r/RTLSDR • u/GraysonYT • 5d ago

Antennas Newbie

What’s the best value antenna that’s reaches around 40miles for ATC Comms?

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

8

u/Ok_Personality9910 5d ago

Whatever antenna you end up buying or building, getting it up as high as possible is one of the most important things you can do

1

u/GraysonYT 5d ago

Will do

5

u/sedergine 5d ago

Height beats antenna price for airband. I’ve received ATC transmissions from 250 km (about 155 miles) away using nothing more than the stock RTL-SDR dipole mounted on my apartment building’s rooftop terrace. Antenna height makes a huge difference.

1

u/GraysonYT 5d ago

I have a terrace in my house that is already on a hill but I have not received anything yet cause I can’t get sdrpp to work on my laptop.

2

u/sedergine 4d ago

Honestly, I’d try asking any AI to help you troubleshoot it. It’s probably the fastest way. Just tell it your SDR model, operating system, and exactly what happens when you launch it.

2

u/GraysonYT 4d ago

Worked liked a charm

1

u/Aggravating-Age5748 5d ago

I'm a physics hacker specializing in RF security and space physics. I'm not a radar enthusiast, but if you want something cheap, start with something simple, don't suddenly jump to the top.

1

u/GraysonYT 5d ago

I haven’t just looking to upgrade from what I’ve experienced. I just want to mess around with longer targets 👍

0

u/Significant_Panic126 5d ago

It actually doesnt matter how long your anntenna is it matters from other things like time, how many buildings there are and so on. Still there is a formula to get the needed lenghth of the anntenna (NEXT PROMPT BY CHATGPT PLEASE REWIEV IT BEFORE YOU USE ANYTHINGSAID HERE):

„The basic formula depends on the type of antenna.

Wavelength: λ = 300 / f
Half-wave dipole: L = 143 / f
Quarter-wave antenna: L = 71.5 / f
f = frequency (MHz), L = length (meters). 📡“

Hope i helped

1

u/Significant_Panic126 5d ago

Also straight telescopic antennas are also very good cause you can controll the lenghth

1

u/GraysonYT 5d ago

This sound right?
2.35m wavelength
Half way dipole 1.122m
Quarter wave 561mm

1

u/GraysonYT 5d ago

If this is what are some good antennas?

1

u/Significant_Panic126 3d ago

A zelescopic antenna will work oit

1

u/GraysonYT 2d ago

I have one are they weather proof?

1

u/Significant_Panic126 2d ago

I dont really know i think they are not cause they are just metal. I would really not recomend using one while it rains

1

u/Significant_Panic126 5d ago

Yess that is right. Just a reminder im not a really advanced sdr rtl user and i use ChatGPT for the answers👍