adsb receiver shopping list - wiedehopf/adsb-wiki GitHub Wiki

What is required:

• antenna
• coax
• SDR / receiver
• micro sd-card
• Raspberry Pi (pi4 is my recommendation, pi3 just seems less reliable, pi5 is overkill but works)
• Raspberry Pi original power supply is recommended

Antenna choices:

• https://vinnant.sk/store/page/1?productlist-search=&productlist-sort=created-desc&productlist-categories=1090mhz-ads-b&productlist-tags=&productlist-itemcount=20
• https://dpdproductions.com/collections/aviation-base-mobile-antennas/products/ads-b-vertical-outdoor-base-antenna
• https://store.airplanes.live/products/boris-the-spider-ads-b-antenna-kit
• https://www.amazon.com/ADSBexchange-5-5dBi-N-Type-Female-Antenna/dp/B089Q4BVCB
• https://www.amazon.com/1090MHz-ADS-B-Antenna-66cm-26in/dp/B00WZL6WPO
• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005007956858405.html (aliexpress caution applies, should be fine)

do it yourself antennas:

• Very good but not as easy to get right: https://www.mictronics.de/posts/G7RGQ-Antenna-1090MHz
• Best first DIY antenna: https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/quick-spider-no-soldering-no-connector/19181
• Improving the common whip antenna: https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/how-to-improve-performance-of-whip-antenna-of-dvb-t/17325/25?u=wiedehopf

Coax cable:

• https://amzn.to/31xFkDM (US Amazon)
• LMR400 for runs longer than 5m/15ft
• LMR240 for runs for shorter runs (or up to 8m / 25ft if LMR400 is too pricey / too bulky)
• H155 for runs shorter than 5m / 15ft, LMR240 is superior but H155 is also ok
• https://vinnant.sk/store?productlist-search=&productlist-sort=created-desc&productlist-categories=cables&productlist-itemcount=20
• https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07S8V44VK
• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002766020734.html (LMR195, not recommended for more than 3m for best reception, aliexpress caution applies)

USB rtl-sdr compatible receiver choices:

• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005466363998.html (seems like a reliable seller but price has gone up a lot)
• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005004832658212.html (possibly the same item, no reports yet)
• https://store.airplanes.live/products/airplanes-liive-premium-1090-ads-b-filtered-sdr-with-pre-amp
• https://www.amazon.com/ADSBexchange-com-RTL2832U-Antenna-Software-Industrial/dp/B09F2ND4R6
• Blue FA pro stick from here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7REJJW
• consider adding the FA filter to the FA pro stick (solves interference issues): https://www.amazon.com/ADS-B-Dual-1090-Band-Pass-Filter/dp/B010GBQXK8
• Green AirNav stick (apparently higher failure rate): https://www.radarbox24.com/store
• RTL-SDR Blog V3 from here: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/ or here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0129EBDS2

combo of antenna / coax / SDR, not bad

• https://www.amazon.com/AirNav-Outdoor-Connector-RadarBox-FlightStick/dp/B07TZG3KMQ

filtered LNAs

• best: Nooelec Sawbird ADS-B filtered LNA: https://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-addons/sawbird/sawbird-plus-adsb.html=
• or filtered LNA from uputronics: https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=50
• or unavailable: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/product/rtl-sdr-blog-ads-b-triple-filtered-lna-bias-tee-powered/

best performance for higher price

• Airspy mini: https://airspy.com/airspy-mini/
• Always combine with one of the filtered LNAs mentioned in the previous section, optimally the sawbird ADS-B
• Airspy mini needs non default software: https://github.com/wiedehopf/airspy-conf (supported out of the box by adsb.im)
• Note that the airspy mini has a current limit of 50 mA for the biastee, consider supplying the LNA via USB if that is supported
• modeS Beast + LNA has slightly worse performance than the airspy + LNA combo and is WAY more expensive. modeS beast without an LNA seems to be significantly worse then airspy + LNA
• planefinder radar stick did not perform anywhere near as good as the airspy, was even outperformed by an rtl-sdr with LNA + filter in that particular test. not worth the price also locks you into sending them data.

saw filters to be placed before a filtered LNA or blue SDR when strong interference suspected

• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005009056046195.html (be sure to select 1090)

cavity filters for best performance or strong RF sources nearby

• https://store.airplanes.live/products/lothars-ads-b-cavity-filter-1090-mhz
• https://shop.sysmocom.de/1090-MHz-cavity-filter-for-Mode-S-ADS-B/cf1090-kt30
• use cavity filter between antenna and LNA

cheap LNA for 1090

• https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006884342067.html

LNA for 978 and 1090 combined

• https://www.nooelec.com/store/sawbird-plus-adsb.html?srsltid=AfmBOorAI9sBj0Zo6VvjRn4rLzmROd_jor1Z3Cp0gVUhkVM2pMqX_2Db

Some people use this even though they only use the 1090 part because it's a well performing filtered LNA for 1090.

budget option: antenna + SDR (lower range)

• https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GNGZAIG
• https://shop.jetvision.de/epages/64807909.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64807909/Products/53200
• DIY start: SDR with dipole antenna kit: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/ (ADS-B: dipole antenna with small inserts, end to end 13.8 cm / 5.43 in, one end to the sky, one end towards the ground, if possible connect without included 2m coax due to losses)

Micro sd-card (others will do, just an example):

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XX29S9Q

or the RPi4, for that get these items:

• https://www.adafruit.com/product/4295
• https://www.adafruit.com/product/4298
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WG4DW52 (or a different make of metal case that thermally connects to the board)

RPi3 (probably overpriced, RPi4 might be cheaper)

• rpi3 is not recommended, pi4 is simply more stable
• CanaKit Raspberry Pi kit: https://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-Raspberry-Premium-Supply-Listed/dp/B01C6EQNNK

software setup, see this page:

• http://adsb.im/ (premade image, simple configuration via webinterface)
• https://github.com/wiedehopf/adsb-wiki/wiki/Raspbian-Lite:-ADS-B-receiver