Hi everyone from Spain

[Breitling]

Hi all, I'm a new user from Lugo, northwest Spain. I've been using PlanePlotter for years but with no receiver, just shared data. Some days ago a friend told me about rtl dongles, the cheapest way to get aircraft tracking on my own. Now a new world opens in front of me, amazing!!

So this is my equipment: PlanePlotter, R820T dongle, rtl1090 beta 2 software. Sharer "tF" and ground station. Wishing to learn from you all and adjust my installation in the best way. Making a homebrew collinear antenna. A second dongle is in transit to catch all non ADS-B data, as well as a Flightradar24 set to improve Mlat in my zone. And really interested about switching antennas to be able to find voice transmissions. I work in a local airfield (LERO) and all these things are really interesting for me.

[Anmer]

Welcome.

[Bethsalem]

Breitling

Greetings and welcome from the other side of Spain, near Reus Airport (LERS). 

Stephen

[viking9]

Welcome Breitling.

Enjoy!

Tom

[fidaeextra]

Hello Breitling...

Saludos desde Chile¡

[Smudger98]

Bit late in the day...

But welcome to the forum Breitling..

Smudger.

[Breitling]

A big thank to you all for the welcome. Now I promise an inminent "question attack" about PP   

[kered]

Hi Breitling, you had me wondering for a few days which forum  welcome aboard, you know where i am if you need help.

Saludos

[Breitling]

Hi kered, nice to see you here   I'll need help for sure !!  Anyway I'm learning fast, but I want to take the most from PP. You know I work here in the aerodrome, let's see if I can manage to track our local aircrafts.

First stop: make a good collinear antenna. The first one was a "no go"   

[kered]

I have one made from 75ohm sat coax and it does well, 8 elements, the last section goes direct to the dongle at about 10 meters.
I used this method http://www.balarad.net/

[Breitling]

That's the one I made, but using an old coax from which I have no data about impedance, velocity factor, etc. I'll try with a new cable.

Do you mean 7 elements and the eighth direct to the dongle?

[kered]

Yes thats correct, 7 elements and the 8th one long to the dongle. in effect all i did was cut out a connector(and hopefully a bit of loss)

[Smudger98]

Yes thats correct, 7 elements and the 8th one long to the dongle. in effect all i did was cut out a connector(and hopefully a bit of loss)

Just a small point here chaps.. a wee bit of thread drift..