PilotAware
British Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Smaragd on September 15, 2016, 03:36:05 pm
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I'm on my third ADSB Receiver Dongle - the Mini USB DVB-T RTL-SDR Realtek RTL2832U on the Known Good Hardware list. On the first the aerial connector came loose, the second just stopped working. Has anyone else has problems and is there a more robust solution?
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I have just put my PilotAware together and was about to ask if it's normal for the MCX plug on the ADSB to get so hot you can't touch it!
In the past I have used the bigger USB TV adapters and not noticed the heat, maybe it only an issue on the smaller "recommended" ones.
Maybe your/the problem is heat related!?
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Hi guys,
It is fairly 'normal' for the DVBT receiver dongle to run pretty hot, though not normally so hot that you can't touch the plug, but being metal, it will of course act as a 'heat sink' and absorb any heat generated by the board. The high heat level caused quite a lot of concern in the early days but very few failures. I know Paul Sengupta has changed over from an MCX plug to a solder mount SMA connector (the same as used for the P3i antenna), which being a screw connector is not susceptible to coming loose and pulling out as can happen with the MRX. Means you also need to change the corresponding plug on your 1090MHz antenna (not particularly easy) or buy an alternative 1090MHz antenna with a matching SMA connector of course.
Regards
Peter
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I place my ADS-B Dongle away from RPi using USB Male/Female shortish cable, about 20 cm. It radically reduced the heating against when connected directly to RPi.
All three Units I produced are wired this way and all seems good.
G-RVBC, an RV6 hopefully will be transiting from Bath, Somerset to Newcastle on Saturday with ETD about 08.30 Local. It will be carrying Pilot Aware but is also Mode S with ES equipped.
A return flight will be late afternoon. Hope it gets spotted but not too close!
Regards
Gerry
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I know Paul Sengupta has changed over from an MRX plug to a solder mount SMA connector
What prompted me to do it was that I used an MCX-SMA adaptor and it managed to push the centre pin of the MCX so it came loose from the PCB, taking the track with it. I thought rather than fix the MCX connector, I'd put in an SMA instead. It works very well, but screwing an antenna to it, the antenna plug also becomes very hot. My next bit of experimentation will probably be to find some sort of heatsink I can put on the R820T tuner chip, which is the thing which gets hot.
I have a bit of a collection of these R820T things of various sizes and various connectors.
I've even got one of the mini ones (looks the same) with an E4000 tuner chip in it. It's pretty crap at ADS-B!
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Thanks to all for the advice. I now also have some bits I can play with!
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I am also on my second (maybe heading for third?) DVB-T dongle - in the first one the copper antenna wire inside the dongle broke where it goes into the circuit board, the second one has a dodgey connection as well. Quality control/robustness is not great and the dongle and antenna connection are fairly exposed.
Any good alternatives short of rewiring the connector?
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I've kept using a mini dongle myself as I've put an SMA connector on it, but I also have these sort of things for other SDR work:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RTL2832U-R820T-DVB-T-RTL-SDR-DAB-FM-USB-2-0-Digital-TV-Receiver-Stick-Tuner-CD-/281561364981?hash=item418e5d79f5:g:j3EAAOSw-W5UtH6t (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RTL2832U-R820T-DVB-T-RTL-SDR-DAB-FM-USB-2-0-Digital-TV-Receiver-Stick-Tuner-CD-/281561364981?hash=item418e5d79f5:g:j3EAAOSw-W5UtH6t)
It has a large TV style antenna connector on it which shouldn't break.
You can also get "premium" R820T dongles with SMA connectors. They're normally used for other SDR (Software Defined Receiver) work, but I don't see why they won't work with a PilotAware.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0)
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I've kept using a mini dongle myself as I've put an SMA connector on it, but I also have these sort of things for other SDR work.......
.......You can also get "premium" R820T dongles with SMA connectors. They're normally used for other SDR (Software Defined Receiver) work, but I don't see why they won't work with a PilotAware.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0)
This one looks interesting Paul. Narrow metal case and clearance to adjacent dongle should help heat dissipation (one picture shows 2 side by side in a Pi - which we certainly can't do with ours) though these do look a bit 'thicker' height wise, so might possibly obstruct ports in the 'top' (or bottom) row. It is reported to use an R820T2 chipset. If Lee can confirm whether this is compatible it might be worth buying one to try. I certainly agree that SMA connectors are stronger and likely to prove more reliable in the long term than MCX.
Regards
Peter
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Thanks Paul; I've now repaired one dongle where the MCX had come away from the board - can't see such a fault with the other, though. However now I've got the kit working satisfactorily in the aircraft I should be disturbing it less so hope not to have further problems. Your alternatives are noted as backup.
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Any news on the compatibility of this one quoted here?
I've kept using a mini dongle myself as I've put an SMA connector on it, but I also have these sort of things for other SDR work.......
.......You can also get "premium" R820T dongles with SMA connectors. They're normally used for other SDR (Software Defined Receiver) work, but I don't see why they won't work with a PilotAware.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0]http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0[/b] (http://[b)
This one looks interesting Paul. Narrow metal case and clearance to adjacent dongle should help heat dissipation (one picture shows 2 side by side in a Pi - which we certainly can't do with ours) though these do look a bit 'thicker' height wise, so might possibly obstruct ports in the 'top' (or bottom) row. It is reported to use an R820T2 chipset. If Lee can confirm whether this is compatible it might be worth buying one to try. I certainly agree that SMA connectors are stronger and likely to prove more reliable in the long term than MCX.
Regards
Peter
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Buy one and try it. Don't see why it shouldn't work. :o ;D
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Probably will! I'm assuming you techies know what definitely won't work!
Buy one and try it. Don't see why it shouldn't work. :o ;D
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I ordered one last week for another project.....It's in transit with UPS.....I'll let you know if it works with PAW when it arrives.....Certainly looks well made and hopefully will address the issues of porting some of that heat away from its main chipset.
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Probably will! I'm assuming you techies know what definitely won't work!
Yes, TV dongles with something other than the R2832U interface chip won't work. Most tuner chips will work to some degree, though I've personally got one with an E4000 which is fairly deaf at ADS-B frequencies, but it does work, just (it's good for higher frequencies than the R820T though, so has its uses). Anything with the R2832U interface chip and the R820T tuner chip should work ok, including the new (as the above linked unit uses) R820T2 chip which is more sensitive.
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Thanks Brinzlee, I'll be keen to hear how you get on.
Sean
I ordered one last week for another project.....It's in transit with UPS.....I'll let you know if it works with PAW when it arrives.....Certainly looks well made and hopefully will address the issues of porting some of that heat away from its main chipset.
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These are the only chips I understand I'm afraid. The rest is gobbledegook to me
(http://desfromagesetdeshommes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/chips.png)
Probably will! I'm assuming you techies know what definitely won't work!
Yes, TV dongles with something other than the R2832U interface chip won't work. Most tuner chips will work to some degree, though I've personally got one with an E4000 which is fairly deaf at ADS-B frequencies, but it does work, just (it's good for higher frequencies than the R820T though, so has its uses). Anything with the R2832U interface chip and the R820T tuner chip should work ok, including the new (as the above linked unit uses) R820T2 chip which is more sensitive.
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Hi Sean,
When it comes to chips, Paul definitely knows his onions..... Sorry, this is starting to get silly ::)
Regards
Peter
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Sean, those are fries :)
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Sean - just that if it has R2832U and R820T in the name or description, 99% it'll work. Probably 100%, but y'know, I don't like to say such things! ;D
"Scampi flavoured what...?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsrNAAtjmKw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsrNAAtjmKw)
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I'm on a diet ;D
Sean, those are fries :)
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I've kept using a mini dongle myself as I've put an SMA connector on it, but....
You can also get "premium" R820T dongles with SMA connectors. They're normally used for other SDR (Software Defined Receiver) work, but I don't see why they won't work with a PilotAware.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=r820t+sm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xr820t+sma.TRS0&_nkw=r820t+sma&_sacat=0)
Hi Paul/All,
Intrigued as always, I ordered one of these 'Premium' dongles for testing, complete with set of antennas from Paul's 'NooElec'' e-Bay link. Mysteriously,........ it arrived yesterday (Sunday) afternoon .... from AMAZON!!!!!, though the order definitely only appears on my e-Bay account!
I tried it last night at home and can report that it seems to work fine with PAW, though I did experience some 'dropping out' on SkyDemon of ADSB aircraft inbound to Edinburgh - which was probably due to geographical (terrain) interference rather than any problem with the dongle.
Like the 'supplied' dongle, it does run fairly hot, though in this case because it deliberately uses its aluminium casing as a 'heat sink' to dissipate heat from the receiver chip.
The biggest problem, however is that, as I suspected, the dongle is much 'thicker' than the mini version and completely precludes the use of the USB port above (or below) it in the Raspberry Pi
In view of the increasing likelihood that this port will be needed for USB updating or connecting to FLARM in or for ADSB out, this would preclude the use of this dongle unless you don't intend to use any of these functions.
Another lesser concern is that the supplied antenna lead (if you buy the version with the antenna pack) uses RG58 coax, which is considerably heavier and stiffer than the coax supplied with the 'standard' dongle. As a result of this and the fact that the dongle itself is longer/heavier, I noticed significant 'loading' on the USB socket and have some concerns that the dongle could become separated from the USB socket in flight unless it can be adequately supported. The answer might be to 'glue' it into the socket using a couple of 'dabs' of silicone sealant and/or ensure the coax is supported as it leaves the unit to take the load off the dongle/USB socket. Alternatively, if you can use a lighter co-ax, the risk of accidental disconnection will be lower. This does not however address the loss of one of the USB sockets if this dongle is used.
A great pity, as it otherwise looks like a well made unit. Out of interest, I will give it a test in the plane anyway and will report back further once I manage to do so.
Regards
Peter
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Excellent-Short-USB-2-0-Type-A-Female-To-Male-Extension-Extender-Cable-Cord-SK/381760111267 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Excellent-Short-USB-2-0-Type-A-Female-To-Male-Extension-Extender-Cable-Cord-SK/381760111267)
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Hi Paul,
Point taken!
Peter
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Just ordered two
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Morning guys,
I ordered one of the linked USB-ADSB things from NooElec (R820T2) to try and tidy up my set-up however in testing i'm finding it rather less sensitive than the mini cheapo ebay one I had before, have any of you found this?
Trying to work out if its a faulty receiver, a faulty antennae (I ordered the 1090MHz ADS-B tuned SMA one from NooElec http://www.nooelec.com/store/1090mhz-ads-b-antenna-3dbi-sma.html (http://www.nooelec.com/store/1090mhz-ads-b-antenna-3dbi-sma.html) - should i have gone for the 5DBi gain one?) or just a worse set up than the "cheap mini" recommended one!
Any thoughts? for now i'm just using the more expensive cooler running receiver for a FlightRadar feed :)
Ash
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I'm using one of the dipoles from the pilotawarehardware store very slightly different to your setup
http://pilotawarehardware.com/product/dipolecouplet-antenna/
I know it's not exactly the correctly tuned antenna for the job with the NooElec but I haven't noticed any difference in degradation of signal compared with the standard ADSB usb dongle....Same with the heat...it gets just as hot.....
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I get aircraft from as far away as Belgium and occasionally the Netherlands here in Guildford with one of these on a standard R820T dongle modified with an SMA connector.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171802354206 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171802354206)