LS Radio Range Suddenly Drops

Gentlemen,

Several months ago, my LS suddenly experienced dramatically reduced range to my 1 watt UHF radio. Most of the survey work I do is related to an engineering project. I may topo a couple acres and prepare asbuilt drawings. All in the unincorporated county, so the typical urban conditions associated with limited visibility of the base station is not a problem. If I don't have direct line of sight to the base, then it's typically less than a few hundreds yards out.

The problem started with the base about 100 yards out when I simply turned a corner. Normally this is not a problem. I was not using the extremal UHF antenna on the LS and the 1 watt radio is utilizing the 2.5 db whip antenna mounted on a bracket at the midpoint of a seco 2 meter tripod with the T2 directly a meter above. I have always used this configuration (one tripod for both radio and base) and it's worked very well.

When I turned the corner the I went from a 100% signal to about somtheing like 50 percent. Moving another 10-20 yards out and no connection. I though it was interferrance.

Next project a day or so later and now I can barely get a signal when just a few ft from the base. I add the external UHF antenna to the LS and now I can survey more or less as usual as long as I am within a 100 yards or so of the base. If I loose line of sight, then signal can drop.

Recently I noticed that the extermal antenna jack is on the LS spins. No way to tighten, apparently without disassembly of some type. When I experienced the initial drop in performance, the jack was secure.

Any thoughts on the problem? Can I address the loose jack from the office?

Jim

On your base, elevate that radio antenna, as high as you can. It's your most bang for the buck, in extending range.
I run my 35 watt radio antenna at 16' all the time. But only at 4 watts.

I got a mile out of it that way, even when the radio on the LS was set to EXTERNAL antenna, and I'd forgotten to install it!

That spinning connection should be fixed.

N

Hi Nate,
Thanks for the reply.
I have no problem taking your suggestion.

I am curious why it worked hundreds of seasons and now suddenly it can’t transmit/receive at 20 ft without the external uhf antenna.

As a side note for those of you that are using the 35 W radio…if your FCC license maxes out at 35 watts, then you can only run your radio at 35 watts if you are using a unity antenna. In other words no gain antenna.

You could be using a unity antenna and add a ground plane snd now your gain is more like 2-2.5 db.

I use a 1 watt radio snd thought I will just get my license for 35 watts forgetting I would probably use more than a no gain antenna.

If this isn’t making sense, power doubles pevery 3 db.
So
3 db = 2x
6 db = 4x
12 db = 16x etc

so Nate, if you have a 35 watt radio with a 2.5 db gain antenna at full power you are actually transmitting 35 watts x 2^(2.5/3) =
35 x 1.78 = 62 watts.
I think my math is correct.

Hi Nate,
Thanks for the reply.
I have no problem taking your suggestion.

I am curious why it worked hundreds of seasons and now suddenly it can’t transmit/receive at 20 ft without the external uhf antenna.

As a side note for those of you that are using the 35 W radio…if your FCC license maxes out at 35 watts, then you can only run your radio at 35 watts if you are using a unity antenna. In other words no gain antenna.

You could be using a unity antenna and add a ground plane snd now your gain is more like 2-2.5 db.

I use a 1 watt radio antenna snd thought I will just get my license for 35 watts forgetting I would probably use more than a no gain antenna.

If this isn’t making sense, power doubleevery 3 db.
So
3 db = 2x
6 db = 4x
12 db = 16x etc

so Nate, if you have a 35 watt radio with a 2.5 db gain antenna at full power you are actually transmitting 35 watts x 2^(2.5/3) =
35 x 1.78 = 62 watts.
I think my math is p

This is my base set up. Note the bracket snd radio at center of 2 m pole.

Imho, if all you normally need is 1 watt,
A t3 has a 1 watt internal radio.
That'd work well.
Imho, your LS is compromised. I'm totally guessing, but there is an antenna on the north side of your LS. It's built into the battery compartment cover. And, there is a hook up, on the side, where you install the external antenna. If that little thing is spinning, this is at the root of your problems with range. Elevating your base radio will help, but it won't solve your reception problem.
A GPS has 5 senses.
1.) Talking, is what your base radio does.
2.) Listening is what your LS radio does.
3.) Seeing is what the camera does.
4.) Tasting, is what your tongue does, when you want some new gear. (You can just "taste" it!)
5.) Feeling is what your pocket book does, when you give in to taste above!
Your LS probably has a listening problem.
This may send you to number 5 above!
I don't think you can ignore #2 for a long time, without being frustrated.
Best of signal to you.

Nate

Jim Campi said:

I am curious why it worked hundreds of seasons and now suddenly it can’t transmit/receive at 20 ft without the external uhf antenna.

Click to expand...

It probably needs a RMA. Can you capture and share a screenshot of UHF status screen showing both the internal and external UHF antenna being used at 100' from the base?

Jim Campi said:

As a side note for those of you that are using the 35 W radio…if your FCC license maxes out at 35 watts, then you can only run your radio at 35 watts if you are using a unity antenna. In other words no gain antenna.

You could be using a unity antenna and add a ground plane snd now your gain is more like 2-2.5 db.

Click to expand...

I believe it is possible to get a license with a Output Power of 35 watts and ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 70 watts.

I believe it is possible to get a license with a Output Power of 35 watts and ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 70 watts.

Click to expand...

I did.

Jim Frame said:

I did.

Click to expand...

Did you request a higher ERP when you applied for the license and what company did you use to obtain the license?

Did you request a higher ERP when you applied for the license and what company did you use to obtain the license?

Click to expand...

I didn't request it, I just told them that I had a 35w transmitter and they did the rest. I used Nation License out of Carmel IN.

Matt Johnson said:

It probably needs a RMA. Can you capture and share a screenshot of UHF status screen showing both the internal and external UHF antenna being used at 100' from the base?



I believe it is possible to get a license with a Output Power of 35 watts and ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 70 watts.

Click to expand...

Thanks Matt,

I have thankfully been swamped with no time for maintenance. I will set up as described and post here,
Thanks!