Hello FlightAware,
Any updates on the new SDR?
When will version 9 of the image be available for download?
My RPi3Bs are getting old, I think it’s time to replace them with RPi5s. Is it worth it? Will I be able to build them without much ‘drama’?
Thanks.
Version 9 has been available for some time.
“Version 9 has been available for some time.”
The image file? Could you provide the link? I can only find version 8.2.
It depends on what you are doing with it. As long as the feeder is the only thing which is done by the RPi, there is no need to upgrade. An RPi 4 or 5 would be recommended only if you are planning to run other tasks on it or using a different device on it like an Airspy which requires more CPU power.
There are plenty of feeders out there which are still running RPi3 or smaller (even the Zeros are working)
If I am not mistaken you can update a current install using an update link contained in your receiver’s stats page. If that is the case maybe a clean install using the v8.2 image can be updated to use the more recent v9 software? I cannot confirm this because it has been quite some time since I used the PiAware image but maybe someone else could.
See below post from last month - they are working on a new image based on Bookworm.
Yes, this is correct.
No reason to get a RPi5, just stick with a pi4 2 GB or 4 GB, more than sufficient.
The pi5 has extra compute power but the extra cost and power usage is not worth it, especially if you mainly do ADS-B stuff on them.
The pi4 is already a big compute power upgrade over the pi3 and perfectly sufficient for ADS-B. No reason to think it won’t be in the future.
In regards to images, you could give https://adsb.im a try.
Put it on the sd-card with the rpi imager and configure the wifi with that if you want.
Otherwise it’ll open its own wifi network so you can configure wifi via the webinterface.
The rest of the configuration is done via webinterface. (For FA you just enter the key on the data sharing page and it’ll start sending data. The key is called unique identifier on the FA stats page)
Thank you all for the replies!
I know I can update from version 8.2 to 9, this is how I did it in the past. I was wondering if the full zipped image was available.
As for the RPi5, it would be for just ADS-B. The price difference between the 4 and the 5 is not that much, but yes, the power needed for the 5 is.
The adsb.im site may offer exactly what I want. I’ll read the page in details later.
Thanks again.
P.S. No new info yet on the new FlightAware SDR stick. I see ADSBExchange has sticks as well, anybody using them? Impressions?
In my case, barely. I guess my area is busy enough that it kept my Pi Zero W2 at 100% CPU except for a short period in the wee hours of the morning.
I replaced the Zero with a RPi4B/2g. I now use less than 10% of my CPU and my flights/position numbers are WAYYY up.
Jay
Replaced an old RPi3B with a new RPi Zero 2 W. Only about an hour of service, it’s doing fine.
Let’s see how long it’ll last in the garage. The temperature in there is very high.
I would think that it was a different (and not optimal) configured Zero.
Before my Airsquitter i was using a Pi3 and this had in a busy area also 10% CPU usage only
The Pi are qualified to operate up to 50°C (technically documented to 70°C) . CPU will throttle once it reaches 80°C
If you have higher temps in the garage an extra fan would be recommended.
I already have a fan in there because the old RPi3 did not like some summer days.
I can recommend a small Pi UPS to ride through power losses. Works reliably even in a hot garage… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1GFX5LW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I also added a tower cooler to the hot garage system. Dropped the temps by 20 C degrees. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZCW27VK?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Had to move the mounting hardware around a bit to use both on the Pi. Have had three power bumps since the install, no data losses at all. Love it!!!
Even with a UPS for the Pi, you’re still going to lose your feed to FlightAware right? Your router and internet connection is lost in a power outage.
My in house router and internet connection are on a separate UPS. Still depends on the Internet Provider to keep their connections up and running. Florida power, known affectionately as “Florida Flicker and Flash” always keeps things interesting here.
Have fun out there, stay safe and enjoy. Gene
That depends indeed if your router is connected to an UPS as well. I’ve got all parts of the reporting chain connected to an UPS so in case of a power outage the feeds stay alive. Power outages are rare here in the Netherlands but I’ve survived them when they happen. 2300 days and counting 
Wow, you guys are serious about keeping a feed going!
I could do a similar thing here, but of course it does depend on how the ISP reacts to a power loss. I have no idea about the power situation at the other end of that coax from the modem.
When does the “Law of Diminishing Returns” kick in?