Rb & raspi why so difficult to get working

[thechipman0]

Ahhhh that be why then thanks Alan
ps on rb antenna

Steve

[thechipman0]

Only picking up a fraction of the aircraft that is in my coverage???????

[Runway 31]

I dont know the topograhy around you that could stop the signal reaching the antenna.  as I stated earlier if the antenna cant see the aircraft it cant show it

Alan

[Runway 31]

Have you considered you may need a filter due interference from telephone masts

Alan

[thechipman0]

Hi Alan, There are no phone masts withing 800 mtr of me so I cant see that that is the problem, as for the filter I'm not sure, the coax is the one that came with the antenna it is a single length so no joins and is about 5 mtr long. when I made the homemade spider it covered the same distance and picked up many more times aircraft than this one up to 200nm. This one only seem to pick up aircraft within about 20nm it is also about 5ft higher than the spider was. Either I have done something wrong in the set up or this areal is pants and I should go back to the homemade spider. You would of thought that the official Radarbox areal would of been the best.

Steve

[Runway 31]

Its the same antenna that goes with the xrange etc and they get 250 miles or so.  Can you post a photo of it in position.  You are getting a lot more than 20 miles as you have G-WACW at 2,000ft approaching Sevenoaks at this time, BAW9171 over Woking at FL80, SHT3V at 4275ft over Fulham and RYR3D around Cambral in France.  I agree though that what you are getting should be better especially to the east

Inteference from phone mast result in reduced range etc and its usual to see this in urban areas however if the home made one is getting 200 miles compared to what you are seeing now that cant be the issue.  Filters reduce that interference and the coax has nothing to do with it.

Try the home made one again and see its results

Alan

[thechipman0]

will do Alan, probably be in a few days time now weather permitting. Will update when done.

Steve

[Runway 31]

Can you post a photo of the antenna as it is now in location

Alan

[abcd567]

The Maximum Range achievable at any location depends on
(1) Curvature of earth
(2) The  terrain around that location. Terrain plays a very important role as hills & changes in ground level will restrict maximum range.

This is due to the fact that propagation of radio waves in GHz/Microwave range is line of sight. The range is therefore limited by curvature of earth, and is about 250 nautical miles / 450 km for an ideal condition of perfectly level terrain. Hills &  rise in ground levels further restrict maximum range to less than 250 nautical miles / 450 km.


It is very easy to determine the maximum range attainable at any location based on terrain around it by the method given in this thread:

What is the Maximum Range I can Get?


.

[thechipman0]

Hi thanks for that. I am aware of this but, when I use a homemade spider and pick up most of the aircraft in the shown coverage area, then change this spider for a proper radarbox antenna my coverage stays the same yes I know why but I pick up maybe four or five aircraft when I would using the other antenna pick up 30plus. That's the bit I'm having the issues with.
Steve

[Runway 31]

Can you post a shot of where your antenna is located Steve to let us see if we can offer any advice

Alan

[thechipman0]

Alan asked for some pictures. The antenna on the left of pic is the old coco that is now disconnected, the antenna on the right is the radarbox that I am having a problem with. That is also the position the homemade spider was aswell.
Steve

[Runway 31]

Thanks Steve, how did you get up there?

I cant see any issues there, what length of cable comes with the antenna are there any joints in it?

Maybe you should consider contacting support for advice for your situation, maybe a replacement is required

Alan

[thechipman0]

Coax that came with it approximately 5mtr no joins.
Steve. As for getting up there, ladders and a lot of nervous sweat.

Steve

[Runway 31]

Good job you have a head for hights Steve

Alan