Feeder setup

Choose the install path that fits your receiver.

Add GlobalAirData to an existing ADS-B feeder, or flash a new Raspberry Pi image that is ready for GlobalAirData from first boot.

Install options

Both paths run the same GlobalAirData feeder agent. The overlay installer keeps your current feeder services in place. The new Pi image is best when you are starting from a blank SD card.

Path 1

Add GlobalAirData to an existing feeder

Use this when your Raspberry Pi already runs PiAware, readsb, dump1090-fa, or another ADS-B feeder stack. The installer adds the GlobalAirData agent, local setup page, health telemetry, updater, and command runner without replacing the receiver services you already use.

Before you start

Raspberry Pi or Linux feeder already receiving ADS-B data.
SSH access to the feeder and permission to run commands with sudo.
Internet access from the feeder to GlobalAirData.
Your GlobalAirData account ready at app.globalairdata.com.

Install

SSH into the feeder. Use the same SSH login you use for PiAware or your existing receiver.

Run the public installer.

curl -fsSL https://install.globalairdata.com/install.sh | sudo bash

Verify the services.

systemctl is-active globalairdata-agent

systemctl is-active globalairdata-updater.timer

systemctl is-active globalairdata-command-runner.timer

Open the local feeder page. From a browser on the same network, open:
```
http://<feeder-ip>:8750
```
Claim the feeder. Use the claim code from the local feeder page in your GlobalAirData account.
Confirm receiver details. Set or verify receiver location, antenna height, antenna gain, antenna notes, and SDR gain.

Path 2

Flash a new GlobalAirData Raspberry Pi feeder

Use this when you are setting up a new receiver from a blank SD card. The lightweight image includes Raspberry Pi OS Lite, readsb with RTL-SDR support, the GlobalAirData agent, local setup on port 8750, Wi-Fi provisioning, daily updates, and dashboard command support.

Hardware

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, Pi 3, Pi 4, Pi 5, or similar Raspberry Pi.
16 GB or larger microSD card.
1090 MHz RTL-SDR receiver and ADS-B antenna.
Reliable power supply and Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
A computer that can flash a Raspberry Pi image.

Flash and start

Download the latest Pi image. Click the download button and save the .img.xz file to your computer. Raspberry Pi Imager can flash this compressed file directly, so you do not need to unzip it first.
Download latest Pi image View technical manifest
The manifest is a machine-readable version file for advanced users. New users should use the download button above.
Flash the image to the SD card. Open Raspberry Pi Imager, select your Raspberry Pi model, choose Use custom for the operating system, select the downloaded GlobalAirData .img.xz file, choose your SD card, then click Write
Boot the Pi. Insert the SD card, connect the SDR and antenna, then power on the Pi.
Connect Wi-Fi if needed. If no network is configured, the Pi starts a temporary setup network.

SSID prefix GlobalAirData-Setup-

Password globalairdata

Setup page http://192.168.4.1:8750
Find the feeder on your LAN. After Wi-Fi joins your network, open the local feeder page:

Local page http://<feeder-ip>:8750
Claim and configure. Claim the feeder in your account, then enter location, antenna height, antenna gain, placement notes, and SDR gain.

Important notes

The new GlobalAirData image does not install PiAware or the full SkyAware web UI. It is built for GlobalAirData-only deployments. If you already feed another network and want to keep doing that, use the existing feeder installer.