best antenna

[Even92LN]

I've been using this 9 EUR magnet foot antenna with the Mode-S Beast for a while now, and I'm really impressed by the performance: http://www.anteni.net/adsb/#!/~/prod...02&id=18017782 I replaced the magnet foot and connected the whip directly to a 5m low loss coax cable, and this gave me a radius of about 230nm. I also added some silicone around the connections to keep the water out as the antenna is not built for outdoor use.

So, a good antenna doesn't need to cost that much

[E:V:A]

I'll stand by my comments ... but it's quite apparent that's not all you were implying. It's apparent you and I have a very different moral compass. I dont know how you can slur a bloke and the producers of pre-fabricated antennas and think that it's ok.

Dear First Officer Fungus (of the Moral Police), It's not my fault that you didn't pass Ethics-101 by missing the first lesson. In that lesson we learned: "I am only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.". So there's no need to bring up your moral problems and grumpiness to a technical forum. In addition I can't see how your own OT comments are bringing anything of value to this thread. Dude, chill out! It's just a an antenna!
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I've been using this 9 EUR magnet foot antenna with the Mode-S Beast for a while now, and I'm really impressed by the performance...So, a good antenna doesn't need to cost that much

Thank you! That's what I was talking about...

The problem with this thread is that there is no such thing as a "Best Antenna"! What is considered best is very subjective and strongly depends on your expectations you have from your antenna.

Examples:
1) A person who is living in front of a mountain,, have little use of "omni-directional" antenna if more than half the sky of LOS is missing. For him/her the best choice would be something that has a direction, like a patch-dish.
2) A person living in an apartment who does not have access to mounting anything on the outside, may be better off with a more compact antenna based on a PCB-strip.
3) While someone in a house with their own aerial tower, can use a much larger and heavier antenna.
4) Someone in a car, traveling or using their phone to scan the skies, may want something ultra portable.

The problem with buying an antenna is that the sellers always assume you know what you're doing. They rarely state clearly (at least for a non RF engineer) under what conditions a particular antenna is good for, or any other requirements regarding expected gain and recommended feed-line and mounting.

But if you just wanna play around with Flightradar / ADS-B stuff for a few days to get a few airplanes logged, you can try something like these:

*Ultra simple wine-cork dipole:
http://antirez.com/news/46
*Dangling wire!
http://cjoint.com/13jv/CAhqVmiQ45Y_dip1090.jpg
* (These probably need a 1:1 75-to-75 Ohm Balun transformer.)

The problem with these are that they rely on the feed-line as being part on the antenna! You will simply not know if they work until you try with your own setup.

Cheers!

[fungus]

Dear First Officer Fungus (of the Moral Police), It's not my fault that you didn't pass Ethics-101 by missing the first lesson. In that lesson we learned: "I am only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.". So there's no need to bring up your moral problems and grumpiness to a technical forum. In addition I can't see how your own OT comments are bringing anything of value to this thread. Dude, chill out! It's just a an antenna!
---

Since you're so keen to demand others produce evidence I'll make it simple. Where's your missing 'evidence' for your two unfounded and unwarranted comments and while you're at it you can clarify exactly what you meant by them since it would seem that you think I and others are a few sandwiches short of a picnic and will simply blindly accept what you write without question;

1) "You seem very anxious to promote THAT exact antenna. I can't understand why, except that you get some kind of commission or something."

2) "Semi-Commercial antennas are often direct rip-offs of amateur designs... "

Or do you just make thoughtless comments on the run and then attempt to bully anyone who picks you up on them? Please enlighten us and take some responsibility for what you've written. So far you've dodged the issue altogether.

BTW, I am chilled mate , I'm just not prepared to tolerate people who have one set of rules for themselves and one for others.

Gregg

[Jarod]

There may not be a best antenna, but there is a best looking antenna.
http://x264.nl/dump/ads-b-antenna-gr...ane-proper.jpg

But seriously, all kidding aside, this GP really works well, today i broke my own record:
http://x264.nl/dump/rtlsdr-mini-virt...1.1-record.jpg

Parts used:
BNC Chasis part.
Copper electrical wire, each piece 6.54cm long.

[eddm_muc]

For those who look for the "Russian" antenna that MIKE and all others refer to, you can get the 1.5m called A9-1090 with 8.5db gain and the A10-1090 1.8m with about 10db gain from RADIAL from their Finish subsidiary ik-telekom.com.
They have made an online shop called duplexers.eu and both antennas are arround 85€ plus the tax and shipping.
see here:
http://duplexers.eu/catalog/Pro/antennas/a9_1090/
http://duplexers.eu/catalog/Pro/antennas/a10_1090/

[Jarod]

Wanna bet my home made GP does better?

[eddm_muc]

Wanna bet my home made GP does better?

well if it does then I am happy for you.
I tried to built one myself based on G7RQG but gave up. my mechanical abilities were too bad

I saw your antenna...looks very DIY. which concept it it? wavelength?
how do wanna know that your gain is better...could just be a better reception than with your previous not neccessarily a better gain..
looking at the picture I doubt that it can have 8-10db gain...

[Birdie]

There may not be a best antenna, but there is a best looking antenna.
http://x264.nl/dump/ads-b-antenna-gr...ane-proper.jpg

But seriously, all kidding aside, this GP really works well, today i broke my own record:
http://x264.nl/dump/rtlsdr-mini-virt...1.1-record.jpg

Parts used:
BNC Chasis part.
Copper electrical wire, each piece 6.54cm long.

Aiyo ... please use a HOTTER Soldering Iron.

[747-8F]

Are these good antennas ? which one would the best one for long range signal nm to put it outdoor?

1) 433Mhz-5dbi-GSM-Antenna-SMA-Plug
2) 1920-2170 MHz 3G antenna SMA plug
3) 900-1800-Mhz-GSM-Antenna-5dbi-SMA-male-plug

I found these with low price and I want to make sure which one is the best, and is any of these three better than this one http://www.anteni.net/adsb/#!/~/prod...02&id=18017782 ?
Thanks

[eddm_muc]

Are these good antennas ? which one would the best one for long range signal nm to put it outdoor?

1) 433Mhz-5dbi-GSM-Antenna-SMA-Plug
2) 1920-2170 MHz 3G antenna SMA plug
3) 900-1800-Mhz-GSM-Antenna-5dbi-SMA-male-plug

I found these with low price and I want to make sure which one is the best, and is any of these three better than this one http://www.anteni.net/adsb/#!/~/prod...02&id=18017782 ?
Thanks

to be honest...none of them is suitable
1+2 totally wrong frequency you need one for 1090mhz.
3. frequency range far too wide..so your reception will be very bad

[Even92LN]

Are these good antennas ? which one would the best one for long range signal nm to put it outdoor?

1) 433Mhz-5dbi-GSM-Antenna-SMA-Plug
2) 1920-2170 MHz 3G antenna SMA plug
3) 900-1800-Mhz-GSM-Antenna-5dbi-SMA-male-plug

I found these with low price and I want to make sure which one is the best, and is any of these three better than this one http://www.anteni.net/adsb/#!/~/prod...02&id=18017782 ?
Thanks

If you are looking for an antenna with magnet foot, I would definetly go for the antenna from anteni. This antenna is built for 1090 MHz, which ADS-B is transmitting on. It also has a great range. With this directly connected to the Mode-S Beast MK II, I can see aircrafts more than 230 nautical miles away.

[747-8F]

If you are looking for an antenna with magnet foot, I would definetly go for the antenna from anteni. This antenna is built for 1090 MHz, which ADS-B is transmitting on. It also has a great range. With this directly connected to the Mode-S Beast MK II, I can see aircrafts more than 230 nautical miles away.

For the moment I have antenna from anteni, but I am looking to find a better one to see more aircrafts more nautical miles away. With my anteni I can see only 100 NM away

Also I want to buy one of those cheap antennas with SMA connector 3 meter cable to use different antenna on it not the same one comes with. For example I have Anteni, but the cable is short or the cable is broke and now I need an antenna magnet with long cable to use my Anteni on it. Is there any difference ? I want to be sure because if I buy it and use that one will be 1920-2170 MHz, if I take off that antenna wire and put Anteni wire on it, will it be same or will change to 1090 Mhz ?

Thanks

[Even92LN]

For the moment I have antenna from anteni, but I am looking to find a better one to see more aircrafts more nautical miles away. With my anteni I can see only 100 NM away

Also I want to buy one of those cheap antennas with SMA connector 3 meter cable to use different antenna on it not the same one comes with. For example I have Anteni, but the cable is short or the cable is broke and now I need an antenna magnet with long cable to use my Anteni on it. Is there any difference ? I want to be sure because if I buy it and use that one will be 1920-2170 MHz, if I take off that antenna wire and put Anteni wire on it, will it be same or will change to 1090 Mhz ?

Thanks

The lenght of the cable has nothing to do with the antennas frequency range. But the longer cable you have, the more signal loss. What type of ADS-B decoderdo you have? Is the visibility good where you live? The ADS-B signals won't go much longer than the distance you can see. Threes or buildings are enough for the signals to get lost.

[Birdie]

The ADS-B signals won't go much longer than the distance you can see. Threes or buildings are enough for the signals to get lost.

Huh ? F-WSSS1 get about 600 km. I am very sure I can't see 600 km with my eyes.

[Jarod]

Aiyo ... please use a HOTTER Soldering Iron.

Haha yes... i tried with two soldering irons... but came one hand short.
I actually put a pan on the gas and soldered the antenna in the pan. With so much copper heat is lost quickly.

Now it still looks bad but it's holding up nicely.