I’ve started flying lessons out of a tiny private airfield in my area and my family has enjoyed watching them real-time on Flightaware … however, the airfield is remote enough that no feeders pick up my adsb until I’m close to 1000 feet up.
I’ve been wondering if a PiAware feeder setup based in my car (parked near the FBO) would work to provide local coverage at/near surface level, and help fill in the gaps for folks watching? (taxiing, takeoff, landing)
If folks think this would work, my follow up question would be whether a straight 1090 system is likely to be sufficient (Garmin GTN 650xi in the plane), or if it might be wise to go for dual-frequency? (in which case I’m hoping someone can recommend a receiver stick, and software if PiAware doesn’t support 978)
Which Transponder is fitted in your plane, ADS-B 1090 or UAT 978?
AI Overview
The Garmin GTN 650Xi is not an ADS-B or UAT transmitter/Transponder itself. It is a GPS/NAV/COMM/MFD unit that provides the necessary WAAS GPS position source for an external, compatible ADS-B / UAT out transponder or transceiver.
To achieve full ADS-B Out and In functionality (compliance with the mandate and the display of weather and traffic), the GTN 650Xi must be paired with other specific Garmin hardware.
Compatible external Garmin components include:
GTX 345 (ADS-B In/Out transponder)
GNX 375 (ADS-B In/Out transponder with an integrated GPS navigator)
FA data log (rather emphatically ) shows UAT signal.
jftr, transponder is a GTX 330.
So I guess the FA ProStick dongles, and therefore the FlightFeeder kits, are out of the question (being 1090 only, right?), bummer in terms of convenience. So I guess that leaves me hoping for recommendations, particularly for the radio dongle. The power and internet sides of things are not a problem, and I can buy an RPi easily enough, but the OS distro, drivers, software & config stuff is all pretty unfamiliar to me. I’ll give FA’s guides a read.
[Update] Ok, just finally read the descriptions properly [sigh], the FlightFeeder basic kit with the orange stick does indeed support UAT, so that’s great.
I guess the only remaining thing I wonder about is if this is actually likely to produce the desired results, surface level tracking for the airfield on the FA map. Suppose I’ll have to just try it and see
You will probably need to test and tweak your gain setting. The correct setting will depend on which antenna you use, the strength of the signals you are receiving from the aircraft (proximity), and the strength of other signals that may interfere with or overwhelm your receiver, and whether you are tuning for max range or close-in coverage.
Also, these signals are line-of-sight. So you could have great proximity, with your vehicle parked right at the airport. You could have a great gain setting configured, and still end up with intermittent and spotty coverage at ground level due to structures coming between the aircraft and your receiver.
All of that to say that it’s a great idea, and you should be able to get very impressive results, but it probably won’t be “plug n play”.
That all makes sense. The FBO blocks a bit of taxiway but from the parking area I should get a good view of the apron, hold short point, and entire runway. I’ve pulled the trigger on the FlightFeeder Basic (978) kit.
hmmmm, an excuse to hang out at the airfield for long periods of time, oh darn, lol.
) shows UAT signal.