Scott,
I moved the patch inside to a much less optimum location. It looks through my thermopane glass past a post, and some leafy trees. SNR dropped to 2-3, and I am now seeing some packet loss. However, data is still flowing as before. One thing to try is rotating the patch antenna 90 degrees. I see a solid, reproducible 0.7 dB difference, which matters with suboptimal locations.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Scott <Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:12 PM <To: amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Outernet L-Band Service < <Mike, my SNR values are not very representative of what someone might see <because I have partial tree cover in that direction. < <But generally speaking, my SNR's have been as follows: < <> patch antenna: 2's with an occasional 3 < <> TP-link 2.4GHz wi-fi dish: 6 to 8 < <> 1m dish w/ helical feed: 11 to 12 < <I'm using the Outernet LNA as well. FYI, my signal improved dramatically <when I switched from the Outernet dongle to a metal-case rtl-sdr.com TXCO <dongle (please note that the bias-T will have to be enabled if you try one <of those). < <-Scott, K4KDR < < <============================================================== < <-----Original Message----- <From: Mike Hoblinski <Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:35 PM <To: amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] Outernet L-Band Service < <I purchased the setup from Amazon and used the Raspberry Pi 3 board. <Its only been running for about a day and its downloaded some of the WX <info, APRS Lists, Pics, News. and Wiki lists. I am looking for a more <suitable <enclosure for outdoors. < <Its setup on a shelf about a foot in front of the window with Vertical <plastic <blinds closed and plastic window screen on the outside and it manages to <get enough of a signal to download the packets. < <I do see a problem once my computer and monitor are powered up and possibly <with the TV as well. I am powering it from the Raspberry PI wall wart for <now but <after a few days I want to try out my portable power pack and outdoor <locations. < <The patch antenna is mounted on a plastic sheet with the L-Band Amp, SDR <dongle, and Pi-3 on the other side. I have a tablet stand from the 99 cent <store <to tilt and aim the board for now. < <I was wondering what other users are seeing signal wise from their setup. <Mine shows <a SNR of only 2.8 and signal quality of around 3 to 4 on their setup screen <but appears <to do the job. < <Mike < <N6IMF < <_______________________________________________ <Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed <are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb