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Mode S Beast switch Windows to Raspberry Pi handholding instructions please 😀

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  • Mode S Beast switch Windows to Raspberry Pi handholding instructions please 😀

    Hi

    I have a Mode S Beast with external antenna, connected to my Widows computer and feeding FR24. Have had for years, with the occasional break.

    I'm wanting to change my setup to use a spare Raspberry Pi that I have hanging around. This is because the Windows feed for FR24 is being depricated. I would also like to keep MLAT available.

    I have done a fair bit of reading around the FR24 website including this forum, but have struggled a bit because much of the information is about connecting via a SDR rather than via a Mode-S Beast. Some stuff about connecting via the Mode-S Beast on the Raspberry Pi seems quite old.

    I suspect I have missed something somewhere that explains what to do in comparative laypersons terms. I'm not a complete layperson because I am relatively familiar with Linux and have played with my Pi in previous years, but I have no idea whatsoever how to interface the Mode S Beast to the Pi for feeding FR24.

    If there is such guidance that I've missed, I'd be very grateful to anybody who can point me to it please? .

    Or if not, some pointers would be great.

    Thank you!

  • #2
    I'm not sure if it works under linux but i suspect it does:



    Installation is described and configuration as well.

    Mode-S beast directly connected should be page 25 but i'm not sure what you need to enter for a com port.
    Last edited by wiedehopf; 2019-03-22, 13:08.

    Comment


    • #3
      @kingqueen
      Here are the "handholding instructions" you have requested.

      1 - Installation of Operating System

      1.1 - Download Raspbian Lite image (zip) on your Desktop/Laptop.

      Download page: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

      Direct download link: https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_lite_latest

      1.2 - Unzip downloaded file to get .img file.

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

      1.4 - Write the unzipped Raspbian Lite image to microSD Card using Win32DiskImager or Etcher.

      1.5 - After image is written, in Windows/MAC File Explorer, double click the drive letter of microSD card. This will open the folder /boot and show lots of files and some folders.
      • To enable SSH:
        Windows: In File Explorer, double click the drive letter of microSD card. This will open the folder /boot and show lots of files and some folders. Right click in /boot folder, and create a new blank text file and name it ssh.

        Mac: Open terminal and give following command
        touch /Volumes/boot/ssh

      • To enable Wifi on first boot (Do NOT execute this step if you are using a wired network connection to RPi):
        Windows: In File Explorer, double click the drive letter of microSD card. This will open the folder /boot and show lots of files and some folders. Right click in /boot folder and create a new blank file named wpa_supplicant.conf. If your Desktop/Laptop does not show file extensions, configure Windows File explorer to show file extensions. If the file has a hidden extension .txt, it will not enable wifi.

        Alternatively you can create this file by giving following command in Windows command prompt console, which will create file with correct extension:
        C:\Windows\System32>echo > M:\wpa_supplicant.conf
        (Replace letter M by drive letter of your microSD Card in Windows)

        Mac: Open terminal and give following command
        touch /Volumes/boot/wpa_supplicant.conf
        Open the Finder program. Select the Micro SD card device labelled "boot". Open the file "wpa_supplicant.conf" in TextEdit.

        Windows & Mac: In the opened blank file wpa_supplicant.conf, copy paste following text:

      Code:
      network={
          ssid="YOUR_SSID"
          psk="YOUR_PASSWORD"
      }
      Replace YOUR_SSID by your router’s wifi ssid, and YOUR_PASSWORD by your router’s wifi password.
      Save file. On boot, wifi login info will be automatically copied into file /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf, enabling wifi on first boot.


      1.6 - Remove microSD card from card reader, insert into Pi, power up, and SSH.


      2 - Installation and configuration of FR24 Feeder

      2.1 - Connect your Mode S Beast to Raspberry Pi using a USB Cable.

      2.2 - SSH to RPi and give following command to install fr24feed:

      Code:
      sudo bash -c "$(wget -O - http://repo.feed.flightradar24.com/install_fr24_rpi.sh)"
      2.3 - During execution of above command, fr24feed will present a signup wizard, asking for email, sharing key, latitude, longitude, antenna height etc. Provide all these details.

      2.4 - After sign-up details, it will ask choice for receiver configuration details, as shown below.
      Note:
      As I do NOT have Mode S Beast, I cannot tell with surety what selections to be made.
      The selections I have shown below are my guess only.
      @Oblivian or @Khan can tell what are the correct selections.


      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)$: 4

      Step 4.2 - Please select connection type:

      1 - Network connection
      2 - USB directly to this computer

      Enter your connection type (1-2)$: 2

      Step 4.3A - Please enter your receiver's COM port number/device path
      $:
      Last edited by abcd567; 2019-03-22, 19:37.

      Comment


      • #4
        @kingqueen
        An Easier Method. Use PI24 image

        1 - Installation of Operating System - PI24 Image

        1.1 - Download PI24 image (zip) on your Desktop/Laptop.

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

        Direct download link: http://repo.feed.flightradar24.com/r...latest.img.zip

        1.2 - Unzip downloaded file to get .img file.

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

        1.4 - Write the unzipped PI24 image to microSD Card using Win32DiskImager or Etcher.


        1.5 - To enable Wifi on first boot (Do NOT execute this step if you are using a wired network connection to RPi):
        Windows: In File Explorer, double click the drive letter of microSD card. This will open the folder /boot and show lots of files and some folders. Right click in /boot folder and create a new blank file named wpa_supplicant.conf. If your Desktop/Laptop does not show file extensions, configure Windows File explorer to show file extensions. If the file has a hidden extension .txt, it will not enable wifi.

        Alternatively you can create this file by giving following command in Windows command prompt console, which will create file with correct extension:
        C:\Windows\System32>echo > M:\wpa_supplicant.conf
        (Replace letter M by drive letter of your microSD Card in Windows)

        Mac: Open terminal and give following command
        touch /Volumes/boot/wpa_supplicant.conf
        Open the Finder program. Select the Micro SD card device labelled "boot". Open the file "wpa_supplicant.conf" in TextEdit.

        Windows & Mac: In the opened blank file wpa_supplicant.conf, copy paste following text: [/list]
        Code:
        network={
            ssid="YOUR_SSID"
            psk="YOUR_PASSWORD"
        }
        Replace YOUR_SSID by your router’s wifi ssid, and YOUR_PASSWORD by your router’s wifi password.
        Save file. On boot, wifi login info will be automatically copied into file /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf, enabling wifi on first boot.


        1.6 - Remove microSD card from card reader, insert into Pi, power up, and SSH.


        2 - Configuration of FR24 Feeder

        Note: You dont have to install FR24 feeder, as it is pre-installed in PI24 image. You have only to signup and configure.


        2.1 - Connect your Mode S Beast to Raspberry Pi using a USB Cable.

        2.2 - SSH to RPi and give following command to install fr24feed:

        Code:
        sudo fr24feed --signup
        2.3 - During execution of above command, fr24feed will present a signup wizard, asking for email, sharing key, latitude, longitude, antenna height etc. Provide all these details.

        2.4 - After sign-up details, it will ask choice for receiver configuration details, as shown below.
        Note:
        As I do NOT have Mode S Beast, I cannot tell with surety what selections to be made.
        The selections I have shown below are my guess only.
        @Oblivian or @Khan can tell what are the correct selections.



        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)$: 4

        Step 4.2 - Please select connection type:

        1 - Network connection
        2 - USB directly to this computer

        Enter your connection type (1-2)$: 2

        Step 4.3A - Please enter your receiver's COM port number/device path
        $:

        Comment


        • #5
          Default device for the com port field should be (beast device)

          /dev/ttyUSB0

          However, if the feed fails. There are Additional to locate correct USB/Dev details

          Check for detection:
          sudo lsusb
          Result:
          Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC

          Check for port details:
          dmesg | grep tty
          Result:
          usb 1-1.2: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0

          This is used in the "COM/DEV/PATH:" field (case sensitive)
          /dev/ttyUSB0


          (if someone could run this with a SBS plugged in and get the outputs it may assist other users who don't use the radio function)
          Last edited by Oblivian; 2019-03-22, 22:49.
          Posts not to be taken as official support representation - Just a helpful uploader who tinkers

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