Simple Amplified dipole for ADS-B reception. If you want to suggest a different [unrelated] design please start another topic or discuss in the best antennas topic http://forum.flightradar24.com/threa...1-best-antenna
There are three parts to this project:
1. Construction of a simple dipole antenna for ADS-B reception for outside use
2. Adding amplification to the antenna
3. Mounting the antenna and amplifier to feed your rig.
Tools and supplies: You'll need:
a craft knife
some good quality self amagamating tape http://www.ebay.com/itm/250825522803
a quantity of 'F Connectors' http://www.ebay.com/itm/330982790603
A hot melt glue gun
a satellite amplifier http://www.ebay.com/itm/271413851182
a power injector and 15v power supply http://www.ebay.com/itm/221523231893
The simple antenna is formed by taking some coaxial cable suitable for use as a domestic satallite downfeed. This cable would have:
a plastic sheath covering
a copper braid covering
a foil shield covering
a 'non-foam' dielectric insulator
covering a solid copper core
Typically it would be 6mm diameter.
Cut about 100mm off the end of the cable - strip a little of the end of the cable, then pull the core + insulation out in one piece
bare 20mm of the copper core and bend at 90 degrees
strip the about 80mm of the uncut cable, removing the outer sheath, copper braid and foil.
Bend the inner core and insulator through 90 degrees.
now insert the 20mm copper core of the first piece so it slips under the sheath on the second piece forming a tee with two arms 80mm long.
This is a simple dipole - we need to cut it down a bit and it's not very robust. It would fall apart easily.
Put a blob of hot melt glue over the joint. This serves two purposes to hold the joint together and to waterproof it (sealing the sheath to the insulator on both cores)
Attachment 4651
Once this is done cut the arms of the tee off to 68mm each
THis is a diagram of a similar dipole but without the glue
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While you have the glue gun out put a small blob on the ends of the arms to seal then against the weather.
This dipole on its own should give you a range of 80-100nm (nautical miles) or 150-200km, mount it so the arms point up and down and the cable comes out sideways (see the first picture, ignore the amplifier)
Now we'll fit the amplifier
Cut your coaxial cable about 100mm from the tee
Fit F-connectors to both ends (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sksyX32PPMc - I don't have a fancy cutter, I use a craft knife)
Fit the amplifier - make sure you get it the right way around - the word ANT or LNB connects to the diapole, the other end connects to the remaining length of cable.
We need to cut the other end of the cable in the same way - you might need a bit more length left - to insert the power injector box.
The injector has three connection points, don't mix them up or you could destroy your receiver
One is marked ANT or DC+HF - this connects to ampifier at the other end of the cable via the long cable
One is marked TV or HF - this connects to your reciever
one is marked DC or power - this connnects to the 15v wall block power supply
Get your antenna up and in the clear with the amplifier on and you should have a range of 200nm 375km or more.
Now you need to waterproof the amplifier - wind self-amalgamating tape around the amlifier and the f-connectors both ends leaving no gaps. Some say start in the centre, work out to one end, keep winding back over the whole amplifier to the other end then work back into the center - that gives two layers over the whole thing.
see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPOYCDH8wE
Now fix the antenna to the tee is away from the support and the amplifier is horizontal - I just cable tied mine in place.
Consider fixing a sun shade over the amplifier (having made it black the sun will cook it)
Then fix the support so the tee is a meter or so higher than your roof ridge. This is light enough that you could just use a bamboo bean pole as the support temporarily
Done
There are three parts to this project:
1. Construction of a simple dipole antenna for ADS-B reception for outside use
2. Adding amplification to the antenna
3. Mounting the antenna and amplifier to feed your rig.
Tools and supplies: You'll need:
a craft knife
some good quality self amagamating tape http://www.ebay.com/itm/250825522803
a quantity of 'F Connectors' http://www.ebay.com/itm/330982790603
A hot melt glue gun
a satellite amplifier http://www.ebay.com/itm/271413851182
a power injector and 15v power supply http://www.ebay.com/itm/221523231893
The simple antenna is formed by taking some coaxial cable suitable for use as a domestic satallite downfeed. This cable would have:
a plastic sheath covering
a copper braid covering
a foil shield covering
a 'non-foam' dielectric insulator
covering a solid copper core
Typically it would be 6mm diameter.
Cut about 100mm off the end of the cable - strip a little of the end of the cable, then pull the core + insulation out in one piece
bare 20mm of the copper core and bend at 90 degrees
strip the about 80mm of the uncut cable, removing the outer sheath, copper braid and foil.
Bend the inner core and insulator through 90 degrees.
now insert the 20mm copper core of the first piece so it slips under the sheath on the second piece forming a tee with two arms 80mm long.
This is a simple dipole - we need to cut it down a bit and it's not very robust. It would fall apart easily.
Put a blob of hot melt glue over the joint. This serves two purposes to hold the joint together and to waterproof it (sealing the sheath to the insulator on both cores)
Attachment 4651
Once this is done cut the arms of the tee off to 68mm each
THis is a diagram of a similar dipole but without the glue
While you have the glue gun out put a small blob on the ends of the arms to seal then against the weather.
This dipole on its own should give you a range of 80-100nm (nautical miles) or 150-200km, mount it so the arms point up and down and the cable comes out sideways (see the first picture, ignore the amplifier)
Now we'll fit the amplifier
Cut your coaxial cable about 100mm from the tee
Fit F-connectors to both ends (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sksyX32PPMc - I don't have a fancy cutter, I use a craft knife)
Fit the amplifier - make sure you get it the right way around - the word ANT or LNB connects to the diapole, the other end connects to the remaining length of cable.
We need to cut the other end of the cable in the same way - you might need a bit more length left - to insert the power injector box.
The injector has three connection points, don't mix them up or you could destroy your receiver
One is marked ANT or DC+HF - this connects to ampifier at the other end of the cable via the long cable
One is marked TV or HF - this connects to your reciever
one is marked DC or power - this connnects to the 15v wall block power supply
Get your antenna up and in the clear with the amplifier on and you should have a range of 200nm 375km or more.
Now you need to waterproof the amplifier - wind self-amalgamating tape around the amlifier and the f-connectors both ends leaving no gaps. Some say start in the centre, work out to one end, keep winding back over the whole amplifier to the other end then work back into the center - that gives two layers over the whole thing.
see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPOYCDH8wE
Now fix the antenna to the tee is away from the support and the amplifier is horizontal - I just cable tied mine in place.
Consider fixing a sun shade over the amplifier (having made it black the sun will cook it)
Then fix the support so the tee is a meter or so higher than your roof ridge. This is light enough that you could just use a bamboo bean pole as the support temporarily
Done