Filters or LNA for RTL-SDR v3 - Availability in India/Shipment to India

FlightAware ADS-B Flight Tracking
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Hi All, I’m new to flightaware forum. I’m hosting a PiAware from my home town(Southern part of India) since a month. I have tried different DIY antenna’s such as Cantenna, 8leg Spider and successfully made a 8 elements coco too. I’m getting a maximum range about 180nm and I would like improve my coverage and number or messages by adding an LNA or Filter.

I have tried to buy them online, but I cannot find any store or any websites selling these types of electronic equipments in India. As per my understanding, FA is delivering their products only in US and no shipping to India.

I have found one in Amazon India. RTL-SDR Blog Rtl Sdr Blog Wideband Low Noise Amplifier Bias Tee Powered : Amazon.in: Electronics
But I’m not sure this filter will suffice. I have read Do I Need A Filter? forum by @abcd567 and carried out the test. Test results were pathetic as GSM signals are more active than 1090Mhz. I’ll post the test results shortly in here.

I’m using readsb decoder from @wiedehopf and here’s the coverage I’m getting.

image
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Requesting advice on Filters/LNA and suggestions on websites having shipment to India.

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Here’s the test results of the scan by following the steps provided Do I Need A Filter? by @abcd567

I have done this scan at midnight with very few air traffic(1-2 planes). Click scan.png below to see the scan output.

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It would seem there are just major obstacles that obstruct your view.
180 nmi is not a bad range, to get that range in more directions, a different (higher up) place for the antenna is needed.

Looking at your range outline, better LNA / filter would only really help where you already have your highest range.

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I agree.
Any chance you can get your antenna higher?

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Thank you @wiedehopf and @geckoVN for the replies. I forgot to mention my site details.

I’m living in a 20 story apartment and my floor is in the 6th and having the unobstructed view only to one direction(west).

explain
explain1418×1078 146 KB

As you can see in the image the white line indicated is my view without any obstructions and that small yellow box is another 20 story building in front of my antenna.

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The antenna is on the balcony(70-80ft as its 6th floor).

IMG20250217173203
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(I’m still testing different kind of antenna’s, that’s why my coco placement looking weird).

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@wiedehopf @geckoVN Have you used the LNA which I have mentioned in the topic or any similar Wideband LNA?

Please correct me if I’m wrong. As this LNA is wide band, does it also amplifies the GSM signals too?. Then this purchase will be a big mistake as GSM signals are already stronger than 1090.

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I have seen couple of Filters in Amazon(India)

But I’m not sure on its performance as I cannot see any reviews for these products. @wiedehopf @geckoVN Have you used any similar filters like above as you might have tested/tried previously.

Thank you

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US $2937?

No, just no.

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That looks like the Amazon India site. If so, the price is in Rupees - which should convert to about $34 US

2 Likes
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Yep, my mistake.

" victorbravo77

5m

“US $2937?
No, just no.”

…deleted by author.

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Yep @victorbravo77 @jafrank Its affordable even though my budget is low.

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This is a nice SDR with LNA + filter: https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005466363998.html

Let’s also mention this filtered LNA: https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/i-think-my-lna-died/94189/28
No clue about its quality because it doesn’t even link a specific offering.

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Thank you @wiedehopf for the directions. Unfortunately Aliexpress is banned in India and there is only a small chance to get shipped to India by contacting the seller.

I would like to give a try with the ADSBx filter mentioned above. Any feedbacks is greatly appreciated.

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What SDR are you using currently?

Maybe you can find similar articles via ebay?
(of course it’s hard to know if they will work but that goes for a lot of items)

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I’m using RTL-SDR v3.

What happened to the RTL-SDR triple filtered LNA? I never saw IN STOCK status in their website.

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I am using a low cost 1090 Mhz Filtered LNA from Aliexpress.

Click here-1

Click here-2

 

It is available at Amazon.com also:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=1090MHz+1.09GHz+ADS-B+Active+Saw+Filter+LNA+5V

 

It is available at Amazon.ca also:

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Yes - a Wide Band Amp will amplify everything.

Just about all the “cheap” ADS-B filters use a SAW element, so their specs will be much the same as each other.

This is (was) an excellent choice for filter /amp and complimented the V3 very well.
Stock ran out a few years ago and a replacement unit was meant to be in development, but has never materialised.

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@abcd567 Your setup seems excellent as its LNA + Filter. I have checked both Amazon.com and Amazon.ca and both were not delivering to India.

Unfortunately most of the popular websites like Aliexpress or Ebay are recently banned in India and I’m not trusting any other Chinese websites. I have also heard that the airport customs will decline to give 90% electronic items if its origin is China(or any similar countries).

I’m going to give a try with ADSBx filter(from Amazon India) as I can see few reviews for the same product in Amazon.com

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Thank you for the detailed explanation on the Wideband LNA.

I’ll be looking for a LNA too as the next step and have a minor confusion too in terms of the order of these components. Is it

  1. RTL-SDR ← Filter ← LNA ← Antenna
  2. RTL-SDR ← LNA ← Filter ← Antenna

Which one should be more effective.