Feeder Differences

FlightAware ADS-B Flight Tracking
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I recently received a second FlightFeeder with intention of using it on 978.

Currently I have both of my Feeders set up on 1090 (as I am waiting for a response from the help desk on getting the new one switched)

My question is, why does the new one receive so many more planes than the old? Antennas are on the same tower, 10’ apart. As I write this, the new one has 39 aircraft, while the old has 19. The only difference I know of, is the antenna (a 978 on the new and a 1090 on the old?)

The only thing I can come up with, is possible damaged coax, antenna or SDR radio on the old one?

Mike

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Welcome the forum.

Are you confident you are getting better 1090 reception on the 978 antenna?

Try swapping the feeders and see which combination works best.

Depending which flightfeeder you have, it will have an internal filter restricting it to a single band.

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The only thing I am currently confident of, is the one shipped to me recently with the 978 antenna is the one that is receiving better.

I am sure the original is connected to the 1090 antenna, and the new one is on the 978 antenna. I did notice the external filter is different (the new one says a range, where as the old says just 1090)

I would have to fold the tower down to swap the antennas (or just try removing the filter even). Not difficult… but just a time thing…

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You can’t swap the feeders at the receivers?

How did you end up with a 1090 Flightfeeder and a 978MHz antenna?

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Is the worse performing receiver the one of the left?

That 90 degree connector looks like it might be damaged as it doesn’t look square.

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It is the one on the left. They are brand new connectors, but it is possible. I am not sure if its not square so much, as maybe just at a different angle? But something certainly worth checking!

I sure wish the coaxes were a bit longer, as it would have let me put the box more in reach of the ground without dropping the tower. Granted, it is only 3 bolts, and a winch down to do it…

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Angle connectors are not RF friendly and can cause significant problems. Just my experience talking at UHF frequencies like ADS-B.

Can you reorient the receivers to use straight connections? Perhaps change the box to a vertical orientation to give you room for coax/filter/receivers. You have enough room for two layers instead of side by side and might simplify layouts also.

Just a thought, though definitely a pain in the derriere.

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Or short sma male - female cables in place of the the 90 degree connector.

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I will look into changing out the 90° connectors, but, I feel like the old tracker has had issues that predates the move to this location. If you look at the history, it has been pretty much the same right along. Yes I did move it when I installed the new one, but honestly the only thing the move should have done would be to improve the signal reception.

I guess the first thing I will try, is outright swapping antennas from one to the other (complete with the 90° connector) and see what that does. If the problem follows the antenna/coax/connector, I will try swapping the connector and see.

I will work to narrow it down and determine where the bad part is. I was mostly curious if anyone had seen anything like this before.

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