ADSBiq Feeder help

Windows app by Sky Power Services LLC · adsbiq.com

"Can't reach feed.adsbiq.com:30004"

The feeder sends aircraft data over an outbound TCP connection to feed.adsbiq.com port 30004. Nothing listens on your PC and no inbound port needs to be opened.

• Firewall or antivirus: allow outbound TCP 30004 for C:\Program Files\ADSBiq\adsbiq-feed-agent.exe.
• Work, school or hotel networks often block unusual ports. Try a home connection, or ask the network admin to allow outbound TCP 30004 to feed.adsbiq.com.
• VPN: some VPNs block non-web ports. Pause the VPN to test.
• Check from PowerShell: Test-NetConnection feed.adsbiq.com -Port 30004 should say TcpTestSucceeded : True.

VDL2 (136.975 MHz)

VDL2 messages go out as UDP to feed.adsbiq.com port 5552. If the status bar reports a VDL2 send error, allow outbound UDP 5552 the same way.

"Waiting for receiver data"

• Plug the USB receiver straight into the PC (not an unpowered hub) and attach the antenna.
• The app sets up the WinUSB driver for RTL2832U receivers that have no driver, including receivers plugged in after the app was installed (allow about a minute). If the app still shows a driver warning, click Install USB driver.
• Other SDR software (SDR#, dump1090 from another package) can hold the receiver. Close it.

"USB receiver is using a TV-tuner driver"

These receivers started life as TV-tuner sticks, and Windows Update sometimes installs Realtek's TV-tuner (DVB-T) driver for them. That driver blocks ADS-B decoding. If a receiver has no driver at all, the feeder fixes it automatically. If it has the TV-tuner driver, the feeder detects it and switches the receiver to its own driver, usually within a few minutes. If the message stays, unplug the receiver and plug it back in. No Zadig needed.

"Your receiver is in use by another program"

Only one program can open a USB receiver at a time. If SDR#, RTL1090, another dump1090 or a different feeder has it, the feeder can't. Close that program, or unplug and replug the receiver. The feeder retries every 30 seconds and resumes on its own; the message clears a minute after feeding is back.

If you want to use the receiver's data in other tools, don't open the receiver in them. Connect them to the feeder's local ports instead (next section).

"Windows Smart App Control ... blocked"

If Windows Smart App Control is on (Windows Security > App & browser control), some parts of this unsigned preview are blocked. Please wait for the signed Microsoft Store release.

Use with Virtual Radar Server, PlanePlotter or tar1090

While a receiver is running, the feeder's decoder serves its data on this PC only:

• Beast (raw Mode S with timestamps and signal level): 127.0.0.1:30005
• SBS / BaseStation text: 127.0.0.1:30003

In Virtual Radar Server, add a receiver with the Beast format, address 127.0.0.1, port 30005. PlanePlotter and readsb/tar1090 can read the same Beast port. A second 1090 receiver uses 30105 and 30103. The ports are bound to 127.0.0.1, so other computers on your network can't reach them.

MLAT

ADSBiq Feeder doesn't do MLAT (multilateration) yet. Aircraft that don't broadcast a position (Mode S only) are received and fed, but the network doesn't place them on the map from your station.

What ADSBiq Feeder never does

• It never runs commands or programs sent from our servers. The server can only turn feeding on or off, restart the feeder, and change receiver settings (gain, which receiver does what, and the adsbiq.com address it feeds to). Anything else is ignored.
• It never downloads code on its own. Updates come from the Microsoft Store or as a full installer that you approve. Before installing, the app checks the installer's SHA-256 hash and that it is signed by Sky Power Services LLC.
• It doesn't open ports to your network. The local ports above listen on 127.0.0.1 only, and the feed is an outbound connection.
• It doesn't read your files, browsing or other devices on your network. See the privacy policy for what it does send.

Sleep and hibernate

While the PC sleeps, your receiver stops feeding. Set plugged-in sleep to Never:

1. Open Settings > System > Power (Power & battery on laptops) > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
   
2. Under Plugged in, find "Make my device sleep after" (some PCs say "When plugged in, put my device to sleep after").
   
3. Choose Never. Same for hibernate if it's listed.
   

Windows 10: Settings > System > Power & sleep > "When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after" > Never.

The app checks this for you. If your PC sleeps when plugged in, it offers "Fix it for me", which sets plugged-in sleep and hibernate to Never and nothing else. "Keep feeding while plugged in" (tray menu, on by default) also stops idle sleep while feeding on AC power with a receiver plugged in. On battery, or with no receiver, normal sleep applies.

Closing a laptop lid, pressing the power button or choosing Sleep still sleeps the PC. Keep the lid open while feeding. After the PC wakes, the feeder restarts its decoders and reconnects on its own within a minute or two.

Turning the screen off is fine, and so is letting the hard disk spin down. The app doesn't change either one.

The installer also turns off USB power saving for RTL2832U receivers (Windows' "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"), so the receiver isn't powered down. Uninstalling puts those settings back.

What it costs to leave a PC on

A feeder only helps while it runs, so plan on 24/7. A typical desktop draws about 30-60 W at idle, which is roughly 260-530 kWh a year, or about $40-80 at $0.15/kWh. A mini PC idles at about 6-10 W, so about $8-13 a year. A receiver adds about 1-2 W. If your PC would otherwise sleep at night, that's the real extra cost of feeding.

For a dedicated feeder, an inexpensive low-power mini PC or an old laptop (lid open, plugged in) works well. To feed only when you're using the PC, untick "Keep feeding while plugged in" in the tray menu and normal sleep applies.

Turn feeding off

The feeder starts feeding as soon as a receiver is plugged in. To stop, right-click the ADSBiq Feeder tray icon and untick "Feed the ADSBiq network". The map and receiver stats keep working locally; nothing is sent. Tick it again to resume. Uninstalling (Settings > Apps) also stops it.

Claim your station

Use "Claim your station" in the app or tray menu. It opens your station page on adsbiq.com, where you add a name (and optionally an email for offline alerts). Do it from the same network the feeder runs on.

What you need

• An x64 PC with Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11. ARM64 PCs aren't supported yet.
• At least 64 GB of disk. Smaller thin clients often can't fit Windows updates, and an unpatched PC eventually stops working well.
• A USB RTL2832U receiver and a 1090 MHz antenna. No Raspberry Pi needed. Tested receivers: AirNav FlightStick, Nooelec NESDR SMArt v5, RTL-SDR Blog V4. Other RTL2832U sticks usually work.
• Gain is set to the receiver's maximum (49.6 dB) by default, which suits most indoor and window antennas.

Parts list and a free 3D-printable window mount: adsbiq.com/join