[Dstar] Antenna upgrade at VK5REX B

[Michael Carey]

Hi Everybody,
This morning (29th Nov) at 0900 a brand new RFI Folded Dipole antenna 
was installed on top of the tower at the VK5REX B D-Star repeater site. 
I was able to utilize a rigging company that was in town on another job 
which saved me any travel costs. The riggers were delayed a few days 
because of the inclement weather and were more than happy to help me out 
before heading back to Adelaide. The two guys who climbed the tower had 
it done within an hour. The existing ex-Austar MDS cable was used and 
the antenna plugged directly into a 7/8" EIA flange to N type adapter.

Because of the ongoing isolation issues with the current duplexer, I am 
currently running VK5REX B on a two antenna setup. The existing antenna 
is now the transmit antenna, and the new antenna on the top of the tower 
is used for receive.

Initial on-air (non scientific) tests show a marked improvement on 
receive performance. I can use low power on my IC-91AD radio from 
anywhere inside my house where as before, I would have trouble even 
using high power. In coming weeks I will be performing DX receive tests 
to see how VK5REX B is now performing.

You can't imagine how big my smile is!!

Michael.
VK5ZEA