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1.2 Antenna
There are different antennas on the market. Cheap ones as well as expensive ones. Some perform very decently while other models are not working at all. We like to build our own antennas which should be:
- Cheap to build
- Easy to build
- Small so installation is not an issue
- Long range
- ADS-B -> PCB Antenna
- AIS -> Diamond X-30
- Radiosondes -> Diamond X-30
The groundplane is very cheap to make and is a decent performer when build to spec.
- Cheap (roughly 5€ without cable)
- Easy to build
- Good reception
- Looks homemade
- Fragile when transported, not so much when installed
- You may need a VNA to tune it to the optimal performance
This antenna is a readily available PCB you find online from China. We build an enclosure to make it waterproof and add mounting brackets.
- No soldering required
- Already tuned to frequency
- Very robust (good for traveling or harsh conditions)
- Looks quite professional
- Excellent performance
- A bit more expensive than the ground plane (roughly 20€ without cable)
- If you do not want to drill a big hole for the SMA connector in the bottom you need to crimp your own sma cable after passing it trough the endcap
You can build a groundplane antenna for radiosondes like the ADS-B one just with longer copper pieces.
The Diamond X-30 is our choice as a dualband antenna for AIS and Radiosonde reception - it just works.
The Diamond X-50 can be used like the X30 for AIS, radiosondes and much more. I t is a bit longer, a bit more costly and has a bit more gain. We do use it and are quite happy with the results. If you should splurge on this one or save some bucks and buy an X-30 - only you can decide. Either way you won't be disappointed.
You may find used marineband antennas for cheap prices online. They obviously work great for AIS and are a no-brainer for that purpose. You may also receive radiosondes with them, but that's not guaranteed. Check for the SWR with a VNA.