2019 - PI24 (Image) QuickStart Guide

[abcd567]

STEP-1: Download Necessary Software

1.1 - Download PI24 image (zip) on your Desktop/Laptop
Download page:
https://www.flightradar24.com/build-your-own

Direct download link:
https://repo-feed.flightradar24.com/...latest.img.zip


1.2 - Download and Install Win32DiskImager (Windows) OR Etcher (Win & Mac). Only one of these two softwares is enough. No need to download and install both.

Win32DiskImager: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/

Etcher: https://etcher.io/


STEP-2: Prepare microSD Card

2.1 - Insert microSD Card in your Desktop/Laptop’s card slot (or use a card reader plugged into USB Port).

2.2 - Unzip downloaded PI24 file to get .img file.

2.3 - Write the unzipped Pi24 image to microSD Card using Win32DiskImager or Etcher.


STEP-3 : Enable WiFi
If you want your Pi to connect to local network/internet using a WIRED connection to router, skip this step.

To use WiFi to connect Pi to local network/internet, the WiFi configuration should be done after image is written, and while the microSD Card is still in the Laptop/Desktop. For details please see following post:

How To Enable WiFi

Use only one connection at a time, either wired or WiFi.
It is not recommended to use both simultaneously


STEP-4: First Boot of RPI
Eject & remove microSD card from card reader, insert into RPi, power up the RPi.


STEP-5: Access and control of RPi from Desktop/Laptop using SSH
You can access Pi and issue commands by connecting a Monitor and Keyboard to your RPi.
However use of SSH enables you to issue commands from your Desktop/Laptop and eliminates the need to connect a Monitor and Keyboard to your RPi.

For Remote access and SSH, please see following posts:

- How To Access and Control RPi from Desktop/Laptop using SSH

- IP Address Finders


STEP-6: ACTIVATION

Activation will require you to enter your details (email, sharing key, latitude, longitude, antenna height etc)
If you already had a sharing key, you can retrive it as given in this post:

- How To Find Your FR24 Sharing Key

NOTE:
Do NOT go to activation page. The activation page malfunctions, and does not list your Pi.
Use the signup command given below. This command completes Signup and Activation process without any problem.

SSH to RPi (see STEP-5 above) and give following commands:

sudo mount -o remount,rw /

fr24feed --signup

Step 1.1 - Enter your email address (username@domain.tld)
$: xxx@yyyyy.com

Step 1.2 - If you used to feed FR24 with ADS-B data before enter your sharing key.
If you don't remember your sharing key, pelase use the retrival form:
http://feed.flightradar24.com/forgotten_key.php

Otherwise leave this field empty and continue.
$: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leave key entry blank if you dont have a key

After completing above details, you will then reach following stage.
Supply inputs as shown in red:

Step 4.1 - Receiver selection (in order to run MLAT please use DVB-T stick with dump1090 utility bundled with fr24feed):

1 - DVBT Stick (USB)
-----------------------------------------------------
2 - SBS1/SBS1er (USB/Network)
3 - SBS3 (USB/Network)
4 - ModeS Beast (USB/Network)
5 - AVR Compatible (DVBT over network, etc)
6 - microADSB (USB/Network)
7 - SBSx via Basestation (localhost:30006)


Enter your receiver type (1-7)$: 1
Checking for dump1090...FOUND

Step 4.3 - Enter your additional dump1090 arguments or leave empty
$:

Step 5.1 - Would you like to enable RAW data feed on port 30002 (yes/no)$: no

Step 5.2 - Would you like to enable Basestation data feed on port 30003 (yes/no)$: no


Step 6A - Please select desired logfile mode:
0 - Disabled
1 - 48 hour, 24h rotation
2 - 72 hour, 24h rotation
Select logfile mode (0-2)$: 1


Step 6B - Please enter desired logfile path (/var/log/fr24feed):
$:

Saving settings to /etc/fr24feed.ini...OK
Settings saved, please run "sudo systemctl restart fr24feed" to use new configuration.

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo systemctl restart fr24feed

STEP-7: Checks

NOTE:
At the time of conduction following checks, both the RPi and your Desktop/Laptop should be on same Local Network (router).
The IP-of-Pi used below will be something like 192.168.0.21 and can be found as shown in step 7.1 below.

7.1 - Check Status in PuTTY

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ fr24feed-status

[ ok ] FR24 Feeder/Decoder Process: running.
[ ok ] FR24 Stats Timestamp: 2019-07-21 23:10:34.
[ ok ] FR24 Link: connected [UDP].
[ ok ] FR24 Radar: T-CYYZ88.
[ ok ] FR24 Tracked AC: 51.
[ ok ] Receiver: connected (1047 MSGS/0 SYNC).
[ ok ] FR24 MLAT: ok [UDP].
[ ok ] FR24 MLAT AC seen: 29.

7.2 - Check Status in Browser of your Desktop/Laptop

7.2.1 - To check that feeder is working OK, open your browser and type following address and press Enter Key.

IP-of-Pi:8754


7.2.2 - To check that dump1090 is working OK, open your browser and type following address and press Enter Key.

IP-of-Pi/dump1090/


STEP-8: SETTINGS & CONFIGURATION
To check settings (or modify settings if needed), open your browser and type following address and press Enter Key.

IP-of-Pi:8754/settings.html

After making changes, press "Save" button, then "Restart" button.
Both these buttons are at bottom-right corner of settings page.

See below screenshot of settings page
Pi24 Settings.png




STEP-9: Installation of Data Feeders of Other Sites
Please see Post #7 below



.

[abcd567]

How To Access and Control RPi from Desktop/Laptop using SSH

1 - Find the Local IP address of your RPi.
The IP is similar to 192.168.0.21.

You can find Local IP of your RPi by any one of the following methods:
(a) Login to your router's settings page and find the list of connected devices with their IP addresses.

(b) Use software "Angry IP Scanner" (for Windows & Mac)
https://angryip.org/download/
(see post #4 below for screenshots)

(c) Use software Advanced IP Scanner (Windows)
http://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com/
(see post #4 below for screenshots)


2 - Install SSH Software

2.1 - Mac:
No need to install any software. Use Mac's Terminal to SSH to RPi
Launch the Terminal application. Terminal is found in /Applications/Utilities/ directory but you can also launch it from Spotlight by hitting Command+Spacebar and typing “Terminal” and then return
In terminal type following and hit return key.
(Replace 192.168.0.21 by your RPi's actual IP address)

ssh pi@192.168.0.21

login as : pi
password : raspberry

2.2 - Windows:
Install PuTTY on your Windows computer to SSH to RPi
Download page: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~...ty/latest.html

Screenshots for Post Installation Steps:
PuTTY-3.png PuTTY-4.png PuTTY-5A.png PuTTY-6A.png


login as : pi
password : raspberry


3 - How To Copy-Paste Text To / From PuTTY

How to Copy-Paste To or From PuTTY.png

[abcd567]

How To Enable WiFi
This should be done while the microSD Card is still in the Laptop/Desktop's card reader after writing the Pi24 image.

If you want your Pi to connect to local network/internet using a wired connection to router, skip this step.
If you want your Pi to connect to local network/internet using WiFi, enable Wifi as given below.
Use only one connection at a time, either wired or WiFi.
It is not recommended to use both simultaneously

1 - After image is written, and while the microSD Card is still in the Laptop/Desktop, open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), and open the microSD card.

NOTE:
If you have used Etcher, it will automatically eject the microSD card after writing the image.
Physically remove the microSD card or USB adapter and plug it back into the computer before you carry-out steps below.


2 - The microSD card will appear with name "boot" as shown in screenshot below.
PI24 - microSD in Windows - 1.png


3 - Open the drive named "boot". This will open the /boot folder of PI24. In this folder you will see a file wpa_supplicant.conf, as shown in screenshot below

PI24 - microSD in Windows - 5A.png



4 - Open the file wpa_supplicant.conf using Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac)
In the opened text file, you will see following text:

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
    ssid="YOUR_SSID"
    psk="YOUR_PASSWORD"
}

Replace:

• YOUR_SSID by your router’s wifi ssid
• YOUR_PASSWORD by your router’s wifi password.

NOTE:
In some countries, WiFi may not work if country is not included in above file. In such case add following line at the top of the file wpa_supplicant.conf:

country=XX

Replace XX by two letter code for your country e.g. GB for UK, US for USA, DE for Germany, FR for France, SE for Sweden, CH for Switzerland, NL for Netherland, AU for Australia, NZ for New Zealand, etc etc. (click here for complete list)


5 - Save file.


6 - To Reconfigure WiFi at later stage:
The file wpa_supplicant.conf exists in /boot folder at the time image is written to microSD card. When the microSD card is slipped into Pi and booted, this file is moved to folder /etc/wpa_supplicant. Therefore after booting the Pi, you will NOT find it in /boot folder.

For editing the WiFi config later, open config file by following command:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

[abcd567]

IP Address Finders

Advanced IP Scanner (Windows)
http://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com/

Advance IP Scanner.png


Angry IP Scanner (Windows & Mac)
https://angryip.org/download/

Angry IP Scanner.png

[abcd567]

Work-around for "read only file system" error

Fixing 'Read only' file system errors
Pi24 often gives "read only file system" message. If you get this message, give following command to make file system "read and write".

Code:
sudo mount -o remount,rw /

Note - This short version is 1-time and will revert on reboot

[abcd567]

HOW TO FIND YOUR EXISTING FR24 SHARING KEY

1. Go to https://www.flightradar24.com and log-in to your FR24 account.
2. After login, go to this page to find feeder keys:
   https://www.flightradar24.com/account/data-sharing
   
   FR24 Key.png

[abcd567]

Installing Data Feeders of Other Sites

• Flightaware
  Install piaware data feeder only (item 2). Do not install dump1090-fa.
• Planefinder
  Scroll down to STEP 3- Installation of Planefinder's Data feeder.
• Radarbox24

NOTE:
The Pi24 image sometimes mounts as "read-only file system". As a result installation of other feeders fails and gives error messages. In this case first change read-only file system to read & write system by following command, then try again to install other feeders.

sudo mount -o remount,rw /

VERY IMPORTANT:
All above noted data-feeders require Beast format output at port 30005.
With Pi24's default settings, this output is not available, and data feeders of other sites fail.
To make data at port 30005 available, please make following changes in settings page (please see screenshot below)

IP-of-PI:8754/settings.html

(1) In "Process arguments" field add --net
(2) Set to NO the "Raw data", "SBS feed" and "Decoded data" fields

After making changes, click "Save" button then "Restart" button.
Both these buttons are located at bottom-right corner of settings page.


Pi24 Settings-2.png

[abcd567]

PLACEHOLDER 2

[abcd567]

PLACEHOLDER 3

[cbehm]

Thank you!!

Just wanted to say thank you I have been looking for this information for a long time. I appreciate you putting this all together!!

[Steve N]

Thanks for the info, abcd567.
Pi now up and running successfully.

Is there a way to configure Virtual Radar Server on a Windows Laptop to track the aircraft you are feeding to FR24?

Cheers,
Steve

[abcd567]

Steve N:

Yes, it is possible.
I am away from my computer, so whatever given below is by memory.
I will check when I am at my Desktop, and edit if needed.

In FR24 settings page
IP-of-Pi:8754/settings.html
In Process Arguments add:
--net

In VRS Settings
Format: Beast
Network: IP-of-Pi
Port: 30005

[uyaffe]

Thanks a lot for the tutorial.

[orion_jb2001]

I am just about to hook up my odroid XU4 to flightradar24. Currently operating a FA piaware set up. Should I use the raspberry pi script as per FR24 other installs??

[Mike6158]

Unfortunately, although I have quite a few Raspberry Pi's (including but not currently using a Pi4 because I followed the instructions to make the card, whatever that's called, for a Pi3 and the Pi 4 doesn't work with that image), I always struggle with getting these things to work.

This was a very helpful thread but after running fr24feed-status I see:
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
FAIL FR24 MLAT is not running (yes I told it to use MLAT). I'm using the DVB-T from JetVision. It's got power. I used the SSH command with a Mac so that part was easy.
I have gold membership but when I try to use the data sharing link (deleted link since I'm new here) I see nothing in data sharing.

192.168.ccc.ccc:8754/settings.html connects and I see the note about running Pi3B+. I am using a B+. Network is hardwired since I can see the feeder settings and I see it from the router, the pi is connected.

Any ideas why MLAT isn't running?

I may have figured it out. I used the Activation ID for my sharing key. Those aren't the same. I need to figure out where my sharing key is...

Edit... nope... I had already registered and my sharing key is correct

Uh oh... Model B version 1.2. Apparently I ordered a B and a B+. The B+ is being used elsewhere. So... I either need to try to figure out how to make the Pi 4 work or swap the B+ into FlightRadar24