RTL1090 thread

[Llew]

OK, this is my cct. In an ideal world, I would have used SMD devices to better suit a GHz circuit, but only had a couple to hand, the 100pF caps. I'll take some from old mobos or HDD boards next time.

 

[Channel Hopper]

OK, this is my cct. In an ideal world, I would have used SMD devices to better suit a GHz circuit, but only had a couple to hand, the 100pF caps. I'll take some from old mobos or HDD boards next time.

SMD components do not perform equally at higher frequencies, plus skin and parasitic capacitance effects - all components on the PCB, and the PCB itself - can badly impede (sic) a smaller circuit design.

 

[Llew]

Ideally, I would have constructed the circuit using all SMD components, on a PCB using microstrip transmission lines to prevent losses at the frequencies it's designed to be used for, in my case to pass 1MHz or thereabouts without said losses.
Sadly I don't have the time to design a practical circuit meeting the aforementioned requirement, and anyway life's too short for it, especially when I know the circuit I constructed works perfectly well ( even though I said I may eventually reconsider a better constructed circuit).

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ideally, I would have constructed the circuit using all SMD components, on a PCB using microstrip transmission lines to prevent losses at the frequencies it's designed to be used for, in my case to pass 1MHz or thereabouts without said losses.
Sadly I don't have the time to design a practical circuit meeting the aforementioned requirement, and anyway life's too short for it, especially when I know the circuit I constructed works perfectly well ( even though I said I may eventually reconsider a better constructed circuit).

Apologies. My point - badly worded - was that non SMD components can often work better than the cheaper ones out there.

 

[Llew]

Absolutely, when it comes to for instance STB and PC power supplies. Still all invariably use through-hole mounted circuit boards for the power components.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I meant - again - at EHF. Moving away from the usual copper, carbon and mica by use of silicon and glass brings a new lease of life to discrete components

 

[Llew]

A salient point. I wandered too far down the EM spectrum there. Sorry.

 

[Vipersan]

This morning I extended my range somewhat ...
Using thje Modded RTL dongle I could now ghost power an LNA4ALL on the 1090 cable run ..
So had to try it didn't I ..
The results were instantly obvious ..
in just over a minute I had over 50 planes tracked ...and in 10 minutes ..(90)
Ian early screen grab shows a plane mapped close to Hull ...
..and one over Birmingham..
t'other side o't penines to me ..
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

Can you please tell me if my Flight from LBA to PSA two weeks today is on time?

 

[Vipersan]

Can you please tell me if my Flight from LBA to PSA two weeks today is on time?

No probs buddy ...
would you like next weeks lottery numbers as well ??

 

[Lazarus]

Yes please.

 

[Vipersan]

Sadly My improbability drive has a flat ...cuppa ...
you'll have to wait whilst I top up the brownian motion module..

“If you've done 6 impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?”

 

[Llew]

Looks good VS. I want to place my LNA at the antenna too, but I've still got the pesky swollen ankle. Gone down a bit since I mentioned it at the time but I can't put a shoe on, only sandals, and I'm not climbing ladders wearing those.
Still, I've got an inductor for the LNA4ALL ready to install.

 

[Vipersan]

Looks good VS. I want to place my LNA at the antenna too, but I've still got the pesky swollen ankle. Gone down a bit since I mentioned it at the time, but I can't put a shoe on, only sandals, and I'm not climbing ladders wearing those.
Still, I've got a inductor for the LNA4ALL ready to install.

It's a start buddy ..
That you can do sat down indoors ..
Have you modded a dongle yet ?

Hope your swelling goes down soon ..
To help with this I recommend stop looking at the OMG thread ...and lots of cold showers ..?

 

[Llew]

Not yet, I've just received a NooElec dongle with the later R820T2 chip, which I will be testing against the Keedox R820T one I have. Dunno if there will be any difference in sensitivity between them.

 

[Vipersan]

Not yet, I've just received a NooElec dongle with the later R820T2 chip, which I will be testing against the Keedox R820T one I have. Dunno if there will be any difference in sensitivity between them.

I'd be very interested in the results ..
keep me up to speed..

 

[Llew]

Will do. Got to trim the lawn now, keeping my sandals well clear of the strimmer...

 

[Vipersan]

..Got a reply from an Alibaba company this morning for a small order of 28.8 mhz SMD TCXOs ..
I'll let you know if it is viable ..
rgds
VS

 

[Llew]

I'd be very interested in the results ..
keep me up to speed..

I've seen heavier traffic on a Saturday. Nevertheless, here's a quick comparison with the two R820 chips. Both tested for only a few minutes each, and within four minutes of each other.
The R820T2 delivered around ten extra aircraft. A better check will be noise floor comparisons with SDR# or my maybe my Promax later.

 

[Vipersan]

..so ..would you say there is much difference Llew ?
At first glance they dont look to be that different sensitivity wise ...
It may well be tho' that one is more stable than the other at higher frequencies..

Ideally 2 PCs and 2 similar antennae would display differences ..but might be tricky to set up..