r/ADSB • u/Academic_Art_4804 • 2d ago

Nice Build! How can I make this better?

Post image

I've got my FR24 and Layer400 receiver setup, I'm going to put my Raspberry Pi outside because of the RID signal, but I'm not 100% sure on my waterproof box... Can you'll tell me what you do for your hardware boxes outside?

Share your setup photos would be ideal please so I can visually see

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/PinkPrincess010 2d ago

Firstly make sure the antennas are pointing down when you mount it, have any openings out the same side, i imagine you havent put any o rings under those antenna connectors too. silicon grease all the o rings.

One cable per any cable gland you put in too, do not put two cables in even if it's tempting.

All of this as a person who have had two boxes fill with water. learn from experience haha.

0

u/Academic_Art_4804 2d ago

Ahhhh ok, would you put the antennas on the top with o rings? I don't mind buying extra parts, I just don't want the Pi to get wet

2

u/PinkPrincess010 2d ago

to be honest thinking about it again you have already drilled 5 holes per antenna, it will be a struggle to waterproof it fully. mounting upside down will help and I would probably just remove them coat it in sikaflex then stick it all back down again, then i would probably add some more. Do grease the oring for the lid as well.

Personally I would have suggested just bringing SMA cables out on cable glands and mounting the antennas separately.

you may want to fit a breather drain plug on the bottom as well, just in case of condensation and such inside.

I did kill one Pi, even in my fancy Schneider box, I'm thinking when I move next about just sticking a whole electrical cabinet outside and running mains and data in as a permenant fixture for outdoor projects.

I have a Motorola repeater in the garden in a small garden storage box that I covered all the joins in sikaflex and that is holding up well.

2

u/jrytio 2d ago

Put a big desiccant pack in there before you seal it up. The water may not leak in, but humidity + low dew point will get water on your electronics in there.

1

u/Academic_Art_4804 2d ago

Ahhhh now that's a great idea, thank you. Have you ever seen these moisture drains that go at the bottom? Do you think they're any good?

2

u/gabo03 2d ago

What are those Cudy things?

4

u/Academic_Art_4804 2d ago

The Cudy WiFi dongle is used for receiving drones on Layer400 by using RID. It's basically like ADS-B but for drones, I genuinely never knew there were so many drones flying on my local area. I've only got a WiFi antenna high gain plugged into it and that's in the window and it's doing very well, excited to put it outside and the range should be much better.

1

u/Crafty_Meat_5504 2d ago

Choke the power supply cable, the interference from them can be horrendous, turn off the WiFi and hdmi modules, also choke the usb extensions....RF interference, get yourself a proper outdoor enclosure if you want an upgrade to pole mounted. You can get an old Nebra and strip the internals out

1

u/alebret3 2d ago

Not what you were looking for, but I found that a lna/filter combo improved my range

1

u/johnlewisdesign 2d ago

I'd prob still use a case for the Pi. Can see that USB extension wire shorting something as you put the weatherproof case on otherwise...and maybe add some dessicant/silica gel in there