1 - Download and write Piaware SD card image on a microSD card.
http://piaware.flightcdn.com/piaware-sd-card-5.0.img.zip
Note: When you first boot the image it will look and act like a normal 1090 MHz PiAware. Only in case you want to activate the 978 Mhz features, carry out Steps 5 and 6 below, otherwise skip Steps 5 & 6.
2 - Enable SSH & WiFi
While the microSD card is still in the card reader of your Laptop/Desktop, in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) click on drive letter of the microSD card (labelled boot) to open it. It will open folder /boot which has many files & few folders.
2.1 - SSH
In the folder /boot, create a new text file and name it ssh
For further details, please see âFor Beginners - How-to SSH to RPi - Setup Putty in Windowsâ
For Piaware SD card image
username = pi
default password = flightaware
.
2.2 - WiFi (only if required)
In the folder /boot, you will find a file named âpiaware-config.txtâ. Open this file using a text editor like Notepad (Windows) orTextEdit (Mac).
In the opened file âpiaware-config.txtâ, scroll down till you see this text:
wireless-ssid MyWifiNetwork
wireless-password s3cr3t99
Replace MyWifiNetwork by your routerâs wifi ssid, and s3cr3t99 by your routerâs wifi password.
3 - Slip microSD card in RPi and Power up.
4 - Configure Station ID
Alternative-1:
Get a brand new station number & feeder id
Log-in to your Flightaware account, go to this page and follow instructions to claim a new station https://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/claim
Alternative-2:
Configure an Existing Station
(a) - Find existing stationâs feeder-id (Unique Identifier)
Log-in to your Flightaware account, go to âMy ADSBâ / stats page
flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/,
and look for 32-digit Unique Identifier: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
(b) - SSH and configure station id:
sudo piaware-config feeder-id xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
# Replace xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
# by your actual feeder-id
sudo systemctl restart piaware
Note: Since 978 is used only in USA, Steps 5 & 6 below do not apply to receivers outside USA.
5 - 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
For 978 Mhz dongle : use serial # 00000978
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)
6 - Configure UAT 978
sudo piaware-config uat-receiver-type sdr
sudo piaware-config rtlsdr-device-index 00001090
sudo piaware-config uat-sdr-device driver=rtlsdr,serial=00000978
# Reboot Pi to implement configuration settings
sudo reboot
7 - Check Status
sudo systemctl status piaware
sudo systemctl status dump1090-fa
sudo systemctl status dump978-fa
8 - View Maps
8.1 - dump1090-fa map
http://local-ip-of-pi/dump1090-fa/
http://local-ip-of-pi:8080/
8.2 - dump978 map
http://local-ip-of-pi/skyview978/
http://local-ip-of-pi:8978/
9 - USING ONLY ONE FREQUENCY (978 Mhz OR 1090 Mhz)
9.1 - If you want to run 978 Mhz only
In this case, you will need only one dongle, but you will have to disable dump1090-fa by following command
sudo piaware-config uat-receiver-type sdr
sudo piaware-config receiver-type none
sudo systemctl restart piaware
To re-enable dump1090-fa (requires an additional dongle for dump1090-fa)
sudo piaware-config receiver-type rtlsdr
sudo systemctl restart piaware
9.2 - If you want to run 1090 Mhz only
In this case, you will need only one dongle, but you will have to disable dump978-fa by following command
sudo piaware-config receiver-type rtlsdr
sudo piaware-config uat-receiver-type none
sudo systemctl restart piaware
To re-enable dump978-fa (requires an additional dongle for dump978-fa)
sudo piaware-config uat-receiver-type sdr
sudo systemctl restart piaware
10 - Adjusting the gain of dongle
Default values are:
The 1090 Mhz dongle is set to gain -10
The 978 Mhz dongle is set to gain 49
To check current gain setting:
-
For 1090 Mhz dongle
piaware-config --show rtlsdr-gain -
For 978 Mhz dongle
piaware-config --show uat-sdr-gain
To adjust / change gain
-
For 1090 Mhz dongle:
sudo piaware-config rtlsdr-gain xx
sudo systemctl restart piaware
sudo systemctl restart dump1090-fa -
For 978 Mhz dongle:
sudo piaware-config uat-sdr-gain xx
sudo systemctl restart piaware
sudo systemctl restart dump978-fa
NOTE: In above commands, replace xx by the value of gain you want to set
11 - Shooting the trouble ⌠I mean troubleshooting 
.
In case of trouble or failure, issue following commands, and post output in this forum for help (thanks to @wiedehopf for suggesting these commands)
sudo journalctl -eu piaware
sudo journalctl -eu dump1090-fa
sudo journalctl -eu dump978-fa
.
NOTE:
Output of some of above commands contain your feeder id and precise latitude & longitude information. Before submitting the post, please replace these values by xxxxx, like below:
feeder-id xxxxxxxxx
--lat xx.xxx --lon xx.xxx
