I just setup PiAware 8.2 on a Pi 4B with the Pro Stick Plus and big 1090 antenna from the store. I also added the filter (still need to test it without) and placed the antenna on the top of a hangar at HTZA (Zanzibar International Airport).
I noticed that I’m not seeing a lot of the smaller aircrafts on my flight tracker. Most C208 or even EMB-120 don’t show up. There was an Ultralight flying today that didn’t show up either. They definitely fly with a transponder, it’s mandatory in Tanzania. Interestingly, while I was flying today with my Stratux, these aircrafts also didn’t appear on it!
Any ideas what could it be? Might go up to the control tower in the next days to check what they see on their screens.
Maybe your gain is set too high, that will cause the receiver to go “deaf” for close by signals.
Install Graphs1090 wiedehopf · GitHub that will enable to analyse what is happening in your receiver.
Install it, let it run for 24 hrs and then look at your graphs.
Aircraft close will be indicated as strong signals. Ideally you want that percentage around 5%.
In order to achieve that it might be needed to adapt the gain.
I have a similar issue with KMKC and KMCI being so close to me. I had my gain set to default, but it was causing reception loss of aircraft that flew directly over my house, and those “loud” signals were blocking out other signals from more distant aircraft. The default setting is “-10,” which sets the gain to higher than you can set it manually.
I need to spend more time experimenting. I’m pretty sure my 26" (66cm) FA antenna is cracked and leaking causing signal loss during wet weather. But I set my gain to 42 and now I have a much more consistent reception even when aircraft are flying low overhead. I frequently pick up ground traffic at KMKC, even though it’s 5 miles (8km) away. I don’t know if this is my “ideal” setting, but it works for me for now.
Thanks a lot of the replies @tomvdhorst and @fhmiii ! I will experiment with the gains when I get back to the hangar. I’ll see if I can run Graphs1090 as well, thanks for linking that!
