The RPi feeder software has only been available for a few weeks - it didn't exist at the time the PDF was created (a good few months ago - and that was done because the standard wheezy linux release became so bloated with stuff we didn't need, so switched to a minimal build)
As far as an amplifier is concerned, go to http://www.heywhatsthat.com/ - put in your location as accuratly as possible and the antenna height. Once you have the map click 'up in the air' top right, then put in altitudes of - say - 30000 and 40000 feet ... see if how the projected distance plots correlate to your received range ... if they are similar, then an amplifier will serve little purpose.
For people doing new builds, in my experience of not being able to get the powered USB lead to work (maybe it was just the one I bought) - I'd try something else first.
* Power over Ethernet - to put the pi + dongle nearer the antenna ( use a kit like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200841109556, to counteract the volt-drop on the network cable use a 12v PSU and use one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181202073503 to power the Pi, would need some power adaptor plugs)
* Use an antenna amp (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350657754545, needs 15v injected up the wire [and possibly a second used as a voltage blocker above the amp if the antenna is shorted or resistive to DC voltage] using one [or two] of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121321050146 and a 15v PSU for the amplifier)
I use the antenna amp and in fact also use the http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181202073503 to power the Pi from the same 15v supply as is used to send power up to the antenna amplifier. In my case the antenna amp is directly attached to the base of the antenna ... wrapped in self amalgamating tape to protect it and it's connectors from water ingress. My antenna is open circuit - so I only need one voltage injector block.
I'll post pictures later
As far as an amplifier is concerned, go to http://www.heywhatsthat.com/ - put in your location as accuratly as possible and the antenna height. Once you have the map click 'up in the air' top right, then put in altitudes of - say - 30000 and 40000 feet ... see if how the projected distance plots correlate to your received range ... if they are similar, then an amplifier will serve little purpose.
For people doing new builds, in my experience of not being able to get the powered USB lead to work (maybe it was just the one I bought) - I'd try something else first.
* Power over Ethernet - to put the pi + dongle nearer the antenna ( use a kit like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200841109556, to counteract the volt-drop on the network cable use a 12v PSU and use one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181202073503 to power the Pi, would need some power adaptor plugs)
* Use an antenna amp (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350657754545, needs 15v injected up the wire [and possibly a second used as a voltage blocker above the amp if the antenna is shorted or resistive to DC voltage] using one [or two] of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121321050146 and a 15v PSU for the amplifier)
I use the antenna amp and in fact also use the http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181202073503 to power the Pi from the same 15v supply as is used to send power up to the antenna amplifier. In my case the antenna amp is directly attached to the base of the antenna ... wrapped in self amalgamating tape to protect it and it's connectors from water ingress. My antenna is open circuit - so I only need one voltage injector block.
I'll post pictures later
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