Installing new client

This page should only be followed if you were instructed by Wingbits staff.

All stations as of Feb 13th, 2025 (at 6pm local time) should automatically have the new client installed, which means you just have to install the GeoSigner and verify it is working.

Install the new client

We have a new Wingbits client that replaces Vector to feed data to the Wingbits servers and facilitates enhanced security by utilizing the cryptographic feature of the GeoSigner and accurate GPS coordinates.

Please note that the new client utilizes outgoing port :443 requests for several tasks and this is a change from the previous transport tool. Ensure that any firewall/dns tools are not blocking these requests if you previously set one up for this purpose (you should know if this applies to you).

To install the client, run the following command:

curl -sL https://gitlab.com/wingbits/config/-/raw/master/install-client.sh | sudo bash

Install the GeoSigner

Refer to the GeoSigner physical installation instructions.

Confirm status of the client and GeoSigner (if installed)

The status command below will show if you have an adequate signal. Please give it at least 15mins to acquire enough satellites if it is indoors.

To verify everything is working:

sudo wingbits status

You should see something like the following:

If your GeoSigner is connected:

✓ Wingbits Service: OK
✓ Data Input Status: OK
✓ Wingbits connection: OK
✓ Geosigner: OK (19 satellites)

If your GeoSigner is not connected:

✓ Wingbits Service: OK
✓ Data Input Status: OK
✓ Wingbits connection: OK
✗ Geosigner: Failed

If you recently connected your GeoSigner, you might see it being updated:

✓ Data Input Status: OK
✓ Wingbits connection: OK
✓ Geosigner: OK (14 satellites)
GeoSigner Status: Updating
Step 3 of 4: Setting up environment

Dashboard & Rewards Changes

When a geosigner is 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 GeoSigner area for each stations in the Stations page.

Troubleshooting

Data Input Status: Failed

If you see this message, readsb is no longer receiving messages from your ADS-B SDR. Most likely cause is that it was bumped during install of the GeoSigner (without powering the station down) or it is no longer firmly seated in the USB port. First just try a reboot and check again. If you still see failed, shut it down again and check the seating of the devices in the USB ports.

Error: GeoSigner not available

Obviously first ensure that the GeoSigner is physically installed. If you haven't received it yet from shipping or you haven't installed it, this is to be expected.

If it is installed, please wait 5 minutes before running sudo wingbits status again to verify it is still not showing before proceeding.

If it still not showing the GeoSigner flashing progress or OK with the number of satellites, there is a good chance that the initial flashing of the GeoSigner was interrupted by power issues or failed in some other way. To resolve, do the following:

sudo systemctl stop wingbits readsb && sudo wingbits geosigner flash

You should see the system flash the GeoSigner over the next minute (or longer on slower hardware) and the output should end with:

Firmware flashed successfully
GeoSigner firmware updated successfully

If this fails flashing part way through, run the above command again.

If you do see success, you can run the following command to restart the services and the issue should be resolved:

sudo systemctl start wingbits readsb

Location not available, ensure antenna is facing the sky

This output means that the GeoSigner's antenna is unable to obtain see enough satellites to calculate the location.

Please double check that you have the included gps antenna attached and the connector has been fully (but gently) screwed onto the GeoSigner.

It is also possible that the environment around the antenna is too restrictive for the RF signals to reach the antenna... such as in a metal box, basement room with no window, or even an attic with solar panels directly above. Try changing it's location to see if the GeoSigner starts showing OK and a satellite count.

Warning: No connection to server

This will typically be shown only as the client negotiates a connection with the Wingbits servers and will change to Wingbits connection: OK within a minute. If it still continues to show the error after 5 minutes, please join the discord server and ask for help in the #general or #newbies channel.

FAQ

How do I update the client?

You don't have to, the client will update itself, it will check for updates your local time sometime between 18:00 and 19:00.

How do I know what version I have?

wingbits -v will display a buildhash and at what time it was built.

I'm using Docker, anything I should know?

Since the client can update itself and restart, make sure you have "--restart=always" when you start your container.