Build your own ADS-B Ground Station! For free premium FlightAware or FlightRadar service

Users sending ADS-B data to FlightAware will see live (non-delayed) data, have their own data highlighted on FlightAware track logs, see additional information on ADS-B from elsewhere, receive custom statistics and more information on ADS-B sites around the world. As a thank you for your contribution to our community, FlightAware offers a free Enterprise Account (USD$89.95/mo value) to users who share their data.
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I like that deal. Is the offer only for Americans, I wonder.

I just happen to have a spare Raspberry Pi. I'll see if I can get this running this evening.
 
I'm going to to give this a go, as I have everything laying around except the ADS-B receiver. They probably don't need more coverage in the LA area, but real time flight tracking and free enterprise account is great.
 
They probably don't need more coverage in the LA area, but real time flight tracking and free enterprise account is great.

As I often try to point out, on "FlightAware"s site (since they use FAA-derived data) there is an approximate 5-minute time delay. Not a "big" problem, usually (AND, I know this from comparing the "LiveATC" audio with FlightAware tracking).

The ADS-B option eliminates this delay.
 
When I was first introduced to FR24 I followed the USB TV stick hack to get free premium service. Ordered the recommended TV tuner from china (£5) and it works flawlessly. If you got spare cash to spend on the project, I would recommend fitting a decent external antenna for maximum range.

http://www.flightradar24.com/dvbt-stick
 


My experience setting this up.

Since I already had a RasPi setup for Wifi, rather than the much easier method of install the disk image I installed dump1090 using the "Script for doing everything at once" from:
http://www.satsignal.eu/raspberry-pi/dump1090.html
Which took over two hours to run - would have been much faster to just re-setup wifi. This is likely because Pi image was old, and the script updated just about everything. At least it was pretty much automated.

Needed to blacklist the kernal drivers:
http://www.satsignal.eu/raspberry-pi/dump1090.html#fails-after-upgrade

Then running dump1090 gives the raw stream of data, starting

Code:
[B]pi@raspberrypi[/B] [B]~ $[/B] dump1090/dump1090
Found 1 device(s):
0: Realtek, RTL2838UHIDIR, SN: 00000001 (currently selected)
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
Max available gain is: 49.60
Setting gain to: 49.60
Exact sample rate is: 2000000.052982 Hz
Gain reported by device: 49.60

*5dabda0d45ca38;

CRC: 000000 (ok)

DF 11: All Call Reply.
  Capability  : 5 (Level 2+3+4 (DF0,4,5,11,20,21,24,code7 - is airborne))
  ICAO Address: abda0d
  IID         : II-00

*8dab38a1583b463462690f45b297;
CRC: 000000 (ok)
DF 17: ADS-B message.
  Capability     : 5 (Level 2+3+4 (DF0,4,5,11,20,21,24,code7 - is airborne))
  ICAO Address   : ab38a1
  Extended Squitter  Type: 11
  Extended Squitter  Sub : 0
  Extended Squitter  Name: Airborne Position (Baro Altitude)
    F flag   : odd
    T flag   : non-UTC
    Altitude : 10700 feet
    Latitude : 72241 (not decoded)
    Longitude: 26895 (not decoded)

*8dab38a199107024c05c0becacb9;
CRC: 000000 (ok)
DF 17: ADS-B message.
  Capability     : 5 (Level 2+3+4 (DF0,4,5,11,20,21,24,code7 - is airborne))
  ICAO Address   : ab38a1
  Extended Squitter  Type: 19
  Extended Squitter  Sub : 1
  Extended Squitter  Name: Airborne Velocity
    EW status         : Valid
    EW velocity       : 111
    NS status         : Valid
    NS velocity       : 293
    Vertical status   : Valid
    Vertical rate src : 0
    Vertical rate     : 1408

Then did "Starting the dump1090 program automatically", from:
http://www.satsignal.eu/raspberry-pi/dump1090.html
(rebooted and ran "top" to ensure it was working).

Now I can connect the Pi directly via the IP address and port 8080, and see the local traffic:

Poor coverage, as it's the default antenna, and indoors. I'll move it to the garage later.

Then installed PiAware using the instructions at:
http://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/install

Waited less than half an hour for the statistics to update here:
http://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/mickwest

And Bingo!


And an important part of doing this, free enterprise subscription!


And I just installed it in a corner of the garage, as high as I could conveniently get it.


Looks like the range is only about 20 miles. Maybe I'll experiment later with antennas.
 
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Oh boy - now that believers know you're feeing data to FR24 they'll KNOW that they're being fed disinfo!!;)
 
My experience setting this up.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!

Can we ask? About how much investment, in terms of dollars? (of course, you've now provided a bit of coverage for the LA area....something to consider).

And an important part of doing this, free enterprise subscription!

Yes....a very smart investment, indeed!

(I'm not sure I could do this, without inviting the 'Best Buy' "Geek Squad"....).
 
Also set it up for FR24 data sharing:

wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66906/fr24feed_arm-rpi_242.tgz
tar zxvf fr24feed_arm-rpi_242.tgz
cd fr24feed_arm-rpi_242
./fr24feed_arm-rpi_242 --signup
[Entered info, got sharing key, restarted]

Added a new init.d entry based on the dump1090.sh, changing:
PROG="fr24feed_arm-rpi_242"
PROG_PATH="/home/pi/"
PROG_ARGS=" --fr24key=xxx mykey xxxx"
PIDFILE="/var/run/fr24feed_arm-rpi_242.pid"

Seems to work:
 
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@Mick West

What size SD card did you use?
4GB, it was a setup I had for an old project. Still has 1GB free.

Can we ask? About how much investment, in terms of dollars?
For me, just the cost of the receiver, $24 from amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009U7WZCA/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1

However I also used a Raspberry Pi ($39), a 4GB SD card ($6) and a USB power supply ($7). I did not use a case, just screwed it to a bit of wood. So total cost would be $76

Edit: Plus a WiFi USB adapter, $9 - optional if you just keep it wired.
 
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