to get another radio and stream going because you've got a hot traffic site with enough reception capability for about four feeds, not counting ARINC. It's been a black hole out there for too long and I think your feeds will be in the top fifty pretty much permanently.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 04, 2013, 06:22:14 PM
Yeah, I tuned in 128.575 and can get about half the aircraft over here in Stamford, which means the flights are to the east of North Mountain and that antenna is either on this (my) side of the tower or an array. Basically you can hear hand-offs from one side of the tower to the other between 128.575 and 132.15. The directivity needed to bring .575 up the 6-9db you'd need for DFQ would become a problem for omni coverage of the airborne transmissions, so it's not worth it even to a fanatic like me. It's solid, and that's all that counts.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 04, 2013, 07:27:43 PM
The more I look at it, Loon, I think 28.575 is just a high-angle radiator in the usual FAA site configuration. The Milton sector coverage area, all high traffic, etc., would make that the best choice, and you're just too low, or in a weak lobe off the base of the antenna above you.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 04, 2013, 08:43:04 PM
Loon,

Quote
The scanner and yagi are located about four miles northwest of Mifflinburg

So that would put you 33 nautical miles southwest of the North Mountain transmitter. Excellent reception of an ATC Center at that distance !

ZNY also (or used to?) have a transmitter at Joliet, which is 36 nautical miles southeast of your location. published frequencies used were 120.025 and 128.000, although in the last few years they appear to have been replaced by 133.175. Just curious if you can hear any controllers on 133.175 ? There is also the Philipsburg site, 42 nautical miles to the west of your location, on 132.875, any chance you can hear the controller on that one ?

Sorry for all the questions, don't worry about it if you are too busy.


Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 04, 2013, 09:05:42 PM
No need to apologize... we don't know if we don't ask. 

I cannot hear the controller on 132.875, Phillipsburg is a bit to far.  I have tried 133.175 in the past with no luck, but I will give it a listen tomorrow and see if I can hear anything.  I have also tried to hear 132.2, again with no luck.  I believe that transmitter is in the neighborhood of Gettysburg.

Now I have a quick question.  I've been using Flightradar24 to monitor flights, but I just found another site, Plane Finder, which seems to be a little more accurate and up to date.  I believe there is about a five minute delay in flight time on Flightradar24.  Just curious...

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 04, 2013, 10:08:16 PM
Quote
I've been using Flightradar24 to monitor flights, but I just found another site, Plane Finder, which seems to be a little more accurate and up to date.  I believe there is about a five minute delay in flight time on Flightradar24.  Just curious...

I don't use either one so I'm not really an expert on the differences. I know they both use a combination ADS-B (real time) and FAA data (5 min delay), but I haven't really compared the two.

As a reference when I'm monitoring I use Flight Explorer (Pilot Edition), it only uses the delayed FAA data, not ADS-B, so even though the position data is delayed I like it because it provides a very accurate depiction of ARTCC sector boundaries, nav aids, waypoints, and current routing.

http://www.flightexplorer.com/pilot/pilotEdition.aspx
 
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: dave on September 05, 2013, 08:00:32 AM
It is not uncommon for a given RCAG site to have some transmitters be stronger than others, even noticeably so.  I have seen cases where there is a bad or failing piece of coax, patch cable, or antenna.  It could also be an issue where a given antenna just happens to be in a null for the person trying to receive it.  Another possibility is one frequency being at one end of the band where the person trying to receive it may have an antenna optimized for the opposite end of the band.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 05, 2013, 08:29:12 AM
Thanks for the 129.4, Loon, but I think it will be tough without a bigger magnet. Traffic will be rare, but if you hear phone patches and discussions about sick or unruly passengers, stuck lavatories and landing gear, you'll know you're getting it. In your area it will really light up when the wx is bad east as all these pilots discuss fuel and alternates with their dispatchers. I pick them up all the time from Long Island, as far out as Buffalo and south to Baltimore, but I don't get the ground side, which is simulcast from multiple locations (including LGA just 12 miles from my antenna), so you may actually hear the ground talking to a plane way out of range. That's why I am looking for a ground station I can merge.


Hey ID, I didn't know 129.4 simulcasts out of LGA!  My brother lives just two or three miles away from LGA by crow.  Not too long ago I was looking to get LGA GND and NY DEP 118.175 there but that plan never really was set in motion.  This would give me a reason to check it out again if you're interested...

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 05, 2013, 10:34:00 AM
Ron- Definitely interested, check it out.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 05, 2013, 10:48:10 AM
OK, will do.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: JetScan1 on September 05, 2013, 11:00:55 AM
Quote
I also noticed 121.325 just came alive shortly after 3:00pm.

I notice this morning (10:30 EDT) they have 121.325 turned on and simulcasting with 132.175 (all aircraft on 132.175), yesterday it was turned off when the sectors were merged.

 

   
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 05, 2013, 06:13:24 PM
Ron- Definitely interested, check it out.

I was planning on going there tomorrow to check it out but just remembered he's on vacation and won't be back until next week.  Bummer, I'll have to wait until then...

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 05, 2013, 08:03:53 PM
Ron, the transmissions are so infrequent I recommend you just leave a scanner there and record it with VOX controlled software like ScanRec on a lap-top (unless he's got a Windows box available), which you can find here:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Other-AUDIO-Tools/Scanner-Recorder-Scanrec.shtml

Leave the scanner there with a whip antenna, set ScanRec up for VOX operation and see what you've got on 129.4 after a couple days. If he can pick up the ground transmissions with a whip on the back of the scanner we will be in business. It will probably not amount to more than five or ten minutes of recording per 24 hours, sometimes nothing for a day.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: ferraraj on September 05, 2013, 11:30:30 PM
The next immediate chore is to get another radio and stream going because you've got a hot traffic site with enough reception capability for about four feeds, not counting ARINC. It's been a black hole out there for too long and I think your feeds will be in the top fifty pretty much permanently.

I agree whole-heartedly...esp when the wx gets bad...these freqs will all be very busy and very interesting. If Loon is willing, of course...definitely split them up! I'd certainly be willing to kick in funds for that!

Dave's plan for a feed at Camelback will hopefully fill some more long-time ZNY holes!
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 09:50:19 AM
My first time posting a picture, hope this works.  Since the Arrow Yagi (tuned for amateur radio, 146mhz) is working so well, I decided to build a 3 element Yagi specifically for the aircraft band.  It is cut/tuned for a center frequency of 129.000.  Assembly is complete...  1" PVC for boom, 1/2" copper tubing for elements (spare no expense..lol), project box to house the electrical end of the project, and paint.  As you can see (hopefully), my home built Yagi is in it's primer stage.  I will post another picture after painting is complete.

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 01:06:54 PM
The antenna is completed and in the air as of 13:00 local time.  It seems to be working as I was picking up a flight on ARINC (129.4) with a passenger experiencing chest pains.  How do you like my paint scheme?

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 06, 2013, 01:45:11 PM
You're killing yourself with that feed arrangement, Loon. You need to run the coax along or inside the boom and well back behind the reflector before it turns down. At this point I bet the antenna would work better if you rotated it 90 deg to the "flat side" (or even 45 deg with the coax exiting the boom perpendicular to the radiator and then looping back down to the mast), since you would only lose about 3db due to polarization, and right now your pattern and feed impedance is so distorted you're probably losing at least double that.

But it's a good move on the 1/2" copper, those larger elements will give better bandwidth. I use 3/4".

What model did you use? Looks like the "standard" by your spacing.

Here's a couple I did, and my preference is to mount my vertical arrays from the rear and well away from the tower or mast. If your mast is metal, you either need to side-mount that beam at least 2' from the mast, run the coax horizontally from the feed point over to the mast and then down, or mount it end-on with the reflector as far from the mast as possible, though you can plug the mast effect into your model with NEC and adjust your elements accordingly, but the effect once you get beyond 1/4 wave diminishes rapidly.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 03:58:37 PM
Yup, you're right... I was running short on time and failed to run the coax along the boom and off the back.   That will be my early morning project tomorrow, as I am stuck at work now until 23:00.   As for getting it away from the mast, that may be a bit tricky.  The antenna, although small, has some weight to it with the copper elements and box in the center, and to add a "T" to the top of the mast and then more PVC of the back of the antenna into the T, well.... I just don't know.  I may find it lying on the ground some morning.  This is the first I has a chance to listen since I put it up this afternoon, as I was really cutting it close on time, but I have to say the way it is right now it's really not doing a bad job.  I guess what I mean to say is, I don't feel I've lost anything from what was hanging up there and 128.57 sounds a little bit quieter and 121.32 a bit stronger.  I'll make the coax adjustment in the morning and see what happens.  Really guys, I think I am about finished tweaking the reception factor on the feed.  In the past week, I've been through 3, no... 4 antennas, so what ya hear now is pretty much what ya get.  I have to admit though, building the Yagi from scratch and have it work this well is pretty gratifying.  It was a two day project, but a ball of fun to build and then paint into Southwest colors.  Now if I could just build one that looked like a 737...   Hey!   Just kidding....   Have a great weekend everyone!

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 06, 2013, 04:54:52 PM
Loon, you simply HAVE to get the metal mast away from the radiator unless it is perpendicular. For example, your boom can be metal instead of PVC... no problem, but I understand why you used it (so you could use the box). If metal you just have to remember to add appx half the thickness of the boom to the length of your elements for boom correction factor. Also, the extra few feet to the very top of the mast will make no difference, so what I would do if I wanted to save that PVC boom is add a union to the back with another two or three feet of PVC, then clamp the back of it about three feet from the top of the mast and run a nice think (50lb test) mono-filament line down from the top of the mast to your feed-point box to give it some support and keep everything straight. Only other thing to do is turn that coax exit 90 deg toward the back and zip-tie it to the boom, back and down the mast...

.... simple metal tube through the back of it's neck so it can breath. No problem, lovely budgie.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 05:20:31 PM
How about a piece of parachute cord instead of the fishing line?
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 06, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
Whatever... as long as it is non-metallic. I guarantee, if you get that beam mounted and fed properly you will see a big "jump" over what you've got now.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 05:42:48 PM
My gears are turning and I understand what your saying completely.  A trip to the hardware store is planned for tomorrow to get a union joint and a 3 foot piece of PVC.  I will charge up the drill tonight when I get home, and work will commence Sunday morning bright and early. 

Thanks for all your help and guidance, I greatly appreciate it.


Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 06, 2013, 06:09:53 PM
No problem, anything for the best signal. Next time I am passing through we'll have to meet at the Milton truck stop.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 06, 2013, 06:13:58 PM
Sounds like a plan
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 08, 2013, 10:26:19 AM
Good Morning,

Antenna work is completed.  The Yagi is now 3 feet away from the mast and coax run along the boom.  I didn;t have enough to get a loop off the back, but even with these changes I can notice a big difference.  128.575 is now pretty much full quieting.   Here's the pics...

Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: dave on September 08, 2013, 10:45:54 AM
Nicely done!  Sounds great.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: InterpreDemon on September 08, 2013, 01:11:23 PM
Definitely better, full coverage of everything east (where most of the action is) with Cleveland hand-offs to the west a bit weak as predicted. Good overall balance, the best to be done with only one antenna.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 09, 2013, 06:24:12 PM
Hey Loon, got a question for you: I've noticed that the frequency 127.725 is used later at night when traffic is low.  I'm fairly certain that it's a ZNY center freq but I could be wrong.  I am wondering if you can hear the ground side of the transmission from your end.  Would you be willing to put that frequency in your scanner to see if that's the case?  It's not used during the day so it wouldn't affect your feed during the day.  I'm really just curious if you can hear the controller from your sdie.  If you can do that, great! Thanks!

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 10, 2013, 08:01:59 AM
Good Morning Ron,

I do have 127.725 in the scanner and I noticed the same thing.  Actually, I realized it some time ago, before I put the feed up, that I was hearing the controller but no aircraft.  Like you said, this was occurring later in the evening, typically after 22:00 local time.  I did some searching and found the aircraft on 127.725.  I do believe the controller is broadcasting from Williamsport, although I can't confirm, as I hear ZNY fairly strong on the scanner in truck when I leave work, but as I travel further west towards home, they fade out.  However, ZNY normally simulcasts on 128.575, 132.15, 123.62, and 134.8 when conversing with these later evening flights, again typically after 22:00.  So as long as I keep 127.725 in the lineup (with no delay activated) you should hear both sides of these late night flights, with the controller answering on either 128.575 or 132.15.  I really can't say for sure if my dedicated aircraft scanner for the feed is receiving 127.725, because I'm usually heading off to bed about that time and just haven't checked. 

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 10, 2013, 09:42:17 AM
Good morning Loon!

Oops, sorry, if I had checked the freq listing for your feed I would have seen that it was there.  :oops:

I'll be tuning in later tonight to see what I can hear on your feed.  I'll let you know  Thanks!  Great feed you've got there!

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 10, 2013, 11:33:19 PM
Hi loon, I thought you'd like to know that your feed is picking up 127.725 loud and clear. You can hear both sides of the conversation loud and clear. ZNY started using that frequency tonight at around 10:45 p.m. Great feed you have there!

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 11, 2013, 05:30:45 PM
The ZNY North Mountain Feed just went down.  Reports from home are we just lost our hard wire phone and internet connection, likely due to the storms that are moving through.  There were various reports of trees down in the area of home.  As soon as I get word from home that the utilities have been restored, I will walk someone through getting the feed running again.  I apologize for the inconvenience.
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 11, 2013, 05:46:42 PM
Feed is up and running, listening to it now...
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 11, 2013, 06:48:37 PM
Yup... feed came back up about the time I hit send.  Phones are still out, but don't really care if Windstream never gets that fixed   :-D
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 12, 2013, 09:47:52 AM
Must have been a heck of a storm last evening...  I looked out this morning to find the Yagi pointing towards Harrisburg.  I thought something was up, as 128.57 just did not sound as strong as it did.  The antenna is now pointing back to the north east and things are a back to where they were.  If you have heard some clicks, hums, buzzes and other strange noises, it's only me in the "shack" re-routing and zip tying wires and I have to disconnect and reconnect plugs and wires as I go.  Ok guys, coffee cup is full, so back to work I go... enjoy your flight
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 12, 2013, 05:56:39 PM
Gheez... When it rains it pours, in more ways than one.  Again today, central PA got hit with another round of thunderstorms.  Yesterdays storm just turned the antenna and pointed it south.  Todays storm reeked a little more havoc.   I will repair and get the feed back to 100% in the morning.

Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 12, 2013, 10:39:35 PM
Yep, that doesn't look like it's pointing the right way...
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 13, 2013, 09:51:14 AM
We are back up and pointing the right direction and a few measures in place to defeat ole Mother nature, should she try and reek havoc on my antenna again.  I hope you all enjoy your flight(s)....

Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 21, 2013, 09:07:36 AM
Hey Loon,

Good morning, just wondering, are you using Raspberry Pi's in your feeds?  Sorry if this was asked before...

Ron
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 21, 2013, 11:26:47 AM
Good Morning Ron,

I don't believe it's been asked before...  Raspberry Pi's?   Forgive my ignorance, but I'm familiar with what you're asking.

Loon
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: W3MAT on September 21, 2013, 11:37:06 AM
OK... did a little research...  No Ron,  I'm using a small HP laptop dedicated to the feed only.  I use it for nothing else, and I got a real good deal on it.  See, my niece works as an IT person (certified, card carrying computer geek) and just happens to have a few lying around from time to time, so I got it for a real good price.... FREE!
Title: Re: ZNY - North Mountain
Post by: RonR on September 21, 2013, 11:58:42 AM
Nice!  You definitely can't beat FREE!  I'm using Pi's on my four feeds and I like the fact that they use so little power.  It's like leaving a porch light on all the time, if that.

Just working on trying to get rid of the background noise on those feeds.  ID has been very helpful  :-)

Thanks!