1090mhz Dongle

[thecottonpatch]

I currently have a 978mhz dongle and antenna up and running. my 1090mhz antenna and dongle just came in from flight aware. what do i need to do to make the 1090mhz dongle work? what do i need to do to the config file? and also what do i need to do to make the MLAT work? Thank you

[abcd567]

If you have piaware sdcard image, then you have to:

(1) serialize the two dongles with different serial numbers

(2) issue two commands to add these dongle serials to config files of dump1090-fa and dump978-fa

(3) issue command to configure piaware to use both dump1090-fa & dump978-fa (both the dump1090-fa & dump978-fa already exists on piaware sdcard image)

To make MLAT to work:

Go to your stats page while you are loggedin to your Flightaware account

https://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/

click the gear symbol/cogwheel at right of your station number.

 

On the dropdown opened, scroll down and enter your location (latitude, longitude)

[abcd567]

Procedure below applies only to Piaware SD Card image. It wont work on package install on Raspberry Pi OS.

1 - Serialize dongles if using UAT 978: (CLICK HERE)

If you want to recieve both ES1090 and UAT978, then two dongles are required, one for 1090 and other for 978. In this case you will have to serialize dongles so that correct dongle+antenna sets are used by dump1090-fa and dump978-fa.

For 1090 Mhz dongle: use serial # 00001090 (8-digits)
For 978 Mhz dongle : use serial # 00000978 (8-digits)

Note: You can use any other serial numbers if you want, but do not use single digit serial numbers (0 to 9) or (01 to 09), as these may conflict with device numbers. Use at least two digit numbers like 21 or 93 etc)

2 - Add Dongle Serials to Respective config files of ES-1090 & UAT-978

sudo piaware-config rtlsdr-device-index 00001090    

sudo piaware-config uat-sdr-device driver=rtlsdr,serial=00000978   

3 - Configure ES-1090 & UAT-978

sudo piaware-config receiver-type rtlsdr   

sudo piaware-config uat-receiver-type sdr

4- Reboot Pi to implement configuration settings

sudo reboot

5 - Check Status

sudo systemctl status piaware  
sudo systemctl status dump1090-fa  
sudo systemctl status dump978-fa  

6 - View Maps

6.1 - dump1090-fa map
http://local-ip-of-pi/skyaware/
http://local-ip-of-pi:8080/

6.2 - dump978 map
http://local-ip-of-pi/skyaware978/
http://local-ip-of-pi:8978/

[thecottonpatch]

So do I just enter what you wrote in the config file on the sd card?

[abcd567]

@thecottonpatch

do I just enter what you wrote in the config file on the sd card?

(1) Are you using:
Piaware SD Card image

OR

Raspberry Pi OS image

 

(2) If you are using Piaware SD card image, then SSH to Pi and copy-paste the commands given in my above post in SSH Terminal, and press Enter Key. Do this to all commands one by one.

ALTERNATIVE

You can open file piaware-config.txt

sudo nano /boot/piaware-config.txt  

Scroll down to its bottom and add following lines
NOTE: Replce xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx by your actual feeder-id/Unique Identifier
(see screenshot below)

# Additional settings can be added below
feeder-id xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
receiver-type rtlsdr
rtlsdr-device-index 00001090
uat-receiver-type sdr
uat-sdr-device driver=rtlsdr,serial=00000978

[thecottonpatch]

I believe i have the Piaware SD card image. I purchased the 2 kits from flightaware. Im kind of computer dumb when it comes to this stuff. SSH Terminal?

[thecottonpatch]

I believe i got everything worked out except the MLAT

[CraigWoodThomas]

I found out at install that MLAT is very fussy about the accuracy of your latitude and longitude parameters. You can use any number of electronic tools like a compass app on a cell phone to gather the exact parameters of your location.

[abcd567]

Get the coordinates of a place on a Computer

1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
2. Right-click the place or area on the map.

• This will open a pop-up window. You can find your latitude and longitude in decimal format at the top.

3. To copy the coordinates automatically, left click on the latitude and longitude.

Get the coordinates of a place on Android Phone or Tablet

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
3. In the search box, you can find the coordinates.

Get the coordinates of a place on iPhone and iPad

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app .
2. Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
3. At the bottom, tap Dropped pin to find the coordinates.

 

[CraigWoodThomas]

Thanks for that. Works great on the Android.