Install GeoSigner - BYOD

The GeoSigner is used in addition to your existing ADS-B SDR (RadarBox, FlightAware etc) - do not remove your existing USB receiver or antenna setup.

Install the GeoSigner

The deadline to have your GeoSigner installed is March 17th, 2025.

This page also assumes you have the wingbits client installed already.

OS Requirements

The recommended OS is Raspberry Pi OS Lite Bookworm (64 bit), for PI based system, Debian 64 bit for other devices.

The recommended minimum required OS is Raspberry Pi OS Lite Bullseye (64 bit)

Any older version or other OS type may require a lot of work to install the required prerequisites.

All our testing is performed with the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS Lite and we may not be able to assist with OS or versions other than the above.

Inside the Box

GeoSigner USB device

GeoSigner holder removed, exposing the required GPS antenna and optional USB extension cable

Physical Steps

When you physically install, we recommend to first shutdown the pi with a sudo shutdown now.

We are noticing that almost any bump to the SDR (your usb adsb receiver already plugged in) can result in it going offline for receiving messages... as they can be finicky. This bumping is quite easy to do based on the size of most SDRs and the close proximity of the other USB ports on your station.

Once the GeoSigner is installed, you can power the station back up.

• Remove GeoSigner from box

• Attach included GPS puck antenna (located under GeoSigner in box) by gently screwing the SMA connector fully onto the matching connector on the side of the GeoSigner

• Insert the GeoSigner into an open USB port on your station, using the USB extension if needed for space issues. It might be easier with some SDRs to add the USB extension on the receiver and plug the thinner GeoSigner directly into the usb slot.

• Ensure both the GeoSigner addon device and the original ADSB USB receiver are both properly seated in the USB ports and they are not putting strain on each other due to space.

• Place the GPS antenna where it should have reasonable access to the satellite signals it will receive (window sill, in the non-metal external enclosure, or try different locations based on reported number of satellites). The GPS antenna is IP68 rated, so water/weather is not a concern.

Example setup, both SDR and GeoSigner addon connected. Note GeoSigner connected to GPS antenna.

Please do not remove the GeoSigner or power down the station for at least 30mins after you insert it. This time is needed for it to update its firmware and link properly.

Dashboard & Rewards Changes

When a geosigner has completed setup and linked, the station is replaced by a new one that is unique based off the geosigner’s serial number. Until rewards are calculated for the day it links (1am UTC the following day), it will have no rewards visible on the Station's details page, just like if you setup a new station... as it basically is a new station.

You have not lost any rewards.

Your old station id from "prior to linking" will continue to show historical rewards on the Overview page. The new station will show as a different color (as will happen whenever you have multiple stations) in charts.

• New geosigner stations will take on the previous station's alias as their name in the UI, if the old station had an alias.

• If no alias was set, the previous animal name will be used instead.

• The geosigner serial is visible under the SERIAL area for each station in the Stations page.

Confirm status of the GeoSigner

The GeoSigner will need approximately 30 minutes to update itself and acquire satellites. After that time, you can see the status of your station by viewing it on the My Stations page.

1. First click "GET STARTED" on the top of the site:

   
2. Then click on "MY STATIONS":
3. Mouse over the Online area under the station's name to see when the last message was received and when the last GeoSigner heartbeat was received (should be about every 10 minutes):
4. On the right hand side of the station's panel, the SERIAL area should have an 18 character ID such as (GEOSIGNER was changed to SERIAL): If you see a message like the following, check back in about 30 minutes:
5. You should also see a checkmark before the ID in step 4. If you instead see a red X as shown below, your gps antenna should be moved to a location with better sky views... as it is unable to receive signals from the minimum required number of satellites:

Please also check out the new stats page by clicking on the station's name and then clicking on the Statistics link. This page will provide additional information about the wingbits client and the GeoSigner.

FAQ

What do I do with the Secret on the sticker in the box?

It is no longer required to onboard the GeoSigner as we have streamlined the process.

Is it safe to plug in my GeoSigner before I have the new client?

Yes

I plugged in my GeoSigner, how do I know it's working?

On the station's command line, run sudo wingbits status and look for "✓ Geosigner: OK". If you want to check via the site, check above.

Can I move my GeoSigner to another station once it has been plugged in?

Once the GeoSigner is onboarded, your GeoSigner is considered the station. If you wish to move it to another hardware system and install the Wingbits Client on the new machine then that is fine. It will be considered the same station, as the GeoSigner is the unique identifier.

What if I want to reload my station from scratch with a new OS image?

Follow the usual install process from the Stations page in the Dashboard, using the Install button. It has been updated to the new Wingbits Client. Make sure the GeoSigner is installed as that is now the unique ID for the station.