Feeder setup

Bring your receiver online.

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

Install options

Both paths run the same Global Air Data 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 Global Air Data 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 Global Air Data 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 Global Air Data.
Your Global Air Data 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 Global Air Data account.
Confirm receiver details. Set or verify receiver location, antenna height, antenna gain, antenna notes, and SDR gain.

Path 2

Flash a new Global Air Data 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 Global Air Data agent, local status on port 8750, encrypted Wi-Fi setup in the iOS app, daily updates, and dashboard command support.

Important: The new Pi image is for Global Air Data only. To keep feeding other networks, use the Existing feeder installer.

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 Global Air Data .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. In the latest Global Air Data iOS app, tap: Feeders → + → Start Feeder Setup The app joins the Pi’s temporary setup network and sends your home Wi-Fi settings over an encrypted connection. No pairing code or certificate setup is needed. Keep the app open until the settings are sent. For setup without an iPhone, connect Ethernet or save your Wi-Fi settings in Raspberry Pi Imager before writing the card. The local browser page is for status and claiming; it does not accept Wi-Fi passwords.
Find the feeder on your LAN. After Wi-Fi joins your network, open the local feeder page:

Local page http://<feeder-ip>:8750
Confirm the feeder is ready. Use the local feeder page to verify the receiver is online and copy the claim code.
Finish setup in the Global Air Data app. Download Global Air Data for iPhone and iPad from the App Store, sign in, and claim your new feeder.
Use the web dashboard instead