Dual band antenna

[woxofswa]

I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question.
I originally installed the 470 single channel adsb with a simple blade antenna that was recommended.
I was an early adopter of the first generation 472.
I didn’t lose anything by switching but I don’t think I gained anything either. My goal is to get air to air reception because I frequently go to rural Mexico with a group of aircraft. My last trip down, those who had adsb could see me, but I still couldn’t see them more than 30 miles south of the border.

My question is, is there a difference in antenna required for dualband reception? I never upgraded the antenna because I don’t recall it ever being recommended.

 

[dwightsmall]

I was also one of the early adopters of the -472.  After installing that I still dropped traffic so I installed a 978 specific antenna.  I don't think I gained anything by doing that but don't believe that I lost anything either. Because I didn't gain anything I went back to the recommended 1090 blade antenna.

 

[Raymo]

My question is, is there a difference in antenna required for dualband reception? I never upgraded the antenna because I don’t recall it ever being recommended. 

Dynon has suggested in other threads that a standard transponder antenna will work just fine for ADS-B in (or out). I am still running the 470 with the TED antenna from ACS and have good results - though no other IN source with which to compare.

 

[rleffler]

I don’t believe that there is a difference for dual band use.

I had a Delta POP Aviation ADSB antenna when I originally installed a Navworx box with UAT out.   The same antenna is working just fine with the 472.

 

[Dynon]

Although there are two bands being received there, and the wavelengths are technically different, they're also really close. Our engineers tell me that it would be hard to measure the effect of using a 978 MHz tuned antenna vs a 1090 Mhz one. That said, if you're asking which one to buy, the 978 ones would have a very slight advantage, as the strength of their signals from the ground stations are weaker than those you'll receive on the 1090 side. But again, it's a REALLY REALLY small effect.