G-1090 installation recommendations
Aviation signals over the 1090 MHz (ADS-B, Mode S, and Mode A/C) and FLARM are detectable on the line of sight (LOS). This means that your receiver will be able to detect air traffic only in the areas that are visible from the spot where you are going to install the device. Any obstacle (mountains, buildings, trees, and others) will limit the reception along the obstacle direction.
Therefore, to optimize the coverage, we strongly recommend installing the device on top of hills or mountains, over rooftops of buildings, over light poles, or on any tall and isolated structure.
The G-1090 air traffic receiver has been developed to be installed in noisy electromagnetic environments (such as telecommunication towers), although we suggest installing the receiver as far as possible from emitting devices.
The G-1090 receiver could be installed outdoors or indoors (especially if the building or construction is in wood).
Attached to a pole
The G-1090 receiver should be installed on the top of a pole, in a way that the pole itself is not hiding the antennas (1.). If this is not possible, it is strongly recommended to place the antennas at least 35 cm of distance from the pole itself (2. and 3.), in order to avoid reflections of signals. Installing the receiver behind another device or too close to an emitting device is strongly not recommended, as it will lower the reception capability of the G-1090.
On a building
The antenna should be placed on the top of the structure (1.). If not possible, the receiver should be placed in a way that optimizes the line of sight (2.). Installation inside concrete buildings is not recommended (3.), but it is feasible to install the receiver inside wooden structures.