Michael
Pattern Altitude
Found this near the EED VOR. maybe 100 yrds away. What is it?
It's the TAC part of VORTAC. The gravel is a covering of the cable trenches and is used to keep furry critters from digging the cables. RF radiation is attractive to critters. The cables radiate out to other elements in the antenna array, power source, etc.
What were you doing close, maybe 100 yards, to a VOR installation?
I've never seen an NDB that looks like that.It looks a lot like an NDB antenna. But I don't see an NDB on the charts.
On edit - maybe it's the antenna for the RCO there.
Thats what i suspected as well Nick.There was a really tall spearlike tower right next to the VOR, which I assumed was the antenna for the RCO. But maybe not,....
Found this near the EED VOR. maybe 100 yrds away. What is it?
Nice, JR, thanks for clearing that up!The umbrella looking antenna is for DF at Needles which is decommisioned. The antenna above that is the RCO for Prescott FSS I do believe. The cylinder on top of the VOR is indeed a TACAN. The tall pole setting right next to the VOR is a monitor reference antenna.
I'm kinda asking the same question! Ha, come on out to OKC....we'll get something worked out for ya.
Seriously? Sweet!I'm kinda asking the same question! Ha, come on out to OKC....we'll get something worked out for ya.
Looks like a DF antenna. Probably used by FSS?
The umbrella looking antenna is for DF at Needles which is decommisioned. The antenna above that is the RCO for Prescott FSS I do believe. The cylinder on top of the VOR is indeed a TACAN. The tall pole setting right next to the VOR is a monitor reference antenna.
Seriously? Sweet!
What were you doing close, maybe 100 yards, to a VOR installation?
Perhaps looking around?
I *highly* doubt the amount of RF transmitted from a VOR is anywhere near a level that would be considered harmful. Even with continuous exposure I would be awfully surprised if it were to be a concern.
Statistically your biggest safety concern there would probably be two idiots tracking the VOR and colliding followed by crashing onto your head.
I third it. It is a DF antenna. When the system worked, the way it figured out direction was by the same method as we humans figure out direction, Time of Arrival (ToA). Since each of the antennas are at a know distance and direction a calculation can be made as to the direction of a linear signal striking the antennas by when it is received by the antennas. Your ears figure out direction the same way. If you hear it out your left ear, the sound is in the direction, if you hear it in your left ear and then your right ear it is somewhere left and in front of you. Same thing with the antennas. You are going to see more of this technique as it is being brought into cellular and wireless data systems along with spatial diversity schemes.
i should add that there was the standard FAA warning sign on the fence so whatever this is, its aviation related.