Step by step how to integrate airspy into existing piaware

[EmilK]

XU4 works without problems, I used the airspy web page to set it up with the following command. Actually I just moved from Tinkerboard to XU4Q yesterday
sudo /home/odroid/airspy_adsb -c 127.0.0.1:30104:BEAST -l 30005:BEAST -l 30001:AVR -g 19 -n -p -w 4 &

What problems you have exactly?
The radar is working only with plane finder radar view, normal skyview from Flightaware in my case is not.

[abcd567]

@EmilK

The radar is working only with plane finder radar view, normal skyview from Flightaware in my case is not.

.

1. Which of following distros you are using?
   Ubuntu 16,04 Xenial:
   https://wiki.odroid.com/odroid-xu4/os_images/linux/ubuntu_4.9/20171025

   Armbian Jessie & Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic:
   https://www.armbian.com/odroid-xu4/

.

2. If Armbian, failure of lighttpd is the cause of SkyView not showing, The reason is that on reboot, the folder /var/log/lighttpd and file error.log in the folder are deleted, being volatile (i.e. in ram). Lighttpd is unable to re-create these at boot, and fails.

.

If you run the command sudo systemctl status lighttpd -l, some of the lines in output will indicate this:

opening errorlog ‘/var/log/lighttpd/error.log’ failed: No such file or directory
Unit lighttpd.service entered failed state

.
.
The remedy is to create the /var/log/lighttpd folder and file error.log at reboot by adding commands to file /etc/rc.local as follows

1. Edit file rc.local

    sudo nano /etc/rc.local   

2. Add following lines at the end of file, just ABOVE exit0

    mkdir -p /var/log/lighttpd   
    touch /var/log/lighttpd/error.log   
    chmod 666 /var/log/lighttpd/error.log   
    systemctl restart lighttpd  

3. Save file (Ctrl+o) and Close (Ctrl+x)

4. Reboot Odroid
   sudo reboot

5. Check map
   SkyView map: IP/dump1090-fa/
   Placeholder page of lighttpd: IP:80

[jlb56]

Hmm a bigger problem now, Joe’s or somewhere else install of Flightaware PIaware files error out. So can’t finish a ADSB install, then to add the airspy. However a work around of sorts to test the Airspy. I loaded Ambian bionic ont the airspy and then via their quick install page, installed the necessary files to install a standard ADSB receiver and working perfectly. So until I can get ADSB normal install done, cant advise.

[jlb56]

@abcd567

2. Add following lines at the end of file, just ABOVE exit0

    mkdir -p /var/log/lighttpd   
    touch /var/log/lighttpd/error.log   
    chmod 666 /var/log/lighttpd/error.log   
    systemctl restart lighttpd  

Hey mate, got it working with that fix you have described but with the Airspy setup, they also want to use sudo nano /etc/rc.local with one of their files for auto start up. As you have 4 files added to this rc.local, can you add another totally different file in that dir and where and how do you put it??

[abcd567]

@jlb56

Hey mate, got it working with that fix you have described but with the Airspy setup, they also want to use sudo nano /etc/rc.local with one of their files for auto start up. As you have 4 files added to this rc.local, can you add another totally different file in that dir and where and how do you put it??

.

1. /etc/rc.local is a file not a folder, so files cannot be added to it, only commands can be added to it. The 4 files you have mentioned are actually 4 commands, one command per line.

2. Yes, you can add more commands to file /etc/rc.local. No problem adding different commands, one command per line, just above exit 0.

    mkdir -p /var/log/lighttpd 
    touch /var/log/lighttpd/error.log 
    chmod 666 /var/log/lighttpd/error.log 
    systemctl restart lighttpd
    AirSpy command 1
    AirSpy command 2
    AirSpy command 3
    ...............
    ...............
    exit 0

[jlb56]

Ok, thanks, I managed to get it working on install but tried their suggestion about an auto start by adding a “command” lol but it didn’t work. Now have to try the suggestions re the add airspy to existing adsb setup post, but stuck waiting for the Flightaware Piaware github issue to be resolved. At least at the moment, without feeding flightaware, I am comparing the radarcape with the airspy, both on the same sort of antenna, but not at the same height or having the airspy setup near the antenna.

[EmilK]

Hello abcd567,
thanks for looking over this one

http://IP/dump1090.php
404 - Not Found

http://IP:8080/
endless loading

http://IP:30053/map.html
works
odroid@odroid:~$ sudo systemctl status lighttpd -l
● lighttpd.service - Lighttpd Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/lighttpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Fri 2018-06-08 10:51:18 CEST; 8min ago
Process: 764 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/lighttpd -t -f /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS
Main PID: 817 (lighttpd)
CGroup: /system.slice/lighttpd.service
└─817 /usr/sbin/lighttpd -D -f /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

Jun 08 10:51:17 odroid systemd[1]: Starting Lighttpd Daemon…
Jun 08 10:51:18 odroid lighttpd[764]: Syntax OK
Jun 08 10:51:18 odroid systemd[1]: Started Lighttpd Daemon.
…skipping…
● lighttpd.service - Lighttpd Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/lighttpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Fri 2018-06-08 10:51:18 CEST; 8min ago
Process: 764 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/lighttpd -t -f /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS
Main PID: 817 (lighttpd)
CGroup: /system.slice/lighttpd.service
└─817 /usr/sbin/lighttpd -D -f /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

Jun 08 10:51:17 odroid systemd[1]: Starting Lighttpd Daemon…
Jun 08 10:51:18 odroid lighttpd[764]: Syntax OK
Jun 08 10:51:18 odroid systemd[1]: Started Lighttpd Daemon.
~

[abcd567]

@EmilK

Try following

sudo lighty-enable-mod dump1090-fa 
sudo /etc/init.d/lighttpd force-reload 
sudo reboot 

Then check map at:
IP/dump1090-fa/
IP/dump1090/

[EmilK]

@abcd567
Thank mate
but - unfortunately -

odroid@odroid:~$ sudo lighty-enable-mod dump1090-fa

[sudo] password for odroid:

already enabled

Run /etc/init.d/lighttpd force-reload to enable changes

odroid@odroid:~$ sudo /etc/init.d/lighttpd force-reload

[ ok ] Reloading lighttpd configuration (via systemctl): lighttpd.service.
odroid@odroid:~$

Website remains same not found (/dump1090/) or endless loading screen (/dump1090-fa/)

[abcd567]

@EmilK

1. What is in your file /etc/lighttpd/conf-enabled/89-dump1090-fa.conf?
   This is what I get:
   .

    chip@chip:~$ cat /etc/lighttpd/conf-enabled/89-dump1090-fa.conf
    # Allows access to the static files that provide the dump1090 map view,
    # and also to the dynamically-generated json parts that contain aircraft
    # data and are periodically written by the dump1090 daemon.

    alias.url += (
      "/dump1090-fa/data/" => "/run/dump1090-fa/",
      "/dump1090-fa/" => "/usr/share/dump1090-fa/html/"
    )

    # redirect the slash-less URL
    url.redirect += (
      "^/dump1090-fa$" => "/dump1090-fa/"
    )

    # Listen on port 8080 and serve the map there, too.
    $SERVER["socket"] == ":8080" {
      alias.url += (
        "/data/" => "/run/dump1090-fa/",
        "/" => "/usr/share/dump1090-fa/html/"
      )
    }

    # Add CORS header
    server.modules += ( "mod_setenv" )
    $HTTP["url"] =~ "^/dump1090-fa/data/.*\.json$" {
      setenv.add-response-header = ( "Access-Control-Allow-Origin" => "*" )
    } 

.

2. do you have a file index.html in your folder /usr/share/dump1090-fa/html?
   This is what I see;
   .

    chip@chip:~$ ls /usr/share/dump1090-fa/html
    config.js    flags.js      jquery      planeObject.js    style.css
    db           formatter.js  layers.js   registrations.js  test
    dbloader.js  images        markers.js  script.js         upintheair.json
    flags-tiny   index.html    ol          spinny.gif

[EmilK]

@abcd567
89-dump1090-fa.conf file content

Allows access to the static files that provide the dump1090 map view,

and also to the dynamically-generated json parts that contain aircraft

data and are periodically written by the dump1090 daemon.

alias.url += (
“/dump1090-fa/data/” => “/run/dump1090-fa/”,
“/dump1090-fa/” => “/usr/share/dump1090-fa/html/”
)

redirect the slash-less URL

url.redirect += (
“^/dump1090-fa$” => “/dump1090-fa/”
)

Listen on port 8080 and serve the map there, too.

$SERVER[“socket”] == “:8080” {
alias.url += (
“/data/” => “/run/dump1090-fa/”,
“/” => “/usr/share/dump1090-fa/html/”
)
}

Add CORS header

server.modules += ( “mod_setenv” )
$HTTP[“url”] =~ “^/dump1090-fa/data/..json$" {
setenv.add-response-header = ( “Access-Control-Allow-Origin” => "” )
}

file index.html is present also the other files

[abcd567]

@EmilK

All is ok. Can not understand why SkyViw map is not showing.

By the way, # at start of a code line is taken by this new forum as Heading, so it hides # and makes the line very bold.

To avoid this, place three back-ticks ``` above and three back-ticks ``` below the chunk of code. The back-tick key is at left of number 1 key.

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[EmilK]

Hello friends,
system is running fine from my point of view.
The latest ADSB Spy exe for windows has the option “DX”, who can tell me what is it doing and how can be that mode activated from the command line to be used on SBC?

Thanks
Emil

[navzptc]

I’ve read through this thread trying to get my Airspy mini working with piaware 3.62/stretch both SD image and add on variant with mixed results. I just can’t seem to get everything working together, i.e. feeding to FA together with Mlat and seeing planes etc on skyview.

I know this thread is a couple of years old, but could anyone out there provide an easy to follow script (Dummies guide!) for either SD/add on version which works please.

I have also tried the Airspy version with no success - works on VRS, FA says it’s getting a/c but can’t see anything on skyview to see if Mlat is really running ok.

I saw in one post that I would need to block a port for Mlat in dump1090 for Mlat to work, but unsure how to achieve that either!

Testing the Airspy on its own shows it would improve my results (range and a/c numbers) so would be really great if I could get this up and running.

Many thanks for any help/assistance.

Andy

[navzptc]

Well, I have finally got it running on SD card image 3.6.2 after spotting @doughampton comment about using ‘relay’.

Side by side comparison between the Airspy mini and RTL-SDR v3 being fed through filter, amp and mini circuits splitter shows the Airspy providing better results

Now to tweak the gain for best results!

@doughampton

From post 4, follow jonhawkes2030 steps down to editing /etc/rc.local except that I used:
sudo piaware-config receiver-type relay
read in another post this only works on an SD card image

[SoNic67]

@obj

You can put airspy_adsb on a different port and set receiver-type relay , receiver-host localhost , receiver-port <whatever the airspy port is> in your piaware config. This will end up running dump1090-fa in --net-only mode, and run a beast-splitter to feed data from airspy_adsb to dump1090-fa. Skyview is then provided by dump1090-fa.

This is a special case of “get receiver data from somewhere else”, which is what the “relay” setting does.

How can I manually edit those?

Using “sudo piaware-config receiver-type other” didn’t change anything in the /etc/default/dump1090-fa file because it works only on a SD card image.

[obj]

If you’re on a non-sdcard install then it’s up to you to edit the dump1090-fa (and everything else) config as you see fit. piaware will read the receiver-type setting to work out where to connect to for data, but none of the other setup (running dump1090 in --net-only mode, running beast-splitter, etc) will happen automatically.

[SoNic67]

I have flashed the Pi-Aware SD and… SSH is refusing to connect.

[wiedehopf]

@SoNic67

I have flashed the Pi-Aware SD and… SSH is refusing to connect.

You are running on a raspberry right?

Oh and regarding ssh:

Enable SSH access

• For security reasons, SSH access is disabled by default on new PiAware SD card installs, starting with version 3.3. To enable SSH, create an empty file on the /boot partition of the SD card with the filename of “ssh” only (no file extension). When this file is present, SSH will be automatically enabled.

from (PiAware - build your own ADS-B ground station for integration with FlightAware - Optional Steps - FlightAware)

There is a thread with a user having a problem with this configuration for the airspy mini.
Maybe give it a read and see if it helps you.
(Problem with port 30104 & Airspy Mini/Odroid XU4 - #13 by navzptc)

[SoNic67]

I did that. And tried from raspi-config too. It just won’t start… “Server unexpectedly closed network connection”.

I did this because it seems that it’s easier to integrate airspy in a SD card install
I don’t know how to manually setup running dump1090 in --net-only mode, running beast-splitter, etc…