With PowerFLARM portable, I found that FLARM signal transmission strength was improved considerably (as reported on the Kiss Technologies FLARM Range analyzer and SAR info website) by using a separate aerial mounted high up in the cockpit rather than relying on the aerial on the device. Above average signals are reported up to 25km, although there is quite a lot of variation depending on direction. I am sure that an external aerial would be even better.
ADS-B reception is more than adequate with the second device mounted aerial- I regularly detect airliners at more than 20nm range.
However, the same aerial often detects transponder signals (still by far the most common in my experience) very late- I think an external aerial is definitely needed to improve this.
Last edited by Forfoxake; 22nd Nov 2017 at 20:42.