Installing fA filter with Hab amp... problem / query

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So if you did that that’s the problem :wink:

Can’t think of any other problems with what you did not familiar with the script though.

Or rather it always uses 0 as a gain that would explain the results best.
So i’m not sure but you definitely butchered it.

Remoted into my Pi, edited using Nano - fair point, but not an issue here :slight_smile:

I’ll re-do the script (yup, an using the mut version)…

Hmm it prints the gain number correctly. I suspect you changed /etc/default/dump1090-mutability so that the script can’t edit it properly anymore.

Dump the script. Set gain to 43.9 and be happy.:wink:

Also remove the FA filter, if the amp already has one.

Why insist on that script? SSH into the PI, do each change by hand, reset the dump1090 and count the number of planes for like 10-20 seconds. Repeat.

Agree!

If you are using the Piaware image:

sudo piaware-config rtlsdr-gain -gain-
sudo systemctl restart piaware

If you insist with the script, follow @SoNic67 advice, not more than 20 seconds per setting. Same duration if doing the changes manually.

The longer the interval, the less accurate the results will be. If you do an hour per setting, the only equivalent comparison would be to the same hour, the same day, the following week, and even that provided it’s the same flying season. Same for a full 24 hour period. Ideally you would need to run the script for one week per setting.

I’m not a betting person, but I’ll bet the ideal setting is going to be between 29.7 and 49.6.:smile:

Finally, I see you are looking at the changes on RadarBox. During the tests, use SkyView, as the response is faster.

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It seems you are

  • either using optimize-gain.py code which does not match your installed software.
    OR
  • using code copy-pasted from Word (.docx) files

I have re-posted same codes in thread “Tweaks”. These are properly labelled according to type of install. Copy-paste it from here:

Thanks - I’ll try as you suggest…

Typical! As with these things - copied from your TWeaks (#3), and works first time!

No idea what issue I had before…

So what I was originally trying to do was extend the range of Gain settings in that script to include all of them, from 0.0 all the way up. Reason being, I’m running a hab amp, and was thinking maybe it actually needs less gain than the 20.x that script starts with…

Simply replacing the gain range in that script shouldnt be an issue I dont think…

Now I have the basics working, I’ll try again…

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I think you are using code “(3) Optimize Gain Script for: dump1090-mutability on Raspbian”
Above script has 3 lines for gain ranges.

  • Large 20.7 to 49.6
  • Small 36.4 to 49.6 (commented out)
  • Small 22.9 to 36.4 (commented out)

Comment out the Large (uncommented) line, and copy paste following line
gains = "0.0 0.9 1.4 2.7 3.7 7.7 8.7 12.5 14.4 15.7 16.6 19.7 20.7".split()

The code will become like below (4 lines for gain range instead of 3):

#!/usr/bin/python2
import time, socket, subprocess, fileinput, os

measure_duration = 62  #duration of each pass, seconds
ntests = 5   #number of tests
gains = "0.0 0.9 1.4 2.7 3.7 7.7 8.7 12.5 14.4 15.7 16.6 19.7 20.7".split() 
#gains = "20.7 22.9 25.4 28.0 29.7 32.8 33.8 36.4 37.2 38.6 40.2 42.1 43.4 43.9 44.5 48.0 49.6".split()
#gains = "36.4 38.6 40.2 42.1 44.5 48.0 49.6".split()
#gains = "22.9 25.4 28.0 29.7 32.8 33.8 36.4".split()
......
......

Just seen your reply…

Just dumped all 29 gain settings into that one active line - certainly seems to be working, but I’m wondering if there’s any point, as the first sweep is suggesting what one would expect, best gains are the top 4 gains, with 48.0 having slightly more pos + planes than 49.6…

I understand those commented-out ranges now, allows you to “set” which level of scan you want…

Dissapointingly, I had hope that having the hab amp in place would show better results lower down the gain - i.e higher gains+amp were being swamped, lowerGains+amp offsets the extra power of the amp - not seeing that as yet, just the usual “higher is better” theme.

Would you expect that, or might it be an issue with the amp?

FYI, first sweep (of 6), 62’ per gain…

gain= 49.6 messages= 70360 positions= 4484 planes= 76
gain= 48.0 messages= 70582 positions= 4522 planes= 77
gain= 44.5 messages= 68832 positions= 4360 planes= 76
gain= 43.9 messages= 69670 positions= 4382 planes= 75
gain= 43.4 messages= 68027 positions= 4255 planes= 67
gain= 42.1 messages= 66643 positions= 4057 planes= 64
gain= 40.2 messages= 67443 positions= 4063 planes= 64
gain= 38.6 messages= 69082 positions= 4029 planes= 62
gain= 37.2 messages= 64627 positions= 3926 planes= 62
gain= 36.4 messages= 63790 positions= 3847 planes= 54
gain= 33.8 messages= 61438 positions= 3697 planes= 55
gain= 32.8 messages= 56207 positions= 3404 planes= 54
gain= 29.7 messages= 53842 positions= 3302 planes= 54
gain= 28.0 messages= 53723 positions= 3139 planes= 47
gain= 25.4 messages= 45914 positions= 2608 planes= 42
gain= 22.9 messages= 43630 positions= 2362 planes= 43
gain= 20.7 messages= 39296 positions= 2081 planes= 36
gain= 19.7 messages= 38582 positions= 1963 planes= 37
gain= 16.6 messages= 31512 positions= 1674 planes= 33
gain= 15.7 messages= 25471 positions= 1327 planes= 29
gain= 14.4 messages= 21684 positions= 1066 planes= 24
gain= 12.5 messages= 18481 positions= 857 planes= 22
gain= 8.7 messages= 11951 positions= 597 planes= 17
gain= 7.7 messages= 9374 positions= 490 planes= 15
gain= 3.7 messages= 4339 positions= 210 planes= 10
gain= 2.7 messages= 2719 positions= 133 planes= 8
gain= 1.4 messages= 282 positions= 11 planes= 4
gain= 0.9 messages= 195 positions= 0 planes= 1
gain= 0.0 messages= 2 positions= 0 planes= 1

Nothing wrong, matches my results, 48.0 being the best setting.

My configuration is similar to yours.

I guess that’s what you need for indoors antennas. For me, with the FA antenna on roof of the garage, and an filtering amp after that, I have to lower the gain to 13 on the FA Pro Plus stick. Well… considering that the stick has an integral amp too, might be about right.

@SoNic67 - with an indoor ant, I’d agree - however, ive got my fA ant on the roof line…

Still, probably just my area - I’m surprised the amp didnt show more at lower gains tho…

How long is your cable run?

about 12ft of lmr400…

Yeah, if I leave my setup at gain over 30dB, it just drops the number of :airplane: at 1/10th.
My cable is 15 ft long.

It is what it is :slight_smile:

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that said, my coverage is pretty close to HeyWhatsThat expectations…
The outline in the second pic is the range expectations from HWT, compared to the other image, which is my actual coverage.

Id just like to push it as much as poss.