# Adjusting gain **URL:** \ **Category:** ADS-B Flight Tracking\ **Created:** [November 17, 2022, 8:02am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388 "2022-11-17T08:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![highchain](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/highchain/32/125799_2.png) [@highchain](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/highchain)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 8:02am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/1 "2022-11-17T08:02:39Z")
Dear all, what is the easiest way to figure out the correct amount of gain. My setup is: raspi3 with flightaware 7.2 image.=\> the orange dongle (R820T2 SDR + RF Amp v1.1) =\> ADS-B SAW filtered preamp 1090 MHz =\> 6 meters (19,6 ft) cable =\> ADS-B 1090 antenna. piaware-config: # For a receiver type of ‘rtlsdr’, these control dongle settings rtlsdr-device-index 0 rtlsdr-gain 49,6 # rtlsdr-gain -10 rtlsdr-ppm 0 Thanks a lot! Marcus ---
**Author:** ![tomvdhorst](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/tomvdhorst/32/136431_2.png) [@tomvdhorst](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/tomvdhorst)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 10:50am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/2 "2022-11-17T10:50:21Z")
I would start with installing Graphs1090: > [@Graphs for dump1090 -- my version with install script](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/graphs-for-dump1090-my-version-with-install-script/46263/57): > > Let’s see if anything is there: ls /usr/share/graphs1090 Maybe lighty-enable-mod doesn’t work? Try this: sudo lighty-enable-mod graphs1090 Let it running for 24 hrs and see what the percentage of strong messages is. If it is higher then 5% reduce the gain. Sometimes it can’t be lowered due to environment circumstances but that is totally dependant on your local environment. Max gain for the orange dongle is indeed 49,6. ---
**Author:** ![Jranderson777](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/jranderson777/32/127907_2.png) [@Jranderson777](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Jranderson777)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/3 "2022-11-17T19:22:24Z")
There is some code around that will periodically check the gain level and adjust it for you. Look around for autogain1090 on GitHub. I have been running it for a while but I’d have to check my notes to see how it is installed. It runs each afternoon and checks the percentage of messages that are over -3dB. ---
**Author:** ![caius](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/caius/32/113839_2.png) [@caius](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/caius)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/4 "2022-11-17T20:44:27Z")
You might want to have a read of this thread: [Thoughts on optimizing gain](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/thoughts-on-optimizing-gain/44482) It’s long, but has a lot of discussion about gain and various ways to measure your receivers performance. ---
**Author:** ![geckoVN](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/geckovn/32/136508_2.png) [@geckoVN](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/geckoVN)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 11:23am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/5 "2022-11-18T11:23:22Z")
> [@highchain](#): > > Dear all, what is the easiest way to figure out the correct amount of gain First question: What is YOUR major interest (it makes a difference to the “best” gain setting). You may be interested in: - Range - the greatest distance you can get - Planes - the max number of planes you can spot - Message count - number of messages per plane per day - Uninterrupted local reception - other? Without explaining why, raising your gain to maximise range usually results in close aircraft overloading the receiver causing distorted/un-decodable messages. Dropping the gain so you don’t lose local positions will usually cost you max. range. It’s your station, so you get to optimise it to suit your interests. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/system/32/38558_2.png) [@system](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 11:23am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/adjusting-gain/85388/6 "2023-11-18T11:23:26Z")
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