No ADS-B reception? Check your antenna plug!

[trapdoor]

Was just fiddling with my PA unit and I have 4 DVB-T dongles from China. One I couldn't get any ADS-B reception so thought I had a dud dongle. I was testing each one with its supplied antennas so transferred the dongle over to my 'airborne' PA unit which has a small helical for ADS-B and it worked.

So duff antenna methinks ... Check to make sure the cable is not broken in the base - nope. Scratches head. Looks at the moulded on plug and .... See below! The plug has no centre pin fitted!

So if you don't get a signal, check the plug as there could be a few out there with duff plugs fitted!

[Mig29fuk]

They also fall apart inside the dongle. I had the same symptons and on splitting dongle found broken centre core connection from PCB to MX socket.
In fact all the soldering was grim with cracks in outer connection too.
New one on the way. In truth at the price they are its a cheap lesson to learn. Now ARF's and 5 Volts.......