Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - Quad-helix antenna for satcom weather fax?

Beausoleil · 05-03-2008, 14:31

I'm hoping I don't have to build my own, as I can't seem to find a decent quality quadrifilar helix antenna to use for receiving 137 MHz weather fax info from polar satellites. There's ton's of information on building your own, but I was hoping to find one similar to this one from National RF, or this one from Time-Step in the UK.

National-RF's antenna seems to be no better than a typical homebrew, and I'm waiting to hear back from Time-Step. I think OCENS at one time offered a quad-helix as part of their weather receiver package, but I can't seem to find recent info on it.

I'm planning to use it as a backup to HF weatherfax info... I'm not ready to break out the big bucks for a satphone with data capabilities just yet!

05-03-2008, 14:31	#1
Beausoleil Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Heading to Key West Boat: Formosa 51 Aft Cockpit Ketch - "Beausoleil" Posts: 315	Quad-helix antenna for satcom weather fax? I'm hoping I don't have to build my own, as I can't seem to find a decent quality quadrifilar helix antenna to use for receiving 137 MHz weather fax info from polar satellites. There's ton's of information on building your own, but I was hoping to find one similar to this one from National RF, or this one from Time-Step in the UK. National-RF's antenna seems to be no better than a typical homebrew, and I'm waiting to hear back from Time-Step. I think OCENS at one time offered a quad-helix as part of their weather receiver package, but I can't seem to find recent info on it. I'm planning to use it as a backup to HF weatherfax info... I'm not ready to break out the big bucks for a satphone with data capabilities just yet!