Embedded Muse

Step-by-step guide: Build an ADS‑B receiver for FlightRadar24

What you’re building

An ADS‑B receiver listens to aircraft broadcasts on 1090 MHz and feeds the decoded data to FlightRadar24 (FR24). The easiest, most reliable setup uses a Raspberry Pi + SDR USB dongle + 1090 MHz antenna.

1) Parts list (recommended)

Required

1. Raspberry Pi (Pi 3B/3B+/4/5 recommended)
   • MicroSD card (16–32 GB+), power supply, and internet connection (Ethernet preferred).
2. RTL‑SDR dongle (ADS‑B capable)
   • Example: RTL‑SDR Blog V3 or other RTL2832U + R820T2 based stick.
3. 1090 MHz ADS‑B antenna
   • Outdoor/roof mounted is best; indoor works but range is reduced.
4. Coax cable (keep it short if possible; low-loss is better)
   • For longer runs, use lower-loss coax (LMR-400, etc.).
5. (Optional but strongly recommended) 1090 MHz band-pass filter + LNA
   • If you’re in an RF-noisy area or using long coax, this helps a lot.

Helpful extras

• Weatherproof antenna mounting hardware
• USB extension cable (to move the dongle away from Pi noise)
• Case with heatsinks for Pi

2) Create your FlightRadar24 feeder account

1. Go to https://www.flightradar24.com
2. Create an account (or log in).
3. Go to Account → Sharing / Add coverage (or ADS‑B sharing) and note that you’ll later register your receiver.

3) Install Raspberry Pi OS

1. Download and open Raspberry Pi Imager.
2. Choose Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) (recommended).
3. In Imager settings:
   • Set hostname (optional)
   • Enable SSH
   • Configure Wi‑Fi (if not using Ethernet)
   • Set username/password
4. Write the image to the microSD and boot the Pi.

4) Update the Pi

SSH into the Pi, then run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt -y full-upgrade
sudo reboot

5) Connect the hardware

1. Plug the RTL‑SDR dongle into the Pi (preferably via a short USB extension).
2. Connect the antenna to the dongle.
3. If using an LNA/filter, the usual order is:
   • Antenna → Filter → LNA → SDR
     (Exact order can depend on your gear; many people place the filter before the LNA.)

6) Install the FR24 feeder (easiest method)

FlightRadar24 provides an installer script. Run:

sudo bash -c "$(wget -O - https://repo-feed.flightradar24.com/install_fr24feed.sh)"

During the guided setup:

• Choose: 1) DVB-T / RTL-SDR receiver
• Frequency: 1090 MHz
• Host/IP/port: usually defaults work
• If asked about “raw data” or “fr24feed sharing key”, follow the prompts
• Enter your coordinates and antenna details as accurately as possible

When it finishes, the service should start automatically.

7) Verify it’s working

Check FR24 feeder status

sudo systemctl status fr24feed

View FR24 logs

sudo journalctl -u fr24feed -f

Check the local web status page (if enabled)

Often available at:

• http://<your-pi-ip>:8754

You should see aircraft counts increasing and messages being received.

8) Improve reception (biggest range gains)

1. Move the antenna outdoors and higher
   • Height and clear line-of-sight matter more than almost anything else.
2. Use better coax
   • Long cheap coax at 1090 MHz loses a lot of signal.
3. Add a 1090 MHz filter
   • Reduces interference from nearby transmitters (cell towers, FM, etc.).
4. Add an LNA near the antenna
   • Best placed close to the antenna (before cable loss).
5. Reduce local noise
   • Keep SDR away from Pi/routers/monitors; use a USB extension.

9) Optional: Use dump1090 + multiple feeders (common advanced setup)

Many people run dump1090-fa (decoder) and then feed FR24 plus others (FlightAware, ADSBexchange, RadarBox). This can improve performance and flexibility.

If you want, tell me your Raspberry Pi model and whether you want FR24 only or multi-feeder, and I’ll give the best install path.

10) Troubleshooting checklist

• No aircraft showing
  • Confirm antenna is connected and tuned for 1090 MHz
  • Try moving antenna near a window or outdoors
  • Check dongle is detected: lsusb
• Service running but low message rate
  • Coax too long/lossey; add LNA/filter; relocate antenna
• Location wrong
  • Re-run config: sudo fr24feed --reconfigure

Quick questions so I can tailor it to your setup

1. What hardware do you have already (Raspberry Pi model, SDR type, antenna)?
2. Indoor window antenna or outdoor roof mount?
3. Do you want to feed FR24 only or also FlightAware/ADSBexchange?