I am 100% behind the idea and cause here but have very little time for "tinkering". I can setup two to four receivers around Texas to feed into the cause. It would be a great help if someone had a laundry list of exactly what to get that is a known working config. RB Pi 0/2/3? Which SDRs? What RF cable adapters work? pre-made antennas etc. (I apologize if it seems lazy. I am just way strapped for time but still want to contribute data and will donate $ to the main group as well.)
Pi 3B not the B+ https://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-Raspberry-Clear-Power-Supply/dp/B01C6EQNNK/ FA SDR https://www.amazon.com/FlightAware-Stick-Receiver-Built-Filter/dp/B01M7REJJW/ FA Antenna https://www.amazon.com/1090MHz-ADS-B-Antenna-66cm-26in/dp/B00WZL6WPO/ Cable https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QZEQ5EA/ 8GB SD card (really any size bigger than 4GB, I use Sandisk ones I got for $5) https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Mobile-MicroSDHC-SDSDQM-B35A-Adapter/dp/B004ZIENBA/ Setup is easy. Download the image zip file, unzip, burn with etcher.io program, edit the config file, plug in and go. Antenna cable should be no longer than 50 feet. https://www.adsbexchange.com/forum/threads/new-adsbexchange-base-image-v1-0.618988/ FA hardware is the best bang for the buck. You can get many different 1090Mhz antennas from China for less than the FA one but the 26' works better than most for $40.
That's awesome, thanks! My ADD kept me coming back to reading here so I found the link to the FA shopping list. I am going with the FlightAware Pro Stick Plus. What are your thoughts on the Pi0 unit attempt someone posted about? I'd would be comfortable setting up a few of those in other places (friend's houses, etc) to add some more coverage to the system. They won't likely have external antennas, but I might be able to get them to put a small antenna in a window.
Pi Zero is a Pi 1. I have one feeding here and it is max CPU most of the time, works better if you don't want the ui or the fancy stuff .. it's armhv6 so things get interesting with compiling dump1090 and mlat. You can't actually buy a Pi Zero for $5 and will end up paying as much for a Pi 3 - so go with the much more capable Pi 3. Pro Stick plus is a good buy and contain a filter and amp. It's a good easy way to start. RTL-SDR with bias-t and LNA filter is nice but requires more work. Antenna in windows with good view of the sky have good range most of the time. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-ADS-B-PCB-Antenna-1090Mhz-antenna/263637935957/ https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-ADS-B-PCB-Antenna-1090Mhz-Antenna/263667474631/ attached to window with https://www.amazon.com/Command-Picture-Hanging-4-Pairs-17206-ES/dp/B00404YKZI/
Turns out I still had a Pi2 from a years past tinkering with FR24 feeding. I am rewriting the card now with the PiAware dual feeder image you guys have. Should be up with a basic telescoping antenna shortly. Thanks for the links. That antenna should do much better than what I have today.
I live in UK around 12 miles from Heathrow. I have a Pi Zero running flights were software, device just in an upstairs bedroom and antenna just the portable aerial supplied with ads-b tuner. Records around 1700-2000 aircraft daily. Geffers
