Windows feeder discontinued 7-May-19

[Daniel350]

Went with Option 1. Total Cost £51.99 from Amazon.co.uk for Pi Starter kit. Moved DVB-T Antenna over. Took an hour of 2 minutes to build and plug in. keep wandering past to see if install finished, updates finished etc.

HARDWARE
(1) Computer board: Raspberry Pi 3 B+
(2) Power Supply adapter 5V 3A DC
(3) microSD card, 8 Gb or larger.
(4) Plastic case to house the board
(5) Ethernet cable to connect Raspberry Pi to the Router (not required if you use built-in WiFi of Raspberry Pi).


CONNECTION
The way Raspberry Pi connects to Receiver depends on make & model of receiver.

It can be either using a USB cable between receiver and RPi, or for a receiver connected to network directly, on the network through the router.

If using DVB-T as receiver, it plugs directly into USB port of the Raspberry Pi.

SOFTWARE FOR RASPBERRY PI

Option-1
Download PI24 image from this page, and write it to microSD card of RPi. This contains OS as well as fr24feed.


Option-2
(a) OS - Raspbian Stretch Lite download from Deleted as not allowed to post Links.
(b) fr24feeder installed on Raspberry Pi using following bash script:

sudo bash -c "$(wget -O - deleted as not allowed to post links)"

[abcd567]

HARDWARE
(1) Computer board: Raspberry Pi 3 B+
(2) Power Supply adapter 5V 3A DC
(3) microSD card, 8 Gb or larger.
(4) Plastic case to house the board
(5) Ethernet cable to connect Raspberry Pi to the Router (not required if you use built-in WiFi of Raspberry Pi).


CONNECTION
The way Raspberry Pi connects to Receiver depends on make & model of receiver.

It can be either using a USB cable between receiver and RPi, or for a receiver connected to network directly, on the network through the router.

If using DVB-T as receiver, it plugs directly into USB port of the Raspberry Pi.

SOFTWARE FOR RASPBERRY PI

Option-1
Download PI24 image from this page, and write it to microSD card of RPi. This contains OS as well as fr24feed.

https://www.flightradar24.com/build-your-own

Option-2
(a) OS - Raspbian Stretch Lite download from http://raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian

(b) fr24feeder installed on Raspberry Pi using following bash script:

sudo bash -c "$(wget -O - https://repo-feed.flightradar24.com/install_fr24_rpi.sh)"

[Saudistu]

This sucks beyond belief. I have been feeding for years. I bought a new mini-pc just to feed FR24 and Planeplotter. I spent 100 Euro to replace a toasted hard drive and I spent 700 Euro for my SBS-3 which it appears is stable enough to be a SMU for Planeplotter. Has there not been any further comment or is it just a case of tough luck ? I understand that a direct feed from Planeplotter does not entitle you to a business account either ? Very, very disappointing to treat loyal feeders this way.

[abcd567]

I guess if there was a Unix based image available, I would try that but mini-PC platforms vary a lot and I don't know how effective a "general" image would be.

https://forum.flightradar24.com/threads/12483-Feed-options-for-depreciated-windows-feeder?p=116967&viewfull=1#post116967

.

[MDVolle]

I am relatively new to the "feeder" world. I applied for a feeder station and am waiting to hear if I am accepted.

Using existing hardware available I built a test setup - a WIN7 mini computer and an existing NooElec USB receiver (I think - I had to remove to case to keep it cool enough to operate a long time ago)

I would love to continue to refine my install and participate - my existing system is totally cobbled and while I have some high quality antennas and coax, I was only hoping to prove I could get my site to work - after several adaptations, I've managed to get up to about 80NM and I know my USB stick is horrible, un filtered and does not include a preamplifier. Real hardware would probably be a big improvement.

I am disappointed that Windows feeds are going away but am also aware that the Windows platform really has some odd timing issues - both in machine control and music software/Pro Audio (areas I work with).
Only the very specific "real time" embedded kernels were actually time reliable - I am guessing that this issue makes trying to run an MLAT network nearly impossibly frustrating but was probably OK w/o MLAT?

The music/machine/audio issues I have run into were windows version AND hardware specific - so only rigorous testing made any specific platform useful.

I too am very tight on cash at the moment and a Pi from Amazon is about $49 here in the US... which is about $44 more than my hobby coffers currently hold.

I guess if there was a Unix based image available, I would try that but mini-PC platforms vary a lot and I don't know how effective a "general" image would be.

Mark

[Stealth]

A how-to for Linux & SBS would be nice?
Can someone please supply

I'd start searching linux and wine in available ADS-B forums, as I have been already. Problem is hardware and software options will be so varied that one size will not fit all. Of course the other thing to consider is how important is FR24 to you and can you get what you need from alternative sites? I'm primarily interested in the traffic I can see in WA and surrounds. FR24 is mainly handy when I travel away.

-.... -.-. .-.

[vk6xlr]

A how-to for Linux & SBS would be nice?
Can someone please supply

[Oblivian]

Bumped a few options given to their own location to keep this on the notification itself

https://forum.flightradar24.com/threads/12483-Feed-options-for-depreciated-windows-feeder

[wiedehopf]

I am not sure of the real reason for FR24 to discontinue Windows feed, but one reason seems to be there: whenever Windows10 updates, it replaces dvb-t's custom driver "zadig" by Microsoft's generic driver, forcing users to reinstall "zadig" after updates of Win10.

If i were to hazard a guess: Too many people somehow feeding their VRS output or in some other way feeding bad / recombined data.

While all that is not really Windows specific, it is rare for someone running VRS to feed that via a Raspberry Pi.

Getting an official statement instead of speculation would be helpful though.

[Asuka]

Just include the steps to Block Driver Updates for Specific Device Using Registry Editor for the device ID. Problem solved.

https://www.maketecheasier.com/block-driver-updates-specific-devices-windows10/

People have doing this for years when they have legacy devices that are not really supported by Windows 10 and have driver update issues.

As the Discontinue of Windows Support....

I'm not going to spend $100AU to buy a PI.

If the Linux Version works, I have more old laptops in the cupboards that *may* be resourced, but I'm not spending more money that could be used for some like, oh, a better Antenna, Coax etc.

[Anmer]

I am not sure of the real reason for FR24 to discontinue Windows feed, but one reason seems to be there: whenever Windows10 updates, it replaces dvb-t's custom driver "zadig" by Microsoft's generic driver, forcing users to reinstall "zadig" after updates of Win10.

My guess is most Windows feeders are using Kinetic and other specialist receivers and not an SDR/DVB-T needing Zadig drivers.

[kulverstukas]

I am not sure of the real reason for FR24 to discontinue Windows feed, but one reason seems to be there: whenever Windows10 updates, it replaces dvb-t's custom driver "zadig" by Microsoft's generic driver, forcing users to reinstall "zadig" after updates of Win10.

Only on major updates ant it's probably 5-6 times a year.

[abcd567]

I am not sure of the real reason for FR24 to discontinue Windows feed, but one reason seems to be there: whenever Windows10 updates, it replaces dvb-t's custom driver "zadig" by Microsoft's generic driver, forcing users to reinstall "zadig" after updates of Win10.

[kulverstukas]

So it looks like "hey old users, we think that Business subscription is too expensive to give it for free so bye-bye"
What the difference if my comp running Windows, OS X or Linux or if it's Raspberry PI if data is fed through same antennae and same usb stick as a receiver?

[Anmer]

No mention has been made of it but I presume those loyal providers who are turned off on the 1st May will no longer enjoy a Business subscription.

As things currently stand, if one isn't feeding data the free Business subscription will lapse.

I've been feeding FR24 for 10 years. I suppose all good things must come to an end.