AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: NHSARainer on July 05, 2022, 09:54:41 PM
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Hi,
I am using a DIY dipole for 1090MHz installed at the moment like shown in the image below.
Any ideas if my range could be increased ? I am at about 200nm at maximum. My antenna is at 1959meters over sea level. I can not go higher as it would disturb my Astronomy photography :-)
Comercial antenna, Ground plane antenna, filter, etc. ?
Changing location of USB Flightstick directly outside on the antenna, BTW, it this enclosure waterproof for outside use ?
Or is this range I have good ?
A bigger receiver ?
Thanks
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My view is that you have descent coverage. A commercial antenna would probably give you greater maximum distance. The Flightstick already has a filter inside it and given your coverage already this is not causing any issue
Hight is king for any antenna but as you state you have to compromise for other interests and 200 miles is a descent compromise
Again the length of the antenna cable run can make a difference as each meter adds to the loss through the cable
Alan
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Hi Alan,
Thanks. My cable is not more then 5 meters long. I am using a thick coaxial cable RG59. Would it better to use like RG174 ? or buy the 10meters radarbox is selling ?
As commented in the message of airplane flight height I guess I am covered quite good. Of course I can not compare my location with the location of the station PGANRB400301 located in a flat area like the Peninsula of Yucatán :-) as that is a real flat pan over hundreds of kilometers :-)
There is another station nearby from mine PGANRB500820 ad I see his coverage is very similar to mine and he reaches up to Mexico city which is in straight air line about 365 km away.
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You can build a better antenna: https://www.mictronics.de/posts/G7RGQ-Antenna-1090MHz
Check heywhatsthat for terrain obstructions and how they limit your range.
If you want to checkout graphs1090 for some local statistics or tar1090, have a look here: https://github.com/wiedehopf/adsb-wiki/wiki/Raspbian-Lite:-ADS-B-receiver
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Hallo Wiedehopf,
I clicked on your link www.mictronics.de/.... and it tells me forbidden :-)
Yes I was thinking of making a Ground plane antenna with maybe 8 spikes or something like that or maybe a colinear cable antenna from coaxial cable.
Grüße Rainer
PD What is your station number ?
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Try the link again, seems you need to link without a / at the end ... which it adds when you visit.
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Guten Tag!
Hallo Wiedehopf,
I clicked on your link www.mictronics.de/.... and it tells me forbidden :-)
When you see Forbidden, simply Reload browser and the site will appear.
If it still does not appear, highlight the address in browser's address bar and press "Enter" key.
Yes I was thinking of making a Ground plane antenna with maybe 8 spikes or something like that
3 EASY DIY ANTENNAS FOR BEGGINERS
EASY ANTENNA #3 - HANDY SPIDER (https://forum.radarbox24.com/index.php?topic=9131.msg134171#msg134171)
or maybe a colinear cable antenna from coaxial cable.
Coaxial colinear antenna is a shot in dark when made by a hobbyist who lacks costly test equipment.
Grüße abcd567
.
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(https://www.mictronics.de/img/site/mictronics.png)
(https://www.mictronics.de/img/2017/03/G7RGQ_Antenna_Mictronics.png)
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Try the link again, seems you need to link without a / at the end ... which it adds when you visit.
Hi,
It was the way around. I added a / and it opened :-)
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Thank you Wiedehopf and abcd567
I have a simple VNA so I can test the antenna
Again Thanks for the tips and info
I am retired 69 years old and so I have some time for experimenting :-)
Have a nice day
BTW, I also have a 24/7 Lightning monitoring system connected. So the PC runs 24/7 sending meteor impact as well as lightning information (www.blitzortung.com)
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Hi,
Would a different coax cable type make a difference ?
My RG59 cable is ~ 4.6m long > USB Flightstick > 3m active USB 3.0 cable to PC ...
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Personally with 5M antenna cable I dont think it will make much difference
Alan
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Personally with 5M antenna cable I dont think it will make much difference
Alan
Thanks :-)
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I have a simple VNA so I can test the antenna
I am retired 69 years old and so I have some time for experimenting :-)
In this case try this one also:
DIY V-STUB ANTENNA MADE OF COAX
(https://forum.radarbox24.com/index.php?topic=106291.msg529121#msg529121)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d37xxmqF/V-Stub-top.png)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KjdHSkzM/V-Stub-bottom.png)
BTW, I also have a 24/7 Lightning monitoring system connected. So the PC runs 24/7 sending meteor impact as well as lightning information (www.blitzortung.com)
Have a look here:
Lightning Protection Guide
(https://forum.radarbox24.com/index.php?topic=12011.0)
Image 1 of 5:
Thunder Storm Days World Wide
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4738/24697166477_d3681b4ba3_z.jpg)
.
Image 2 of 5:
Frequency of Lightning World Wide
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4636/27787906309_3d778e22eb_z.jpg)
.
Image 3 of 5:
Frequency of Lightning in Europe
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4736/38856405034_38e93942f5_z.jpg)
.
Image 4 of 5:
Average Monthly Lightning Chart in Europe
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4681/38856518994_4e655daaf9_z.jpg)
Image 5 of 5:
Frequency of Lightning in Germany
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4725/39534488592_2bdea3e886_b.jpg)
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For info abcd, Reiner is in Mexico
Alan
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Hi,
I know for the experts it might be boring but for me it is interesting.
Yesterday I made a simple ground plane with 4 legs 1/4 wavelength and today I made another one with 8 legs.
Tested the 4 leg yesterday and got up to about 10 planes and right now I am testing the 8 legged one and I am getting 7 planes. I think I need to test it the full day and see how it develops. The length of the center and 8 legs is around 68.5 mm same as the 4 legged one. I am using a RTL-SDR dongle for the tests.
Distance yesterday was up to about 250km with the 4 legged. 8-0
Can I run both antennas at the same time feeding the dongle ?
Having fun doing this.
Rainer
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The plane count, message rate, max distance are dependent on:
(1) The Air traffic.
The air trsffic is not constant and varies with day of week and time of the day. You must measure these parameters for both antennas at the same time.
(2) Location & placement of two antennas.
If you want real comparison between two antennas, mount two antennas at same location, at same height with horizontal distance between the two not less than 30cm and not more than 100cm. Then use 2 dongles plugged into 2 rpi and compare results.
Above is called side-by-side test.
Please see photo below in which I have conducted side-by-side test for comparing V-Stub antenna with Flightaware Antenna.
I have used two (2) RPi and two (2) dongles, one set of Pi+dongle for Flightaware antenna, and the other Pi+dongle for V-Stub antenna.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3NYcK4Q4/V-Stub-Indoor-800x800.jpg)
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Thanks
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For info abcd, Reiner is in Mexico
Alan
Thanks for informing.
I misunderstood he is from Germany because he used German word "Grüße" (=Regards) in one of his posts.
abcd
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I thought that would be the case
Alan