SAWbird+ ADS-B: Premium, Dual-Channel, Cascaded Ultra-Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) & Filter Module for Airplane Tracking Applications. 1090MHz (ADSB) and 978MHz (UAT) Center Frequencies

I'm not usually a review writer, but seeing as this is new and unreviewed, I'd add mine. Bottom Line: It works. It's easy. See the images one is "before" and one is "after" adding the unit. It basically doubled my range. (Your mileage may vary based on location). I'll start by saying my unit arrived and had the silkscreens on the "output" side reversed. I sent an email direct to Nooelec with this, and they replied within an hour saying it was a known thing on the first batch, apologized and explained how to get it connected correctly. Well done. Performance: I just plugged and played. I didn't change anything in my setup. The antenna coax goes to the LNA, and then a 6" cable to my SDR. I'm currently only using the ADS-B/1090mHz side. I'm powering the unit thought the micro USB with a standard Pi wall wart PSU. I have the antenna mounted on my chimney with about a 15ft run of cable. I live in a heavily wooded area and this really helped reception. I basically went from 50nm to right above 100nm. It also picks more lower level traffic closer to my location as well. On the average afternoon I went from ~10 visible aircraft on average to 25+. I'd say it's worth the investment.

Works great huge improvement over other LNAs I have used for ADS-B

A great improvement in range , very happy

I am using this mounted at the antenna for UAT 978 MHz with an FA orange SDR stick. It is powered by a Jetvision Bias-tee injector powered by the Raspberry Pi 5 USB port 75 feet on the other end of the cable. Compared to my old Uptronics filtered pre-amp, this Nooelec LNA/filter has much stronger amplification. 30 db stronger than the Uptronics. With the Orange stick I had to reduce dump978-fa gain setting nine 3db steps down from 16.6 (uptronics) to 1.4 (Nooelec) to get about the same minimum signal strength and noise floor. That equates to 27 db more gain with the Nooelec LNA, but I also have this LNA mounted at the antenna which is possible due to it's small size. If I mounted at the Raspberry Pi 5, the gain is 30 db stronger than the Uptronics in the same location since there is no cable run signal loss. I lose maybe about 3 db gain mounting the Nooelec at the antenna (heavily water seal taped) over around 70 feet of Airborne 10 cable. Performance mounted at the antenna is a bit better than when mounted at the Pi end. So kudos for this device's small size that makes that possible with some MacGyvering. It's nice the Nooelec can be powered through the COAX cable by bias tee injector at the Pi. However I'd give it 5 stars if it were a) housed in a water tight enclosure for easy antenna mounting, and b) also sold in a 978 Mhz only version since mounting it at the antenna while using separate 1090 MHz and 978 MHz antennas isn't really realistic with this combined 978/1090 LNA. Filtered LNAs mounted at the antenna will always perform better over longer cable runs. It's sad that we still have few practical options to mount filtered LNAs at the antenna. And this device isn't cheap. I hope Nooelec can understand this and produce some filtered LNAs that are waterproof and designed for at the antenna mounting. So, good quality, good results. But for the price, the implementation of this device for optimal antenna mounted performance is cumbersome at best. I'm not certain my tape sealed enclosure mounted at the antenna will be reliable over the upcoming PNW 9-month rainy season. We shall see!

Works great

It does an amazing job enhancing signal reception for an ADSB antenna. I’m getting 1090 up to 250 nm.

What an upgrade to my ADS-B (both 1090 and 978 antennas). This amplifier has taken me from 5000th on FlightAware, to 500th (see picture). My reach now extends from Memphis to Cleveland. At 1000ft MSL with my antennas in the rafters of my house (not even an external implementation). Stupid simple installation.

I wanted to simplify my setup and add 978mhz. This increased my 1090mhz range slightly and works well for UAT. I have no doubts this is one of the best LNA’s on the market. You get what you pay for. Range is as far as 275nmi with a roof antenna.

Werkt goed, maar niet lang is defeckt na 2 maand gebruik

If you're serious about ADSB this is a must have. I combined this with a good antenna and I went from 50nm to over 200 nm. Obviously you need a good antenna with clear site, nothing will change that, but this filter/amp takes you ADSB to a whole new level. March 25 update, disappointed as the unit appears to be dead. LED's stopped working and signal is rubbish. Reception is better with the unit removed from the line. Disappointing when only 9 months old. Worked well when it was working. For $145 Aud you would expect better.

Bevor man Geld für einen besseren Empfang von ADS-B investiert, stellt sich die Frage, ob sich die Investition rentieren wird. Hier die wichtigsten Ergebnisse bei mir: Anzahl der Flugzeuge: 30% mehr Anzahl der Messages: 17% mehr Reichweite noch einmal deutlich verbessert. Fazit: Investition hat sich gelohnt. Ob sich die Investition lohnt, hängt von der Konfiguration des Systems ab. Wer beispielsweise nur 15-50 Flugzeuge empfängt, darf von dem Filter keine Wunder erwarten. Die Probleme liegen vermutlich woanders. Wer einen relativ guten Empfang hat und auch große Reichweite hat, wird von dem Filter am meisten profitierten. Grund ist, dass andere Signale (z.B. GSM-Mobilfunk ) den Empfang stören kennen. Gerade bei großen Reichweite ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit von den Störeinstrahlungen groß. Auch Empfänger, die sich nahe an Störsendern stehen, profitieren. Damit sollte abgeschätzt werden können, ob sich ein Filter lohnt. Für mich hat es sich eindeutig gelohnt.

L'amplificatore è arrivato in una busta di plastica semi-aperta e chiaramente molto usata. Un gommino nero era fuori dall'amplificatore. Inviare oggetti in questo modo non mi sembra una politica commerciale accettabile tenendo conto del prezzo non proprio economico. Neppure un foglietto per descrivere l'oggetto o di istruzioni. Comunque 30 dB di guadagno sui 1090 MHz!

Tested on a spectrum analyzers and got about 30 dB gain as advertise as well as about 10 MHz bandwidth that cuts off pretty steep to 20 MHz bandwidth. Not much not passed outside of that band. The inputs and outputs were correctly labeled on the version I got.