wsuffa
Touchdown! Greaser!
Got it.Since you’re in Queens, it’s worth saying that I’m in Jackson Heights in a 6th floor apartment with nothing between me and the LGA tower that is more than 12’ above my elevation.
As you can also understand, I am not about to do anything that can’t be done conveniently from my apartment window.
I’m getting good reception from LGA, and just wanted to see if there was an easy way to improve it, and maybe improve TRACON reception and maybe bring in JFK. The result is that the MFJ1717, in my situation, makes no significant difference. Not a big deal, given that it cost $30 shipped.
If you have alternate suggestions for a 6th floor Jackson Heights window, I’d love to hear them.
I don't live in Queens - I used to work out of the city and spent a fair amount of time doing work in Queens (as well as the other boroughs). Had the chance to work on some stuff with FAA communications back in the day. Had the chance to see the "innards" of LGA, ISP, JFK,a nd EWR towers - but that was a long time ago.
Chances are you won't pull in JFK or any more of Tracon than you hear now. Tracon - and NY Center - use a variety of sites around the region. If there's one at LGA, you should be able to pull it in. JFK is probably too far, especially considering that the antennas are optimized for above-the-horizon transmission and reception. You'll hear the aircraft OK, but not the ground stations. I am currently about 8-10 miles from DCA as the crow flies but can't hear the ground stations (nor get the ADSB data) even with a rooftop antenna on my house. Same deal with IAD. But I can hear the transmitters no the Tyson's remote tower site fine.
Here's an example of how some ham radio operators solved a similar issue to yours using a "j-pole" antenna homemade with transmission line. Unless you have a balcony (or a window that opens), you may be stuck with a solution like this being the best you can do. http://www.w4ava.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/image01.jpg