[time-nuts] Difference in antennas

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

Way back in time, the first gear out there to use what we now look at as “normal” antennas 
was survey gear. For various reasons they decided on a 12V power supply and 40 to 50 db
of gain in the preamp mounted in the antenna. They also got into L1 / L2 pretty quickly. 

A bit later the cell phone (and later broadcast) guys got into this. In a location with a lot of 
RF (like a cell site) having a lot of gain at the antenna didn’t work all that well. IMD issues 
got into the act pretty quickly. In addition, front end filtering was required to reduce overload
issues. The focus was on L1 only so filtering was relatively easy.

There is a whole separate set of antennas that put a big chunk of the RF portion of the radio
in the antenna. Those still survive here and there. I have one of them and probably a couple
of dozen of the more “normal” antennas. 

As time marched on, supplying 12V to antennas became a bit less popular. Most of the cell 
guys went over to a 5V antenna supply. The net result was 12V 50 db survey antennas that did 
L1/L2 and much smaller 5V 25 db antennas for “timing”. The timing antennas didn’t do L1/L2 so
not going to work for survey. The survey antennas had way to much gain and no filtering so 
not going to work for a cell site. 

Indeed things did and do get crossed up in various pro and basement systems. With care and
the right set of circumstances things may work. In other cases the result can be an ongoing set
of systems issues over an entire network of stations. 

Prices for a good new survey antenna are up in the many thousands of dollars range. They have
very stable phase centers and (usually) test results to allow correction of any residual phase 
issues. This is part of what lets you get into the “couple of mm” range on a survey. 

For timing, you have to dig a bit and answer a few questions. Is your concern how close you
are to BIH? If so you will need to know all the delays in your system. This includes the delays
in the antenna filters and the preamp. Is your concern (or measure) the ADEV at 1 second?
If so the delays are not a concern. Your antenna choice may be a bit different depending on
this focus.

Bob



> On Nov 21, 2019, at 1:25 AM, Taka Kamiya via time-nuts <time-nuts at lists.febo.com> wrote:
> 
> I have been looking antennas.  Prices seem to range less than 30 dollars to more than 500 dollars.  Some are 20db gain and some are 40 db gain.  Some are specified as marine use only.  Some are specified as timing use.  Some doesn't say anything at all.  Power supplies are different.
> Other than obvious, antenna is an antenna, isn't it?  It captures L1 signal, amplify it and send it down the coax.  What makes one more costly than others?  What makes one timing antenna and one navigation antenna?  It doesn't make sense to me.  
> 
> I did some simple experiment with 26db, 40db, and magnetic stick on type.  I didn't really see significant difference.  Signal level itself even wasn't all that different.  I have nearly a clear sky view 360 degrees above 30 degrees above horizon.  In some directions, clear view to horizon.  My feed is Timewave type.  So It may not be the best but nearly ideal.  
> 
> Can someone shed light on this topic?  (of course, I know some antenna has integrated receiver.  I am not talking about those)
> 
> --------------------------------------- 
> (Mr.) Taka Kamiya
> KB4EMF / ex JF2DKG
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