Folks,
I want to experiment with a mobile ADS-B receiver.
Is my antenna location an issue if I disable MLAT?
Geffers
No that’s not a problem.
There are even stations around with no location configured.
(Flightaware will then estimate a position but a wrong location is not a problem either as it is only used for statistics purposes as far as i know.)
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Hardware?
Power Spply?
Internet?
Pi Zero uses around 430mA
5000 mA Power Brick
Tether to phone
Just want to see how message rate or range change in different locations.
Geffers
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That will do it. Even a 10,000 or 20,000 mAh USB brick is dirt cheap. Plenty of capacity to run the Pi Zero and your phone. WiFi tether the Pi to you phone as a hotspot for internet access.
Only limitation I can see is your antenna. If mobile, there are not a lot of good choices. If you want to drive or hike to a mountaintop somewhere with mobile access, then just use a temporary base antenna for a few hours.
Sounds like good fun.
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Have a look at at ==> TomMuc’s equipment
Sometimes I’m using something similar for mobile purposes, but at home only (garden/balcony):
- Raspberry Pi Zero W
- SISTECH Solarcard 5V/5W
- MOMAX Powerbank 13.200 mAH
- Antenna: shortened DVB-T-antenna or ADS-B PCB Antenne 1090 Mhz (SMA) or other …
works fine …
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this is too funny! (and more to make sure 20 characters in post)
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Love the old ham photos.
You could look into this rechargeable power pack too.
You can also use a USB GPS unit to constantly update your location. That way MLAT would work.
I believe that piaware will use a location from GSPD.
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ADS-B Airborne Portable
Ever tried to find something to stick a mag base onto in a plane?
For interest, the 787 seems to be a self propelled Faraday cage.
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The windows have the dimming technology in them otherwise windows would seem like the best bet 
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Yes indeed.
I’ve held a GPS receiver (1575 MHz) to the window and seen nothing.
ADS-B (1090MHz) didn’t do much better.
But lots of cell phones apparently received their messages as we approached the runway.
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Seems the Laptop in picture is using adsbScope software on Windows to plot the Map.
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yes it does.
ModeSDeco2 for decoding.
ADSBScope for the display.
The tuner is a generic RTL with a trimmed (POS) 1/4 wave mag base antenna.
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Unlike other map software (dump1090, ModeSMixer, and ModeSDeco), the adsbScope does NOT require Internet connection to display the map. That makes it highly desirable for displaying planes on a map in a mobile unit.
Piaware in Car while at Airport?
.
https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/piaware-in-car-while-at-airport/24952/76
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adsbScope + RTL1090 on Windows 8 - adsbScope Map does NOT require Internet
The adsbScope is a map displaying software, and RTL1090 is a decoder software (ModeSDeco can also be used in place of RTL1090)
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Setup of adsbScope for use with ModeSDeco2 on Windows Laptop
(1) ModeSDeco2
Contents of modesdeco2.bat file
@echo off
cmd /c modesdeco2.exe --gain 49.6 --location xx.xxxx:yy.yyyy --web 8787 --beast 30005 --msg 30003 --sbs10001 10001
PAUSE
exit
(2) Six-Step Setting of adsbScope
(If you are using RTL1090 instead of ModeSDeco2, then in step (5) on this screenshot click RTL1090 button, then click close button)
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO SEE LARGER SIZE
CLICK AGAIN TO SEE FULL SIZE
.
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…or for cell phone users (Android): install app ==> ADSB Flight Tracker
(incl. MLAT)
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HARDWARE
Android Phone Samsung Galaxy
OTG cable
DVB-T Dongle (generic)
Dongle’s whip antenna on a tin can or car roof
SOFTWARE
Android OS
Flightaware’s “Flaght Scanner” App
This is what I got from a road level location close to Toronto Pearson Airport CYYZ about one-and-a-half years ago:
The App I use is “Flightaware Flight Scanner” which is no more available on Google Play, but its source code is available at Github. You will need to build the Androiid App from this source code:
http://flightaware.com/adsb/android/
I do not know how to build an android app from source code. Luckily I found the App at “Apkpure” (link below), and downloaded and installed it on my Android Phone (Samsung Galaxy S5). Works perfect. No virus/malware:
ADS-B Flight Scanner APK Version: 2.0.29 - Author: FlightAware
EDIT
This App uses Google map. I have not used it for about a year. It may give watermarked Google Map now.
.
.
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Blimey, what are they tracking, SETI 
Geffers