New window glass, decrease in flight data acquired

I have been running ADS-B data collection for a little over three years with an antenna hung in a window on the second floor of my house. A couple of weeks ago the window was replaced. The old glass had been there for 30 years.

Since the window was replaced I have seen a substantial decrease in the number of flights I see on a daily basis. Is it possible this is caused by the new glass? I assume the new glass is the low E type. I don’t know if the old glass was low-E or not.

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Low E means Low Emissivity. There is likely one or more thin metal films deposited on the window that reduce the gain or loss of heat through the window. This is similar to a mirror, but works for heat. Unfortunately, just as it reduces heat transmission through the window, it will reduce RF signals from AM channels around 1 MHz through FM around 100 Mhz and up higher than ADSB at 1090 MHz.
You can test this by moving the antenna to a nearby wall space, and depending on your wall construction, you may get better or worse results. Perhaps you can move the system/antenna to a different area. Height and reduced obstacles will make a huge difference. Many people have antennas near the peak of their attic, though if there is a metal roof, you will get virtually zero results.
One of the best things in this hobby is figuring out what works, what doesn’t and finding the optimal configuration to get the results you desire. Me? Old radio guy, and wish I had a decent tower and the courage to climb up there and install the best antenna I can find. Guess I will keep that attic antenna, LNA, coax, and setup as is. Have fun with this.

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Thanks for confirming what I thought.

Discretion is the better part of valor as they say. I, too, sometimes think about getting the antenna outside, but the hassles and logisitcs involved make me say no. Plus I am no friend of working at heights. Whatever I do the multi-story buildings and humongous water tower that encircle me are still there. Any extra planes I would see on the horizon are already seen by many others. Better to maximize what my local area has to offer.

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I, too, sometimes think about getting the antenna outside, but my apartment building’s management says no to anything on roof or outer wall, and there are no balconies either. So my entire installation including antenna, is indoor. :frowning_face:

As if this was not enough, there is a tall building across the street blocking view of Toronto Pearson Airport CYYZ, so I dont get any signals from aircraft on ground. :rage:

I have to be contended with whatever signal I can get through windows and walls.

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Double pane? Could be gaseous insulation between the panes.

Dude, for an indoor antenna(s), your stats are amazing!

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