Request to Become a FlightFeeder Host (Free Hardware Provided to Approved Applicant) @ Flightaware

[Deactivated] on 08/12/2022 - 22:47
Last edited 09/12/2022 - 12:22 by 1 other user

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Help tracking Elon Musk private jets! This thing will run 24/7 and feed captured ADS-B data from nearby aircraft to flightaware.com

FlightFeeder Features

  • SkyAware displays real-time nearby flights from receiver displayed on a personal radar-like interface.
  • Be part of the world's largest and fastest growing ADS-B network.
  • Real-time MLAT positions enabled with nearby participation.
  • All equipment delivered to you at no cost, including shipping.
  • Connect via LAN to receive all data.
  • Self-configuring and remotely managed automatically by FlightAware.
Electrical & Electronics Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

Related Stores

flightaware.com
flightaware.com

Comments

  • Iluvfreebies-freeDel on 08/12/2022 - 22:51
    +10

    Can it track MH370? Its been missing for a while, can't find it.

  • Make it so on 08/12/2022 - 22:51

    Hmm…. Would this draw a lot of power or interfere with other networking equipment? I'm close to the airport, under the approach route, and planes mess with my wifi. Also wonder how much power this draws 24/7.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/12/2022 - 22:55
      +1

      It's receive only so it won't interfere, but it needs a good connection too. I doubt it draws more than 10 watts.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/12/2022 - 22:55
      +1

      Would this draw a lot of power or interfere with other networking equipment?

      No and no.

    • eug on 08/12/2022 - 23:19

      and planes mess with my wifi.

      How so?

      • Magpye on 09/12/2022 - 00:08
        +11

        They fly inbetween him and the router

      • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 00:44
        +20

        He's using the free Qantas inflight wifi when the plane is close

        • Make it so on 09/12/2022 - 12:35
          +1

          You're not going to believe this, but I have considered trying to see if I could see the hotspot, even if briefly. (though for Emirates).

          • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 21:11
            +1

            @Make it so: Aiming an antenna at aircraft as they fly over your backyard is probably not a wise thing to do, even if there's free wifi :)

      • outlander on 09/12/2022 - 08:55

        They sneak inside when he's in the john, and fiddle with the antennas

      • Make it so on 09/12/2022 - 12:30

        I live right under the approach route, just a few km from the airport, such that at times the windows even rattle with the noise. The lights from the planes light up our backyard at night when they come in. It's awesome (except when watching a movie or having a conversation). I remember a 747 coming over once at a height that couldn't have been more than 200m (the worse the weather, the lower they fly). But I have definitely noticed interference to our internet at times. Looks like my story isn't unique.

        Was just wondering whether the frequencies this thing uses could interfere with other stuff.

        • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 12:32
          +1

          Was just wondering whether the frequencies this thing uses could interfere with other stuff.

          It's only receiving so it itself won't interfere with anything else.

          The metal bird flying overhead may tho :)

        • GregRust on 09/12/2022 - 12:36
          +3

          Pilot here.

          Aircraft shouldn’t be flying lower on approach when the weather is bad. There are instrument approach procedures with designated glideslopes that the aircraft must stay within, both vertically and laterally. If an aircraft descends too low or wide for a given point on an approach procedure, we say it is out of tolerance and the pilot should be abandoning the approach and conducting a missed approach.

          • Make it so on 09/12/2022 - 13:31
            +1

            @GregRust: Great to get input from a pilot. I have zero knowledge of any of either the technology or the rules. All I can say is that when the wind is strong and there is storm in the air, aircraft noise is increased significantly and planes visually appear to come in lower. Each time I have seen a plane come in lower than usual, it was during unsettled weather. It may well be that it is still within tolerance - I wouldn't know. We've been there for 16 years, and it never gets boring to see a massive plane majestically glide over, especially a 380.

            How much vertical tolerance do you estimate there is, at a distance of 5.61 km from the start of the landing strip (as the crow flies)? During good weather, would you say planes favour being towards the higher end of the tolerance? Would you prefer to land towards the start of the strip during bad weather, such that you descend to a lower altitude earlier?

            • GregRust on 09/12/2022 - 17:42
              +1

              @Make it so: I'm unsure of the exact tolerance in terms of metres or ft, however a typical glideslope is a 3 degree downward slope. How high above the ground an aircraft is at a given point depends on a number of factors, including the airport in question, your exact distance from the runway threshold etc. All the instrument approach charts are freely available online through Airservices Australia, so you could find the information there.

              Generally, pilots will try to stay right on the glideslope, so I wouldn't say they would choose to come in close to being out-of-tolerance if the weather was one way or another. Obviously, external factors e.g. wind determines how easy it is to stay within limits.

              The problem with descending lower is that all instrument approaches have a minimum altitude or “minima” which we are not allowed to descent below without being “visual” with the runway (technically the “runway environment”, i.e. be able to see threshold lights or something similar). If we cannot see the “runway environment” by the time we are at the minima, say 500ft for example (can be lower depending on the type of instrument approach being used), the approach cannot be continued.

  • Nedkellyinthebush on 08/12/2022 - 22:53
    +3

    “Help tracking Elon Musk private jets!”
    Nah I’m good thanks

  • bdl on 08/12/2022 - 22:57
    +2

    Note that it's not a free feeder for everyone - they only supply the hardware if you are in a coverage blackspot

    you can build your own using a raspberry pi and a cheap usb dvb tv dongle - i've got a few running

  • Dmz111 on 08/12/2022 - 22:58

    Seems like they should be paying us to do this (e.g. installation labour, ongoing electricity and internet usage).

    • life is suffering on 08/12/2022 - 23:00
      +4

      Complimentary FlightAware t-shirt.

      This what this sub craves for

    • bdl on 08/12/2022 - 23:00
      +1

      you get free "paid" membership of the associated sites so you do get something in return

  • [Deactivated] on 08/12/2022 - 22:59
    +1

    Have to be a rare position without any other feeders nearby to get a free one.

    Elon pays Flightaware to remove his flights (as do most people with private jets).

    ADS-B Exchange does not filter their results at all (and thus can't afford to give free hardware away, but they do make software and guides to join).

  • huu on 09/12/2022 - 00:00
    +5

    To get premium prescription to all four of these: flightaware.com, flightradar24.com, planefinder.net, radarbox.com

    Hardware:
    1. Raspberry Pi 3
    2. A $40 usb dongle https://amzn.asia/d/e31zRbG
    3. A $20 Antenna https://amzn.asia/d/ivM4Qpt

    Software:
    Install Raspberry Pi OS https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/

    1. FlightAware - install PiAware start from command prompt in piOS Step 2 from here
      https://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/install

    2. flightradar24
      https://www.flightradar24.com/share-your-data

    3. planefinder
      https://planefinder.net/coverage/client

    4. radarbox
      https://www.radarbox.com/raspberry-pi/guide

    Work fine in Sydney west, able to track 320km radius with this tiny antenna.

    • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 00:42
      +1

      If you just want the premium subscriptions, use a cheapy dongle :) https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294194822902

      • huu on 09/12/2022 - 00:45

        Those TV dongle are hit and miss, it have to work correctly with the usb driver. I got a couple of TV dongle that dont work. If you can confirm this exact model work then that would be great.

        • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 01:23
          +1

          Yes can confirm - I've got three of them working for the past 5-6 years, with dietpi.com as a base OS. I've always used the black cased ones, not the smaller one or the blue ones. Never had an issue with them re: compatibility. Also worked with the piaware OS sd card install but I've since moved all my machines to dietpi. Even have one hanging off a Rpi Zero W (version 1!)

          They come up as: Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:2838 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL2838 DVB-T

          Are you running enough power to your machine to power the dongle + SBC?

          • skrep on 09/12/2022 - 09:21

            @bdl: Do you know roughly the distance you are getting assuming you are using a similar antenna linked above?
            Curious the difference between the two dongles listed here.

            • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 12:34

              @skrep: Just checked one of them which has the crappy antenna inside behind glass, top floor of a Sydney house - 39 Nautical Miles

              https://imgur.com/a/Cm2nMMS - just took that now

            • huu on 09/12/2022 - 13:41

              @skrep: I feed the cable out the window, indoor can easily cut it down quarter

              • bdl on 09/12/2022 - 14:40

                @huu: I'm not too fussed, this is at a family member's house who doesn't want things hanging out window :) Registers enough aircraft to keep the subscriptions flowing if my main site is offline for whatever reason :)

    • Ijuiceman on 09/12/2022 - 09:01
      +1

      I have been doing this for a while. Great way to get the premium sub. My Raspberry Pi just works. I get notified if it is offline. I have only needed to reboot it once in 2 years.

    • cam83 on 09/12/2022 - 11:02

      These antenna suck
      Look up how to make a cantenna from an old can and bit of co-ax centre wire. Mine can “see” about 3-4 times further than most off the shelf antenna I’ve tried

      • huu on 09/12/2022 - 11:38

        You are moving into enthusiast territory 😁

  • gm65 on 09/12/2022 - 05:50
    +1

    If I could could it to track my keys, I wouldn't need to buy AirTags (or I could stop misplacing my keys!).

  • shermozle on 12/12/2022 - 12:17
    -1

    There's two problems with these guys:
    * They're owned by Raytheon so you're donating to a giant military company
    * They obey requests by rich people, tyrants and cops to hide some aircraft.

    adsbexchange has neither of these problems.

  • Bruceflix on 11/01/2023 - 20:10

    So it seems they have finally got back to me and are sending out the hardware.

  • kfp187 on 13/01/2023 - 07:19

    I’m a little late to the party here.
    I run all of these on my Raspberry Pi 4 except radarbox. I didn’t know about that one but will run the script today.
    On the Raspberry Pi I do also run wireguard server and AdGuard as my DNS server.

    I bought a cheap antenna off Amazon. Is it a particularly good one, no, but, I’m not too far away from a flight path in Sydney for the North - South runway on the north shore so I do pick up a far amount of aircraft.

    The antenna sits behind my tv. It is tiny and I don’t notice and my wife wouldn’t know it was there so it’s perfect :D

    It works great to give me full access to the apps.

    I did consider doing it and taking the offer from FlightAware for there dongle but from memory you couldn’t share it with other sites (I could be wrong).

    Lastly I do find it would crash, Pi 4’s get hot with a fan on 24/7 with the USB inserted. I do run a crontab script asking my Pi to reboot a 2am and 5am. Since then I haven’t had any issues at all.

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