AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: MIKE.UTD on August 04, 2016, 03:45:35 PM
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Hi,
My AirNav box has died, aerial checked and working okay so may be box.
Anyone know whats best ie new box or dongle ?
Thanks for any help.
Mike.
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A new box is not easy to come by now. A dongle will work fine with RB6. I have the nooelec one as detailed on the other thread https://www.amazon.co.uk/NooElec-NESDR-Mini-Compatible-Guaranteed/dp/B00P2UOU72/ref=lp_3927625031_1_2?srs=3927625031&ie=UTF8&qid=1470331988&sr=8-2 I use it when mobile to try and minimise the risk of damage to my box.
All you need to do is download and install the Zadig drivers and RB6 and it works a treat. You will also need the SMA to MCX adapter as detailed by Ingo for your antenna. The mini antenna that comes with the dongle will not give good at our frequency as it is designed for TV although it can be cut to the correct length for best reception. I got a replacement one from off the internet.
Airnav also do a dongle which only needs RB6 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AirNav-RadarBox-Micro-Seconday-Radar-1090MHz-Aircraft-ADSB-Receiver-and-Antenna-/291766353239
Alan
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Finally I've that one in use for 24/7 operation:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/NooElec-NESDR-Mini-Receiver-RTL2832U/dp/B00VZ1AWQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470333830&sr=8-1&keywords=nooelec+nesdr+mini+2
The other dongles are still in use with sdr# for some other stuff and of course for mobile activities.
Ingo
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Alan, are most of the Radarbox Classic boxes dead by now? I am still running on my original and have never had any problems with it...
Jason
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No there will still be plenty out there working away, mines is but I prefer to leave it in the house now. Trying to find one to purchase wont be easy
Alan
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Thanks for all your help, looks like a dongle it is.
Mike.
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Alan/Ingo,
You show 2 different dongles, just a few pounds in it which is best ?
Sorry to be a pain but thanks again for your help.
or :
www.amazon.co.uk/AirNav-Micro-RadarBox-ADS-B-Receiver/dp/B01GNGZAIG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470345001&sr=8-1&keywords=airnav
Why is one £34 and one £60, as £34 with a new aerial seems a good price ?
Mike.
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The one I linked has a different type of Oszillator which has a slightly improved frequency stability and accuracy than the one Alan had linked. Furthermore the one I linked includes a SMA to MCX adapter.
About AirNav Hardware: I don't know the specification of the Hardware that was used to build it. But as it was put on the market before the more sensitive R820T2 receiver chip became available I would say it's based on the R820T receiver chip.
If you ask me which one to buy of course I would say the one I linked.
There are many reasons for a price difference. Here are some of them (list might not be complete): Hardware used, number of units sold, content of the package, calculation of units to sold to get the development costs back.
Ingo
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You show 2 different dongles, just a few pounds in it which is best ?
This is best dongle for ADS-B. Has a built-in amplifier. I have two. Works better than specialist receivers. And much cheaper.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FlightAware-Pro-Stick-ADS-B-Receiver/dp/B01D1ZAP3C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1470379288&sr=8-3&keywords=flightaware
£13.27
https://www.amazon.com/FlightAware-Pro-Stick-ADS-B-Receiver/dp/B01D1ZAP3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470379404&sr=8-1&keywords=flightaware
$16.95
Read the reviews.
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Be advised that the advert above states that the Pro stick also require the FlightAware ADS-B Filter which will add another £16.85 to the cost
Alan
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Thanks Ingo, I thought they were the same sticks going by the text on the side of them and then I noticed mines in the mini2 and your in the mini2+.
Alan
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Mike at the end of the day the choice is yours, all shown will work well. The good thing is the price, next to nothing compared the cost of your original box.
Alan
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Be advised that the advert above states that the Pro stick also require the FlightAware ADS-B Filter which will add another £16.85 to the cost
I don't use filter. But filters are needed by all dongles, including Airnav if strong signals on nearby frequencies.
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Thanks Lila, I was just going by the blurb on the Amazon advert which states it is required and yes cell towers in particular can be a killer.
• 20dB Integrated Amplifier which can increase your ADSB range 30-100% more compared to other dongles
• Requires FlightAware ADS-B Filter or modified dump1090 gain settings
• Supported by PiAware
• R820T2 RTL2832U chips
• USB powered, 5V @ 300mA
I guess they are just trying to get you to spend more money
Alan
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I guess they are just trying to get you to spend more money
I don't think. Filter works for some and FlightAware says it sells at cost price, no profit. And this seems true.
I have filter here, but dont use as makes no difference. But if you need filter you must use for Airnav and all dongles.
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I get what you mean but as you state it is only required in some situations and in most cases will work fine without it. Describing it as required gives the impression that it wont work without it and readers may then go and buy something which is not required for them as in your case.
Alan
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Describing it as required gives the impression that it wont work without it
Read again:
"Requires FlightAware ADS-B Filter or modified dump1090 gain settings"
Buyer can choose.
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Does RB6 use dump1090?
Alan
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I not know if airnav dongle uses dump1090.
Flightaware does not say you must buy filter. Pro stick works without filter.
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It was requested by tarbat and me, that ANRB V6.XX.XXX should be useable with dump1090.exe to be able to do all the altering stated here. But currently V6.00.000 does not use dump1090, but direct hardware access. Therefore no gain altering or oszilallator offset compensation is possible with V6.
Using a narrowband filters to block out all unwanted frequencies is almost always a good idea.
About integrated AMPs: For non mobile installations, like mine, they are useless. Generally I would say: be careful with amps, in many cases they do more damage than giving you benefit.
Ingo
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Thanks Ingo for the clarification that's what I was trying to establish as we are discussing use with RB6
I agree that the filter can assist in eliminating interference where there is some present but as stated by Lila its use makes no difference to him and as RB6 does not have dump 1090 no modification can be made. I would therefore suggest that anyone considering the Flightaware stick should try it first to see if there is any need for the filter before spending money that could be a waste.
The advice regarding amps is also very pertinent
Alan
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I would therefore suggest that anyone considering the Flightaware stick should try it first to see if there is any need for the filter before spending money that could be a waste.
I agree.
The Pro stick has a built-in amp that works well. And why the reviews are very good using it for adsb.
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The filter will be useful for any receiver in urban situations with urban noise from phone masts etc
Alan
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I will say it again, I have compared both the radarbox classic and the newer USB dongles, and honestly, I saw no difference in sensitivity. Maybe it has something to do with the height of my antenna... But I saw no improvement with the dongle.
Either way, you can't go wrong.
Jason
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Hi,
A big thank you again for all your help. Will order the dongle next week and let you know how I go on.
Obviously this will help others in the future as well.
Mike.
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Hi,
Just recieved dongle in post, what do I do now in relation to loading the different software and how do I work it with Airnav software.
Thanks again.
Mike.
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Hi Mike
Uninstall your previous version but remember to save your photo folder, logos, silhouettes mylog etc if these are important to you and replace the ones in the download if required
You will need RB6 from here http://www.airnavsystems.com/download/ANRB/ANRB60000Setup.exe
You haven't said what dongle you have but you may also need the Zadig drivers which you can get from here
http://zadig.akeo.ie/
Alan
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Hi,
The NOOELECNESDR Mini2, if anyone else orders it it now comes with the free aerial adapter so no need to buy it as an extra.
Mike.
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It is not needed to do a complete new install.
You can use http://www.airnavsystems.com/download/ANRB/ANRBUpgradeto600.exe too.
This will only update the necessary files and leaving all picture folders etc untouched.
Ingo
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Mike,
I guess you have ordered the mini2+ and not the mini2?
Ingo
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Hi,
Yes mini 2+.
Downloaded the airnav 6000 update and the zadig software, a box comes up with the zadig:
Sorry what do i do next ie create device ?
Mike.
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Once you have donwloaded and installed zadig plug in the stick.
- open zadig software
- go to option and switch on "list all devices"
- look for RTL2838UHIDIR device
- lookup and install driver in the attached picture
- update ANRB.exe from V5.00.072 to V6.00.000
I did the list from my (brain) memory. Unfortunately it's quite a time since I set up my dongles. So maybe I forgot something.
Ingo
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Thanks Ingo
Alan
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Hi,
Items showing are :
MASS STORAGE DEVICE,
BULK IN INTERFACE(INTERFACE0)
BULK IN INTERFACE(INTERFACE1)
USB MULTIMEDIA KEYBOARD
USB RECIEVER(INTERFACE0)
WNDA3200
USB MULTIMEDIAKEYBOARD(INTERFACE1)
USB RECEIEVR (INTERFACE1)
Mike.
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Have you plugged any other receiver to your PC?
If not: Try USB Receiver (Interface0). After the WinUSB driver is installed, it shall be renamed to RTL...
Ingo
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Hi,
Sorry found now with RTL2838UHIDIR(Composite Parent) .
Do I click replace driver now ?
Mike.
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Could you make a screen shot of Zadig window (Select zadig window and press ALT + PRINT keys, open ms paint press CTRL+V, save and upload) and upload it here. Will make things (remote diagnostics) easier for me.
Ingo
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hi,
Done see attached.
Mike.
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Yes, replace driver.
Ingo
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Although it may not be required it's a good idea to re-boot the system after the driver was changed.
Ingo
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Hi,
Got message :
Mike.
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Your Windows is a x64 Version?
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yes.
Mike.
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Also what Windows version do you have
Alan
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Windows 10 Home 64 bit.
Mike.
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Which build?
goto the search icon and enter winver.
Ingo
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Evening All, in the process of doing this and want to split my aerial feed to 2x different units with SMA fittings but can`t find any leads to do so (SMA female to 2x SMA male ) or is there a better way?
Many thanks, Dave.
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Hi,
Standard Windows 10 Home, was on the phone with Alan earlier and must be a windows thing.
Back home now to try on laptop see what happens there.
Mike.
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I did some research with my system and as far as I could find out the newdev.dll might got corrupted in some way.
Ingo
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Hi,
Just did the same set upon my Laptop and you guessed it worked first time.
Signal is even stronger than before !
A very big thank you for everyone's help now need to sort out the PC !!!
Thanks again.
Mike.
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Well done Mike, let us know how you get on with your desk top computer
Alan
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Alan/Ingo.
Would it be worth making this topic a sticky as I may need this later on as my box is nearing 9 years old now and I am sure a lot of others out there will be interested?
Tommyg
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Hi,
Quick update :
Updated desktop with new Windows 10 update and all working perfectly first time.
No problems and all loaded as per previous instructions.
My Desktop obviously had a software problem.
The USB dongle picks up more than the original box.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Mike.
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Great Mike, great thing computers!!
Alan
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Many thanks for the feedback Mike.
Ingo
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Been reading this topic with interest. I have a NooElec dongle and works well. Although the RB6 software has a lot of bugs that need fixing imho.
However I am interested in finding out if there is much benefit in getting the flight aware dongle rather than the generic NooElec that I have. Has flight aware made their dongle specific for 1090Mhz capture or is it just a badging exercise on top of a generic dongle.
Interested in your opinions, athough I am considering buying one to compare.
Cheers
Graham
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The flightaware pro stick has built in amplifier for 1090 mhz.
My one works better than my other dongles and expensive adsb receivers. Cheap price too.
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The internal layout of the flightaware dongle is almost 100% identical with the NooElec one. The only difference is the amp which was added to the input stage of the flightaware dongle.
If you will see a huge difference or not might also depend on you existing antenna installation.
Ingo
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Depending on your location you may also find that you also need to use the flightaware inline filter which helps cut out RF interference especially prevalent in urban locations, ie cell phone transmitters. As well as legitimate signals the amp may also amplify unwanted signals.
Alan
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My AIRNAV box died months ago. Today, I received the FlightAware dongle and the filter and installed the version 6.0 software on a new Windows 10 machine. No muss ... No fuss! Using the small AIRNAV antenna indoors, for testing purposes, the results are EXCELLENT ... Way better than with the old box. May it rest in peace!
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I have just left Las Vegas and had been using my laptop with the NooElec stick and noted something strange. My hotel overlooked the airport but I was only seeing aircraft on the ground and about a mile out on the approach. I was expecting a lot better having tried it at home. I had the antenna situated on the balcony giving it a clear view but was going out so moved it inside and suddenly my coverage went up from 20 to over 70 hits and a good distance out as well, coverage I had been expecting.
I presume this was RF interference which was causing the degrade and moving the antenna inside reduced the RF. I am going to get the flightaware filter now for when I am out and about especially in the big cities where lots of RF interference is to be expected
Another thing I noted but nothing to do with the stick was the number of aircraft not showing a flight ID or an IATA/ICAO identifier or even had ADS-B. A big difference to what we see in Europe.
Alan
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Hmm. It seems I like to inflict upon myself computer pain :)
Just bought the dongle 2+ thingy from Amazon, should be there when I get home. I have actually got two working Airnav boxes, this one with me now and a brand new one I bought before they disappeared. My reasoning in buying this dongle is purely down to trying at all times to reduce the "clutter" I carry with me around the world, never seems to work though! :)
regards clive.
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Hi Guys;
OK, so having Mike.UTD be the guinea pig for this dongle, Hey up Mike, long time no see! I now have mine up and running perfectly with the minimum of fuss.
My question is, if I was now to plug the Airnav box in, will Airnav recognise which box/dongle I have plugged in automatically? Meaning, could I decide which one I wanted to use without having to fiddle again with drivers?
regards clive.
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Hi Clive, yes the software will detect what is connected at start up and you will see this on the start up splash screen showing either RB1 or Micro
Alan
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Cheers Alan though now there will be no need to cart the Airnav box around!
regards clive.