[time-nuts] GPS antenna in snowy environment (was: LEA-6T Software.)

[Graham Haddock]

The similar, and more serious issue is bird-poop.

The pointed cone shapes you see for commercial timing receiver
antennas are as much to keep birds from sitting on top of the antennas
as it is to get the snow off.

At least snow will eventually melt off.

--- Graham / KE9H

==


On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 8:04 AM, Attila Kinali <attila at kinali.ch> wrote:

> On Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:48:51 -0400
> Dan Kemppainen <dan at irtelemetrics.com> wrote:
>
> > Also, I have a low cost antenna coming. It's one of the Synergy systems
> > puck type amplified antennas. I remember some time back a bit of chatter
> > about improving GPS antennas for timing, by providing some sort of guard
> > ring or choke to prevent low angle reception. Are there any good links
> > anyone could provide on what may be worth building or playing with. Keep
> > in mind, I live in snow country (~300 inches/year) so a something that
> > gathers a lot of snow could be undesirable! :)
>
> How much snow you get is mostly irrelevant. It's more important
> how much accumulates ;-)
>
> A cone hat over your antenna should solve quite a bit of the issue.
> The problem is, that you need quite a steep cone or you need to heat
> it constantly above 0°C, as snow tends to stick to everything, even
> smooth walls.
> Maybe also worth a try would be to grease the cone. But i've only heard
> of that and never seen it in action. So i cannot tell whether that helps
> in any way.
>
>                         Attila Kinali
>
>
>
> --
> I pity people who can't find laughter or at least some bit of amusement in
> the little doings of the day. I believe I could find something ridiculous
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