Will I Lose Reception on 1070 by adding 978 UAT

FlightAware Feature Requests and Ideas
1

Will I lose some reception on 1070 by adding 978 Mhz to PiAware per PiAware Advanced Configuration instructions, RTL-SDR dongle directly USB connected with a 1070 / 978 Mhz antenna with a splitter? I currently have a consistent range of 200-250 mi with over 700 aircraft and occasionally a couple of aircraft reported over 250 miles, with total reported aircraft over 3,000 daily. Would I be better off using a separate 978 Mhz antenna? Have Pi 4 with PiAware v 9.0.1.

2

You would need a second dongle.

Don’t seem to have suggested that understanding in your message, but you can’t scan both frequencies with one dongle which yes, could impact.

You need to split the task. Not combine using 2 antennas.

3

I will be using two dongles, one that I’m using now for the 1080 and adding one for 978 UAT. My current antenna is 1080 / 978 Dual band. (Amazon.com: 1090MHz 978MHz Dual Band ADS-B Antenna Flightaware Outdoor 5dBi Fiberglass Antenna with 10ft Extension SMA Cable, Increase Catching Distance and Number, Eifagur : Electronics)

I will add a splitter for the added USB 978 UAT dongle.

4

The splitter will induce some additional loss so you will experience lower numbers on the 1090 reception is my expectation :face_with_monocle:

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5

Then it would be beneficial to add a second antenna for 978Mkz?
Thanks for your reply.

6

That would be a better option in my point of view since you don’t share the signal over the 2 dongles.

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7

I’ve never understood the attraction of dual band antennas given no one makes a receiver capable of receiving both bands AFAIK.
This then requires a splitter that will halve the signal to each receiver (compared to having two dedicated antennas).

If you want to have only a single antenna, then an amplifyer before the splitter is a good compromise, but best suited to receivers NOT fitted with their own inbuilt amps.

8

Both dongles are USB with Filters and Amplifiers. I’ve decided to add another antenna for the 978Mhz UAT add-on.
Thank you for your reply

9

I don’t think there are any 978 MHz only antennas (that you can buy). So the only option is to use a dual band 1090/978 MHz antenna for 978 MHz .

10

I have a UAT 978MHz only Antenna from DPD and there are others.

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11

Thanks but I’m all set for antennas.

12

FlightAware sells a 978 antenna.

13

Don’t know how I missed that one.
That antenna could actually fit in the attic also and isn’t too expensive.
Thanks.

14

Ok, thanks for the reply.

15

For sure there are, e.g. the Jetvision antenna

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