I'm not sure this qualifies as a hardware problem TBH but wondered if others are seeing a very limited range of RSSI values on their /dump1090/gmap.html webpage.
I'm using only the software provided in the last week or so by FlightRadar24 for the Raspberry Pi.
Mine only ever covers the range from approx -30.5 to -34 dbFS. This happens with two independent raspberry pi setups and regardless of the aerial in use, the dongle in use (I have four to choose from, one of which is a Flightaware Pro Stick Plus) and is largely independent of the range of the aircraft. I've also played around with gain settings as well as agc on and off, but the only thing that varies is the range and number of aircraft messages decoded.
For example an aircraft around 2 miles away on final approach and which is clearly visible to me as well as to the aerial, might give a reading of -30 or so while those a good bit further away, even up to 150nm, can be anything from say -32 to -34.
I have experimented with aerials including a coaxial colinear and a discone using a good low loss coax for 1090MHz, both of these on the roof of the house and with a very good take-off in all directions.
Next step will be to add a filtered LNA at the antenna end of the feeder although I'm seriously wondering whether even that will make my range of RSSI values appear more sensible.
I'm using only the software provided in the last week or so by FlightRadar24 for the Raspberry Pi.
Mine only ever covers the range from approx -30.5 to -34 dbFS. This happens with two independent raspberry pi setups and regardless of the aerial in use, the dongle in use (I have four to choose from, one of which is a Flightaware Pro Stick Plus) and is largely independent of the range of the aircraft. I've also played around with gain settings as well as agc on and off, but the only thing that varies is the range and number of aircraft messages decoded.
For example an aircraft around 2 miles away on final approach and which is clearly visible to me as well as to the aerial, might give a reading of -30 or so while those a good bit further away, even up to 150nm, can be anything from say -32 to -34.
I have experimented with aerials including a coaxial colinear and a discone using a good low loss coax for 1090MHz, both of these on the roof of the house and with a very good take-off in all directions.
Next step will be to add a filtered LNA at the antenna end of the feeder although I'm seriously wondering whether even that will make my range of RSSI values appear more sensible.
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