FLARM booster/amplifier

[Ludesert]

Hello,

FLARM announced a new device capable of amplifying FLARM Rx for a better range.
https://shop.jetvision.de/epages/64807909.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64807909/Products/69350

I saw this product which is 4x cheaper and seems to do the same. Anyone have an experience with this ?
https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51

thanks

[Mark Mocho]

> I saw this product which is 4x cheaper and seems to do the same. Anyone have an experience with this ?
> https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51

There is a warning on the linked page:

"This unit doesn't bypass on transmit and is only suitable for boosting reception range. If you transmit through this device you'll damage it and we won't cover this under warranty."

The Flarm booster data statement says theirs does have a transmit bypass.

[Ramy]

Interesting. I don’t think it is made by flarm, I didn’t find anything on their web site. If it is possible to boost the signal, why wouldn’t it be included inside the powerflarm unit? Especially the new fusion which is using latest technology? I’ll follow up with flarm to hear their thoughts before adding one. It sounds too good to be true.

Ramy

[Matthew Scutter]

It's not a FLARM product, it's a private company making them.

Functionally it's a sharp filter set around the FLARM frequencies and an amplifier, plus a bypass to allow transmit functionality to be undisturbed. Read the datasheet (https://shop.jetvision.de/WebRoot/Store26/Shops/64807909/5B90/E2D3/AE4F/28F6/06AF/0A0C/6D01/585C/Datasheet_FLARM_BOOSTER_69350_V4.pdf)
I imagine FLARM doesn't do it because it would require different or duplicated hardware inside each device for different regions, increasing cost/lowering margins - the filter is a hardware component. Plus FLARM range with any kind of attention paid to the antenna install is already beyond adequate - if you're not getting >5km range, there's something wrong with your antenna installation, and beyond 5-10km range I really question how useful the information is, even at a world contest level.

I contacted JetVision a while ago and asked if they'd make one for US/AU/NZ, and they seemed kind of interested at first, then stopped responding. If you buy and install the European one you will make your US/AU/NZ FLARM totally non-functional due to that filter.

I would add a warning that a friend using a booster - possibly from a different manufacturer, there are a handful out there including homemade ones - lost the TX function on their FLARM after some period, I don't know whether it was due to failure of the device or damage to the FLARM from the use of the device or even just a coincidence. But I would just take caution adding more complication to what was originally intended at least to just be a safety device.

[Ludesert]

It appears on FLARM website in the product category.

I would definitely wait one or two years for some feedback about this item ... Let's wait and see.

Thanks for the explanation Ramy and Mark !

[Richard Livingston]

With regard to the second preamp (https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51), this might work in Europe where Flarm uses the SRD860 frequency band, but in North America Flarm uses the ISM band (902 to 928MHz) and this amplifier won't work at all. Also, as Mark noted above, this unit does not have a transmit bypass and would be quickly damaged if used on the transmit/receive port of a Flarm.

I would also be careful in any case. It is possible that a glider at close range could over load this high gain amplifer and result in NO traffic being reported. I don't know if that would happen, you would have to do a careful transmit/receive power budget using information we don't have access to (transmitter power, receiver dynamic range, etc.) to know for sure.

Rich L.

[Stéphane Vander Veken]

On the Jetvision website, the booster seems to be "out of stock" for all three regions (EU, USA, AU). They ask to register if you are interested. I suppose they will produce a batch if there is enough demand...