Improving ADS-B Reception with Antenna Amplifier and Pi 4 Upgrade

A successful enhancement of ADS-B reception can be achieved by combining an antenna amplifier with an elevation increase for the antenna. Installing an amplifier greatly extends the reception range, allowing visibility of aircraft up to 120-130 nautical miles, significantly more than the previous 70 nautical miles. Raising the antenna's position, such as moving it to an attic, and ensuring minimal obstructions from walls also contributes to better signal capture. Utilizing both ADS-B1 and ADS-BFI provides identical data, hence only one is necessary, yet having both installed allows for redundancy and ease of access. Transitioning from a Raspberry Pi 3 to a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8 GB of RAM further optimizes performance. The overall setup facilitates a rich experience of monitoring aircraft and fosters engagement within a supportive community, filled with resources and tips for continual improvement in equipment and reception capabilities.