Tech Minds: Testing the NooElec FlyCatcher RTL-SDR ADS-B+UAT Raspberry Pi Hat
Over on YouTube Matt from the Tech Minds YouTube channel has tested out NooElec's new 'FlyCatcher', which is an RTl-SDR ADS-B hat for the Raspberry Pi. The FlyCatcher has two RTL-SDRs built into it, each with it's own LNA and SAW filter. One SAW filter is tuned for 978 MHz UAT, and the other for 1090 MHz ADS-B.
The device also has buttons that allow you to bypass the LNA stage, and just use filtering, in case you have an external LNA. They appear to be using the Qorvo TQL9063 LNA chip, which has a built-in bypass.
In the video Matt tests out the FlyCatcher, but only on 1090 MHz as 978 MHz UAT is not used in his country. He shows how to set up the software on the Raspberry Pi and then shows some results.
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t get the point of this hat form factor when you have to connect to USB anyway. Hats are for devices that use the GPIO. So why not make this in a form factor that connects to the USB and doesn’t sit on top of the noisy Pi? And reception can never be great with the amplifier at the receiver side instead of by the antenna.
Exactly, they are picking up stray RF noise from the pi, picking up extra heat and to make it worse they are using micro usb in 2024!
This is a hat that never should have been a hat. It not only doesn’t utilize GPIO pins but it actively prevents other hats from using the pins by not even offering full passthrough. This should have been a standalone device without GPIO pins or actually utilize the pi header properly. For $100 rf device without a metal housing is a nonstarter. Much better choices and options can be had for the price.
Spot on.