Published June 23, 2016

Air Traffic & Weather Navagation

Allows pilots to have an ADS-B receiver!! Homemade!!

IntermediateShowcase (no instructions)24 hours3,062

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

RY835AI

Power: VDD -> PIN 02 GND -> PIN 06 AHARS Data: SDA1 -> PIN 03 SCL1 -> PIN 05 GPS Data: TXD -> PIN 10 RXD -> PIN 08 This is the pin out from the RY835AI to the Raspberry pi

NESDR2

This device plugs into the Raspberry pi via USB and has an antenna that plugs into it. The antenna has a magnet on the bottom so it can be placed in desired location in the aircraft.

Software apps and online services

STRATUX

This is the program that needs to uploaded to the micro SD card on the Raspberry PI via Win32DiskImager. Once loaded to the SD card download foreflight app on your I-Pad and connect to Stratux via WiFi in your WiFi settings. Then go Flying for a test run, its hard to get signal on the ground since it uses the air towers as signal.

Win32DiskImager

This utility is used to write img files to SD and USB memory devices. Simply run the utility, point it at your img, and then select the removable device to write to. This utility can not write CD-ROMs.

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

My buddy at work wanted to see more air traffic and more weather info on his GPS for his air craft, so i looked into it and came up with this. The program "Stratux" connects with Fore-flight and uses air towers to show even more air traffic an weather conditions. I will post a video or something of that sort once we go up in the air. I put it takes 24 hours do to the fact of downloading software and getting all the parts in, once all the parts are in and you have everything in-front of you it will take around 5 hours if you stay at it. Also i had the case printed off a 3D printer, this was a very interesting project, and an excuse to go flying lol.

Below is the RY835AI (listed in my component list) this can be connected via USB to the Raspberry PI but I found hard wiring it make for a much more sufficient connection. I provided the pinout in the comments under the RY835AI listed in the component are. The RY835AI is a receiver module with embedded GPS/Glonass/BeiDou antenna enables high performance navigation in the most stringent applications and solid fix even in harsh GPS/Glonass/BeiDou visibility environments.

Below is the NESDR2 I also listed this in the component section. This device connects to the Raspberry PI via USB and has an antenna for boosted signal strength. NESDR2 is a modified DVB-T USB dongle tuned for SDR usage, including a high-accuracy, Japanese fabricated, GPS-rated 0.5PPM TCXO crystal, as well as improved capacitors and inductors compared to generic devices. Full compatibility with a large array of software packages. The remote shown in the picture is not necessary for this project.

Once you have followed the pin-out I provided in comments under the RY835AI component listing and have the RY835AI connected to the Raspberry PI and have also uploaded the "Stratux" program to the Raspberry PI's micro SD card, place the two devices in its case( you can use the one provided or make your own!!). Then connect the NESDR2 Via USB plug on the Raspberry PI. Connect the antenna to the NESDR2, Then connect the micro USB charger to the Raspberry PI and plug the other end into an outlet or an external battery. (NOTE: Foreflight must be downloaded to your I-Pad, this is an app that can be found in the app store.) Once you have everything all together go to your WIFI setting on your I-Pad and you will see there is new network available called "Stratux" Connect to it. Open the App Foreflight and you will see "Freeflight" in red text on the screen. This is what Foreflight recognizes "Stratux" as. It will show you how many air towers it is picking up, and then you should see other aircraft's in the area (as long as they have a transponder, some older aircraft's do not though they are suppose to) and you will see weather patterns.