as wiedehopf already mentioned it is highly recommended that you’re checking via heywhatsthat.com your max. range based on your location.
This will give you an idea what maximum range should be possible on your location from geographical position.
If you need some support how to get this done, you can ask here or send me a personal message
Before i got the Jetvision Antenna recommended by carstenks i was using a cheaper one built by someone individually. This is still operational on my indoor receiver with good results.
The antennas are all optimized for the frequency of 1090 MHz.
You can contact the seller if he will be open for your request
I have found an adapter in our local TV shop. He had one of these famous boxes every man has with all the cabling, connectors etc
So finally my setup there is
Antenna → BNC/F Adapter → F-Type cable (Sat Cable) → F/SMA Adapter → Stick
If you plan to use it outdoor, you will need to seal the connector
Yes, that would work. You might a little loss in signal strength, so make sure the cable is as short as possible. And you have to have it sealed if using outdoor
Why not get an FA, AirNav, DPD or Jetvision antenna and be done with it? None of the ebay antenna I’ve tested and scoped are worth bragging about in all honesty. I have a pile of antennas that I stuck on the VNA as well as tested side by side on identical setups and nothing for the most part will beat the ones I mentioned. FWIW, just trying to help and save $$ for you in the long run.
Something to remember - what you do in the privacy of your own bedroom is entirely up to you, but every adapter, joiner etc you have out in the open is a potential place for water to get in and compromise your system.
Waterproofing with self-amalgamating tape works well and is advised for all exposed connections, but the minimum number of connections is always the best approach.
Almost none… I can confirm that the antenna i recommended earlier delivers almost the performance of my Jetvision and outperforms every DIY antenna i was using before.
If you look at my profile, you can see the values this device is delivering. and it’s mounted indoor with limited line of sight
Yes, as i said, i got mine from an enthusiast via ebay. He’s building them individually and measure it exactly to get the highest gain at 1090MHz
So it’s in reality a DIY antenna, but manufactured professional.
Just seen that @Nitr0 limited his general looking comment to “antennas i tested”, i have overseen this.
Yessir, you are correct. I have not tested that particular antenna, so can’t comment on it in specific, my comment was more meant to steer those in the same position that it is usually a better idea to stick with the tried and true units.
The VNA shots in the eBay ad look good. If they ship over the pond, I may pick one up for some testing and to add to the other 20 or so antennas I have laying around (I’m foolish, I know). The price is good. I dont particularly want to mess with BNC, but that’s more of a personal preference, nothing to do with performance.
If I can find the time again, I’ll work up another post with VNA shots and side by side results for each unit I have. I still want to get my mitts on a DPD and Jetvision to round the collection out for my little shootout. I didn’t do a comparison on antennas > $50 as it gets expensive after awhile… Wondering if I buy the bride another purse if she’d look the other way?
Here you go. A six-sector MIMO 1090 (± 10 MHz) antenna with six SMA outputs. (The one pictured is the optional single output version with both LNA and SMA connections). Covers the sky in 60 degree sections.
Positives:
100 mph wind rating
Tolerates 1/2 inch diameter hail at 60 fps
Available in NATO Green, FAA Orange, and White
I have a few DIY antennas created through the years, but in all honesty I think there are too many variables between them. For instance, Ive whipped up several spiders and none of them end up the same. Maybe because I suck at making antennas.
I agree though, that it probably would be a decent idea to toss a few of them into the mix to see how they stack up as well. Noted.
The antenna design I have posted (V-Stub Quick Spider), uses only RG6 coax as source of raw material for all its parts. This makes it fragile and unsuitable for outdoor use.
However if same design is built using following raw materials, it will be robust enough for outdoor use:
Use SO239 connector (or N connector) as base
For radials & radiators, instead of using 1mm dia core wire of RG6 coax, use 2.5mm ~4mm dia copper wire.
Fully cover the SO239/N and other connectors by self fusing / self binding / self amalgamating tape. Also apply some silicon grease on top of SO239 connector.
Examples of applying self-fusing tape on antenna and coax connectors:
As I already mentioned in some threads, I have different antennas in my stock:
DIY spider << not for outdoor >>
shortened DVB-T antenna (which is delivered with a ‘normal’ DVB-T stick) << not for outdoor >>
antenna used with AirNav RadarBox << not for outdoor >>
small TACAN-antenna (via ebay; it’s from a TACAN test-set) << for outdoor >>
aircraft antenna DM CNI 22-3/A << for outdoor >>
two different PCB antenna (one with, one without ‘radome’) << not for outdoor >>
5/8 antenna (as shown, from Stanislav Palo via ebay) << for outdoor >>
ADS-B antenna (shown by foxhunter, available via ebay.
collinear antenna col1090/5-S vinnant (4 radials, similar as shown, from Stanislav Palo via ebay)
For me at my location the col1090/5-S vinnant is best, on the other side of the building I’ve installed the 5/8 antenna (on windowsill)
I’m very satisfied with both
my actual setups:
set-up N°1 (everything outdoor):
col1090/5-S vinnant + 2 m RG58 coax cable (N male - SMA male) + FA ProStick Plus (the blue one) + RasPi 2 Model B
setup N°2 (only antenna outdoor, on windowsill)
5/8 antenna + 50 cm pigtail (goes to Mini-Circuits ZAPD-21 Power-Splitter, SMA-Version) + 15 cm pigtail + UPUTRONICS 1090Mhz ADS-B SAW Filter & Preamp + 15 cm pigtail + FA ProStick (the orange one) + RasPi 3 Model B
setup N°3:
same antenna as setup N°2 (via splitter) + 30 cm pigtail + RTL-SDR triple filtered LNA + RTL-SDR V3 R820T2 RTL2832U Dongle + RasPi Zero
In my stock I have additional for experiments/testing:
2x FA 1090 MHz filter (blue)
1x FA 1090 MHz filter (the new one, dark blue)
AirNav RadarBox 1090 MHz ADS-B Filter (blue)
AirNavRadarBox ADSB-FlightStick (green)
USB DVB-T HDTV Tuner FM+DAB MCX stick
TACAN antenna is OK … maybe it depends on which stick, filter y/n etc.
Good antenna, but if you want real performance, go to a radio site ( DX Engineering is a good one) and get the best cable you can. It will cost more than the antenna. LMR400 or even better LMR600). Have them install connectors (N male) and get an adaptor with very short lead to SMA connector. Need help? Contact me wlfd.4@twc.com
