Linux, Raspberry Pi, RPi, and FR24

[speedbird1960]

I have been watching this very interesting thread for some time now, i meant to post a few weeks ago.

I don't know if this any help to you guys with the Dongles, but i read somewhere that you should not download the TV Software that comes with these Sticks as causes conflicts with the Mode-S Software.

[roofer]

dump1090 is only for use with certain USB DVB-T dongles. Given the very low cost, it works extremely well.

The RPi is just a neat little computer, and I know no reason why you cannot use a Mode-S Beast receiver with it.
This guy had some success. It looks like you need adsbox to decode the output of the Mode-S

What hardware / software are you currently using with your receiver?

[41south]

Am I correct that Dump1090 only supports input from dvb-t devices? I have a Mode-S Beast and was wondering if I can use that with a Pi?

Colin

[Kpin]

Hi

Got my DVB-T and try set it up on 15 floor building using indoor ADSB antenna. Firstly it see only 2-3 planes, manually set the gain down to 37 seem to get the best result (10 at most) but seem to miss a lot of plane. Any more tweak from your experience?

My setup is DVB-T on RPi (rtl-sdr, dump1090. fr24 static 225). ANRB indoor antenna and 15Mb Internet.

Location, location, location! Can you get the antenna outside the window? maybe sealed in a plastic bag or something.

I had 2 AC from inside the window, 10 AC from just outside the window, and now on stick some 40-50 centimeters from the window I get 30-40 Aircraft out to a distance of 140-150 Nautical miles.

Next thing is a better antenne completely away from the building.

[Kanok]

Hi

Got my DVB-T and try set it up on 15 floor building using indoor ADSB antenna. Firstly it see only 2-3 planes, manually set the gain down to 37 seem to get the best result (10 at most) but seem to miss a lot of plane. Any more tweak from your experience?

My setup is DVB-T on RPi (rtl-sdr, dump1090. fr24 static 225). ANRB indoor antenna and 15Mb Internet.

Thanks


Sent from my iPad 2 Limited Ed. using Tapatalk HD

[inquisitor]

Thanks, roofer! Now it works.

[roofer]

My guess is that you forgot this line, before you launch the feeding software

export FR24AUTHIP=83.140.247.20

If it does not know the IP of FR24, it cannot connect.

[inquisitor]

I went back to using fr24feed_arm-le_225s and that is working fine.

Experiencing the mentioned stability issues witht version 232s I just switched back to 225s which unfortunately outputs the following error message:

[i]FR24Feed v225 - built on Oct 8 2012/09:38:58
[i]Downloading configuration...[e]Could not connect to feed.flightradar24.com, errno: 111
ERROR
[e]Could not retrieve configuration from Flightradar24

Any hints on how to resolve this issue?

[peterhr]

I found this very helpful for getting started with RPi + RTL-2832U USB dongle.

http://www.satsignal.eu/Radio/dump1090.html

I'm amazed - the 4" whip antenna on it's mini mag-mount inside an upstairs north facing window in Birmingham can see planes from Macclesfield, Cheshire to Swindon, Wiltshire

To see the results on a map use a browser to point to http://your-pi-ip-address:8080

Now I'll see if i can whizz up a tuned antenna to stick in the mini-mag-mount base and see about finding the FR24 feed software

[roofer]

1] Yes, you can set what programs you want to start at boot either by making entries in /etc/rc.local or making an /etc/init.d/ script (as usual with linux, there are several ways to achieve the same result)

2] It is not necessary to send the time. The regular version of dump1090 (which I am using) does not do this. There is a patched version which does, but I do not see the point, unless you have your clock set to within a few nanoseconds of accuracy. As an aside, the above link pretty much tells you all you need to know to get your RPi up & running, as well as an example of an init.d script to make sure it starts working after a reboot.

A USB GPS dongle will allow you to set the time to about 1 microsecond accuracy. This is probably not sufficient for accurate MLAT calculations. For accuracy to the nanosecond you'll need a GPS receiver with a "one pulse per second" (1PPS) output to connect to one of the GPIO pins on the RPi, and a special kernel, configured to use this data. You'll also have to set up the ntp daemon to use this information. This is not difficult, and a search engine will help you.

3] Most of us seem to be using the fr24feed_arm-le_225s version. That is the statically linked version. This works well.

Good luck.

[Kanok]

Planning to have the second radar as a backup apart from T-VTBD1 currently 24x7. Now RPi is ready but the RTL still on transit.
My plan is RTL -> RPi (rtl-sdr, dump1090) -> FR24 feeder

My question are:
1. I need to have this setup all autostart in the event of power failure. Any help? I'm not good at unix programming.
2. Adding an USB GPS can help anything in term of clock or timestamp?
3. For the FR24 feeder. v225 or 232 which one has less issue?


Thanks,

[Zorba]

No problem.

I have a Belkin USB WiFi adapter and worked as it should when plugging it in. No disconnects (at least not because of the adapter itself).

[CubDriver]

I use adsbox and every new version later than the last 2012 version, stops working after a while. Same problem with the 323s FR24 feeder software. The 225s is flawless.

RPi doesn't like change

You guys were right; 225 is flawless. Thanks again for the tip!
Ben

[CubDriver]

Are folks here using wired or wireless connections to the Pi? If wireless which make/model of wireless dongles are working? I had read that there was only a limited number, but that was a while back.

Hi 41south,

I am currently using wired connections as I had some concerns about putting the WiFi dongle so close to the RTL2832 dongle (interference), and also because I prefer to minimize the number of active components in my design since my Pi's will be on remote mountain-top towers... however many others are using RPi's with wifi dongles.

If it's any help to you, there are several different brands of WiFi dongles available on ModMyPi, Amazon, Ebay, etc. There are even some that have external antenna connectors...

Click here to do a search on amazon.com for "raspberry pi wifi" and you'll see lots of options.

Hope this helps...

Cheers,

Ben

[CubDriver]

Thank you roofer and Zorba! I appreciate the information.

I found 225s here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66906/fr24feed_arm-le_225s.tgz

I'll install it tonight and give it a go.

Thanks again for the help!

Ben