I have the Flightaware Amazon kit with the small indoor antenna.
I would like to know if the 5 dBi antenna I see on Ebay quite often is significantly better than the antenna that comes with the indoor antenna?
I am two miles from a very significant airport. While my stats are quite good, I would like to improve them.
Is the 5 dBi antenna a good way to go? Or is there a better option?
Fred
The antenna from FA is much better than the indoor antennas.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WZL6WPO?tag=fligh01-20
You’ll have to get appropriate cabling as well.
I’d recommend any of the following offerings:
3’ Coax: Amazon.com
10’ Coax: https://amzn.to/2H2oFQX
15’ Coax: Amazon.com
25’ Coax: https://amzn.to/2KygcXD
36’ Coax: Amazon.com
50’ Coax: https://amzn.to/31xFkDM
By the way there is no “Flightaware amazon kit”, those are different from supplier to supplier, FA does not offer any kits.
Anyway if you don’t want to spend the money, you can significantly improve your current antenna by cutting it to the correct length:
How to improve performance of whip antenna of DVB-T
I started my FA journey with a similar “kit” which included the indoor antenna.
I screwed it off and replaced it with a piece of copper wire of the required length. Even this gave me an improvement of approx 30% overall
Which 5dB antenna from ebay? There are several, not all of which are any good. I have the one called “COL1090/5-H Vinnant” which has been very good so far.
I have tested a couple of eBay antennas listen as 1090MHz (black plastic cover, adjustable angle) and they were worse than the piece of wire cut at the proper length.
The only antenna that works as advertised, in my experience, is the FA antenna.
The 5dB outdoor Flightaware antenna will likely improve reception from the 1/4 wave or stock SDR type antenna even if used indoors. The first step to improve coverage with any antenna is to have it placed outside and above obstacles like trees, buildings, etc.
If you need feedline (between SDR and antenna) @wiedehopf’s post above has lengths of quality LMR240 with the proper connectors already installed, I would recommend these. Always get extra length too so there is a bit of slack.
The next step to increase range is a preamplifier and filter combo at the antenna as well. A bias-T and power supply (indoors likely close to your dongle/SDR) powers the preamp. This mitigates feedline losses, interference from cell towers, and brings up weaker signals.
One step at a time though, it’s quite interesting to see the effect of improvements as you go.
I performed some side-by-side tests of various readily available and low(er) budget antenna a couple years ago and Akos was kind enough to compile the data and post to his blog if you are interested in seeing the results of real-world tests using identical hardware at the same time/location:
First I used Stanislav Palo’s 5/8 antenna (via ebay) and was very satisfied;
tested vs FA antenna: no big difference at my location …
And since March 2018 his VINNANT COL1090/5-S (for 28,53 €) is in use, even better … 
I can recommend Stanislav’s antennas.
I am using this one since a few months and it delivers excellent results with the blue Pro Plus FA stick.
It comes with a measurement report. Even indoor i had a peak message rate of 1300/second
Currently it’s limited due to a move. I will mount it outdoor later, then i will need to reduce gain of the stick.
Stanislav Palo (Ebay Stanislavpalo130) seems to have stopped offering his antennas on Ebay.
However, he has opened an e-shop on https://vinnant.sk/.
Quality is good, low prices, he is based in Slovakia, Europe and he only charges the real shipping costs.
Edit: typo
I’m currently using the COL1090/5-S antenna.
Really good quality and Stanislav is very helpful if you have any questions.
The antenna performs better than the FA-antenna at my location (many distant aircrafs and few close by).
Will probably get the larger one (COL1090/7.5-P) in April next year. Don’t like to climb the roof during the snow season…
I wondered why I’ve not seen his aerials on eBay for a while. I can vouch for the quality, we use one at the MTG site.
I have 3 of his antenna and all perform admirably. The FA beats them out slightly at my particular site, but no complaints for the money and his service has always been on par.
EDIT: Can someone do me a solid? I made the mistake of taking the radials out of all three and shoved them in a drawer, can someone please measure theirs and circle back? I have the 1090Mhz “COL2EL” (assuming old version of the 5-H, 3 radial), “COL978”, 3 Radials and 1090Mhz 5/8 ( FE1090-P). Knowing one of them would be a help since I don’t have a clue which go where anymore like a dumdum.
Hmmz I guess the COL2EL is a 2 element collinear and the 1090/5H a 5 element.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to the attic and measure 1090-5H radials.
Were they threaded ends (stainless steel M3?), tip dipped in plastidip or aluminium with a M8 (?) bolt?
Most of the time the radials have hardly any effect on performance.
But you could also contact Stanislav, his e-mail address is on this page:
https://vinnant.sk/contact-us
Thank you kindly! That puts me back on the right track again. Oddly enough, the “threaded” looking radials I have are for the 978Mhz antenna then since they measure 113mm. Another 3 (smooth with caps) just happen to match the 96mm you showed (with caps removed). Much appreciated.
EDIT: That leaves the 66mm radials that belong to the little 5/8 antenna.
