ADSBee 1090 Beta Kit

Description

See what all the buzz is about! Join the hardware beta test of the ADSBee 1090 to help the world’s lowest-cost openest-source embedded ADS-B receiver stretch its legs. 🐝🐝🐝✈️🐝🐝🐝

SHIPS IN EARLY NOVEMBER.

Beta kits include:

• 1x ADSBee 1090 Rev F PCBA (programmed and tested)
• 1x 2.4GHz WiFi FPC Antenna (pre-installed into enclosure)
• 1x U.FL to waterproof SMA bulkhead connector (pre-installed into enclosure)
• 1x 2.2dBi 1090MHz Coaxial Sleeve Dipole Antenna (antenna may differ from product images, depending on inventory)
• 1x 3D-printed ADSBee 1090 Case
• 1x Super cool ADSBee 1090 sticker

Features that will be ready for the Beta:

• Mode S packet decoding (DF 4, 5, 17)
• Reporting protocols (provided over USB, UART, or WiFi)
  • RAW (bit values from validated decoded packets)
  • MAVLINK1
  • MAVLINK2
  • CSBee (custom ASCII protocol that provides details about each aircraft and overall decode statistics)
  • GDL90 (Garmin binary protocol that reports details about each aircraft)
  • Mode S Beast (binary protocol used to feed online exchanges with raw packet data)
• Operational modes
  • Serial receiver: Transmit raw packet data or aircraft information over USB or UART, for use with devices such as drone autopilots, computers ingesting data with pyserial, etc.
  • WiFi Access Point: Hosts its own WiFi network that you can join with a phone, tablet, or computer to receive GDL90 aircraft information on Port 4000 (works with Foreflight and Avare).
  • WiFi Station: Joins an existing WiFi network to report raw packet information to online exchanges via the Mode S Beast protocol.

Future features in the pipe (not yet tested, subject to change, but one or more of these may debut during the Beta):

• Ethernet connectivity (should be possible using the ADSBee 1090 Rev F and some additional wiring, but I haven’t tried it yet).
• GNSS receiver integration for precision timestamping and GDL90 ownship reports (should be possible using the ADSBee 1090 Rev F and some additional wiring, but I haven’t tried it yet).
• Automatic over-the-air firmware updates (opt-in) (firmware keys will be in place on Beta units for this, but firmware updates are all done over USB for now).
• UAT (978MHz) receive capability (will require development of additional hardware, but may be compatible with ADSBee 1090 as an expansion board).

Beta units are produced at-cost in the USA. That is to say, I’m not making any money on these; the real treasure is the stuff we learn along the way 🙂

NOTE: This unit is in Beta. There will be bugs, but the firmware will be steadily improved, hopefully with the assistance of helpful issue reports from enthusiasts like you. The ADSBee 1090 Beta will run until the end of the calendar year. Mass production (non-Beta) is targeted for Q1 2025.