Build an ADS-B Receiver on Raspberry Pi

A more expensive, standalone receiver that can run continuously without a Windows PC.

Want the easiest, much cheaper build? Use the recommended Windows receiver with a PC you already own.

What You'll Get

125+ nm
Good Clear-Site Range
Live
Aircraft & Feeder Stats
Free
REST API Access
24/7
Lightweight Feeder

Bill of Materials

A current Raspberry Pi build. Prices below were checked July 30, 2026; retailer prices can change.

#ComponentRecommendedPriceNotes
1 Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB) Vilros Starter Kit $134.99 Includes case, 27W power supply, fan, 32GB SD card. 4GB is plenty for ADS-B + ACARS. Pi 4 also works.
2 SDR Dongle (1090 MHz) RTL-SDR Blog V4 kit $39.99 Genuine, temperature-stable SMA receiver. Includes an adjustable antenna kit. Avoid anonymous $10 clones.
3 Compact Antenna (1090 MHz) Nooelec ADS-B Discovery 3 dBi bundle $14.95 Includes the documented 1090 MHz male-SMA antenna, a separate 978 MHz antenna and adapters. Indoor/portable only.
4 USB Extension Optional, shielded USB extension Varies Lets the dongle and compact antenna sit away from computer noise. Prefer this over a long, lossy RF cable.
5 microSD Card (32GB+) — Included Skip if your Pi kit includes one. Class 10 / A1 minimum.
Total (with Pi kit) $189.93 Everything to go live today

Product links go to the verified retailer or manufacturer listing. The SD card is included in the listed Pi kit.

Already have a Pi? The verified V4 kit is $39.99. Its adjustable dipole can get you started; use a documented 1090 MHz antenna for a permanent feeder.

Build Steps

1 Flash the SD Card 5 min

  1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager on your PC/Mac
  2. Insert the microSD card into your computer
  3. In the Imager: Choose OS → Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
  4. Click the gear icon to pre-configure:
    • Enable SSH (password authentication)
    • Set username: pi, choose a password
    • Configure your Wi-Fi SSID and password
    • Set locale/timezone
  5. Write to the SD card

2 Assemble the Hardware 5 min

  1. Insert the microSD card into the Pi
  2. Plug the SDR dongle into any USB port on the Pi
  3. Connect the antenna cable's SMA connector to the SDR dongle
  4. Mount the antenna as high as possible with clear sky view — roof, attic, or high window
  5. Connect Ethernet (recommended) or rely on the Wi-Fi you configured
  6. Plug in the power supply — the Pi will boot automatically
Antenna placement is everything. Height and an unobstructed horizon usually matter more than advertised gain. Indoor range varies sharply with wall materials, window coatings, terrain and aircraft altitude; do not assume 100 nm from every window.

3 Install readsb (ADS-B Decoder) 10 min

SSH into your Pi and run:

ssh [email protected]

Then install readsb (the ADS-B decoder):

sudo bash -c "$(curl -sL https://github.com/wiedehopf/adsb-scripts/raw/master/readsb-install.sh)"

Verify it's working:

sudo systemctl status readsb

You should see active (running). If the SDR dongle is detected, you're decoding aircraft.

4 Install tar1090 (Local Map) 2 min

Optional but recommended — gives you a beautiful local aircraft map at http://raspberrypi.local/tar1090:

sudo bash -c "$(curl -sL https://github.com/wiedehopf/tar1090/raw/master/install.sh)"

5 Feed ADSB IQ 1 min

This is the one-liner that connects your receiver to the ADSB IQ network. You'll get live route data and full API access on every aircraft:

curl -sL adsbiq.com/install.sh | sudo bash

After install, visit your feeder dashboard to set your location and see live stats.

6 Feed Other Networks (Optional) 5 min each

ADSB IQ runs alongside all other networks with zero conflicts. Feed as many as you want simultaneously:

Optimizing Range

After your receiver is running, use these tips to maximize coverage. For the full gain-tuning walkthrough with a live signal tool, see Tune Your ADS-B Gain for Maximum Range.

  1. Antenna height and horizon win. There is no fixed “miles per meter” rule; terrain, obstacles and aircraft altitude set the radio horizon.
  2. Keep RF cable short and low-loss. Thin RG58 is lossy at 1090 MHz. For longer outdoor runs, use cable with a published attenuation figure at 1 GHz and minimize adapters.
  3. Add a 1090 MHz filter only when needed. Strong nearby cellular transmitters can overload a wideband SDR, but unnecessary amplifiers can also overload it. Measure before adding hardware.
  4. Check your signal chart on your feeder dashboard. The live RSSI plot shows signal quality in real time — adjust antenna position while watching the chart.
  5. Avoid obstructions. Trees, buildings, and terrain block 1090 MHz signals. Even a single wall reduces range significantly.
Range benchmark: Sustained 125+ nm coverage in open directions is good. Indoor installations may see much less; a clear elevated outdoor site may see farther. Judge the coverage pattern over a full day, not one exceptional high-altitude aircraft.

Troubleshooting

ProblemFix
No aircraft showing Check sudo systemctl status readsb. If it says "no supported devices found", unplug/replug the SDR dongle or try a different USB port.
Very low range (<50 nm) Antenna is likely indoors behind walls. Move to a window or higher location. Check cable connections are tight.
Pi won't connect to Wi-Fi Connect via Ethernet and check sudo raspi-config → Network Options. Or re-flash the SD card with corrected Wi-Fi credentials.
SSH can't find raspberrypi.local Check your router's DHCP leases for the Pi's IP address, or connect a monitor to find it.
ADSB IQ says "not connected" Run sudo systemctl status adsbiq-feed. If it's not running, re-run the install script.

Need Help?

Once you're feeding, use the Support link on your feeder dashboard to open a ticket. We'll help you get the best range possible from your setup.