Hello! I just got an SDR and decided to start listening. As a teen, I bought a scanner from someone and used to fall asleep listening to all the various different conversations. I decided I should probably start again and get my license (for which I am studying).

The SDR I got is "RTL-SDR Blog V4 R828D RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO HF Bias Tee SMA Software Defined Radio with Dipole Antenna Kit " and I’m able to pick up some things (various shortwave, FM, AM, nearest airport, etc.), however I can’t seem to get the IBP beacon nearest me. This could be in part due to literal mountains between us, I suppose (Japan problems), but I hear no beacons on any of the listed frequencies.

I am using the di-pole antenna included in the kit, fully extended, attached to the east side of my house (about 3km away from the pacific, but I have mountains west and some taller hills north and south). “2x 23cm to 1 m telescopic antennas.” is what it says so I suppose It’s a bit over 2m tip-to-tip oriented vertically.

Should I be able to receive any of the IBP beacons with my antenna, position, and orientation? Am I doing something obviously wrong? I’m happy to go fish if you point me in the right direction, but my searching hasn’t turned up anything useful so far (probably user error in that I don’t know exactly what to search for).

Thanks very much!

  • tiredofsametab@fedia.ioOP
    2·
    17 days ago

    So far no luck, but I only seem to get flights when they are going to/from the nearest airport to places south of me; everyone else is going around. I’m not sure how far the range is meant to be　（EDIT: 370km or so per wiki). I can very faintly see something on the frequency, but Dump1090 isn’t catching anything.

    I have some parts coming today to try a ~20m random wire antenna. I got 2x20m copper wire in case I need to do a counterpoise on the other side (which seems to be like 1/4 length (so 5m) of wire?).

    Edit: also apparently it’s not required in Japan, so I’m guessing that’s why nothing domestic at least has it. Maybe if I leave dump1090 running long enough, it might catch some international flight, but none seem to go that near me.