{"id":8128,"date":"2025-01-01T12:03:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T20:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/watermanatwork.com\/blog\/?p=8128"},"modified":"2025-01-01T12:03:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T20:03:24","slug":"ads-b-1090-pcb-sdr-antenna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/watermanatwork.com\/blog\/ads-b-1090-pcb-sdr-antenna\/","title":{"rendered":"ADS-B 1090 PCB SDR Antenna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this post, we’ll be setting up a cheap ADS-B 1090 PCB antenna to track aircraft using SDR. Of course, it’s not going to cost much and might do a good job pulling in ADS-B aircraft tracking transmissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll be using a fairly generic PCB antenna. These antennas can be purchased at various vendors. They range in price from about $2 to $8 USD, depending where they are purchased. I think it’s some kind of dipole. PCB(Printed Circuit Board) antennas have “traces” instead of wires. If you buy one of these, make sure all the SMA connections are properly soldered.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"ADS-B<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I have the RTL-SDR Wideband LNA<\/a><\/strong>, which is a simple low noise amplifier. It is powered by RTL-SDR dongle’s bias tee power. Basically, it boosts weak signals above background noise. It works best closer to the antenna, so in this case it works out perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"PCB<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In a previous post, we presented some ideas on how to build a cheap PVC antenna<\/a><\/strong>, we are going to use it again here. We are trying out new stuff, you might think about something more permanent. A couple pieces of duct tape connect the PCB antenna and LNA to the PVC antenna mast.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"PCB<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The PVC mast puts the antenna about ten feet in the air. The antenna could be used on a tripod or even a desktop, but it never hurts to get any antenna off the ground. My laptop computer and ham radio equipment is run by solar power.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"PCB<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As I was setting up the antenna, there was plenty of aircraft in this busy flight corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Jet<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hooked the antenna cable up to the RTL-SDR dongle and plugged it into the solar powered laptop. I usually start out with SDR++<\/a><\/strong>. I check the antennas on different software and compare the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it’s an ADS-B antenna, I start out at 1090 MHz where there is a strong signal. Looks good for the antenna, but SDR++ does not have an ADS-B demodulator, so to track aircraft, I need to use another program.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"1090<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Before I switch software, I check out the local NOAA station, which I also use as a baseline test frequency.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"NOAA<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Coming in loud and clear. That’s good because aircraft hear the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I switch to SDRangel<\/a><\/strong>, which is my current favorite ADS-B tracking program. It doesn’t take long to see the PCB antenna is doing a pretty good job. The 15″ laptop screen is not quite big enough.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"1090<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I was tracking aircraft from over 1200 km(745 mi) away. Not too bad. That’s pretty good results from an antenna that only costs a few dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I was fooling around with the PCB antenna, I checked out SDR Console<\/a><\/strong>, more SDR software. I got it to recognize the RTL-SDR receiver that had working signals, but I couldn’t see or hear anything. The odds are pretty good I’m missing something but it definitely looks promising.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"SDR<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Pretty good results for very little cash. That’s what we like. More SDR stuff coming so check back soon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this post, we’ll be setting up a cheap ADS-B 1090 PCB antenna to track aircraft using SDR. Of course, it’s not going to cost much and might do a good job pulling in ADS-B aircraft tracking transmissions. We’ll be using a fairly generic PCB antenna. These antennas can be purchased at various vendors. They … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sdr-software-defined-radio"],"yoast_head":"\nADS-B 1090 PCB SDR Antenna<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Using a cheap ADS-B 1090 PCB antenna to track aircraft using SDR\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/watermanatwork.com\/blog\/ads-b-1090-pcb-sdr-antenna\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ADS-B 1090 PCB SDR Antenna\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Using a cheap ADS-B 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