GeoSigner FAQ
Below you will find a collection of information we have gathered including datasheets and frequently asked questions about the Wingbits GeoSigner USB dongle.
Datasheet
Full datasheet coming soon.
Hardware
What antenna connector does the GeoSigner use?
The GeoSigner uses an SMA female antenna connector on the board. The GPS antenna itself has an SMA male connector to pair with this.
What GPS antenna does the GeoSigner use and how long is the cable?
We use a 29dB±3dB (LNA amplifier) GNSS antenna. The antenna itself is capable of receiving signals from all of the major GNSS networks (GPS, GLONAS, Galileo, BeiDou). The antenna is IP68 rated so can be left outside (the dongle should not be outside though - see the FAQ below).
The antenna cable is 3 meters long. The antenna and cable together weigh 65 grams and the dimensions of the antenna (not including cable) are 5 x 3.9 x 1.8cm.
How do I mount the GPS antenna?
The GPS antenna has a magnetic base, so you can directly mount it to a suitable metal surface. Additionally, we include a double-sided self-adhesive pad so you can mount it to other surfaces as necessary.
Do I need to place the GPS antenna outside?
The GPS antenna will get the best and quickest GPS lock if you place it outside with an unobstructed view of the sky. However, it should also be fine mounted on the inside of a window or on the inside windowsill.
It may work if you place it inside not near a window, but you may struggle to get a GPS lock and this could effect your rewards if it cannot get a GPS fix for a significant period of time.
Can I extend or replace the GPS antenna cable?
The antenna cable is 3 meters long, and on the antenna side of the cable it is fixed into the unit. So the cable itself is not easily replaceable. However, we will likely have available spare GPS antennas available for sale should you accidentally damage or misplace your antenna.
If you need to extend the antenna cable, you can do so with any male to female SMA cable. We do not recommend going over 10m total length.
What if my ADS-B radio is too big and blocks the other USB ports?
In our testing, we have noticed that some RTL-SDR radio dongles such as the FlightAware dongle are very wide and when inserted directly into the USB ports of the Raspberry Pi can block the other available ports.
For that reason, with each GeoSigner we include in the box a 10cm USB extension cable so you can have one of the dongles a bit further away to avoid any mechanical clashes.
Will the GeoSigner cause interference with my ADS-B dongle?
The GPS portion of the GeoSigner is just a receiver, so is unlikely to cause any interference. The GeoSigner also has Bluetooth and WiFi (~2400MHz) on board, and these should not interfere with the ADS-B (1090MHz).
However, if you are concerned about interference, you can use a short USB cable to connect both of the dongles and move them apart from each other. Just make sure to use a good quality USB data cable.
Software
Do I need to install new software for my GeoSigner to work?
In the near future we will have a dedicated Wingbits software package that will handle the interactions with the GeoSigner. However, it is likely that this software will be installed as part of the updater script we already have.
There may be some actions we need you to take to "onboard" your GeoSigner to your account and connect it with your station, however we will aim to keep these to a minimum and will follow up on with instructions in future announcements.
How will my GeoSigner get updates in the future?
We have built a mechanism into the GeoSigner so that we can update the firmware on the dongle over USB from the Wingbits software package on your Raspberry Pi or other host device. The process will be automated as part of the existing update flow of the Wingbits software.
Shipping
How do I provide my address for shipping of the dongle?
We are collecting addresses through our brand new Wingbits Shop (antennas, cables and swag coming soon!).
The Wingbits GeoSigner is a hidden product on the shop, and can only be purchased via a direct link from the Wingbits Dashboard. Visit the Stations page on the dashboard as shown below and you will see a new "Add Shipping" button (if you don't, use SHIFT-F5 or similar to reload the page's cache).
Click the "Add Shipping" button and this link will auto-add the GeoSigner to your cart as well as the discount code (your specific station name) that gets you it for free.
PLEASE NOTE: the discount code will only work if you use your Wingbits Dashboard login email address at checkout.
Fill in your shipping address details (making sure the email address is the same one as used for your Dashboard account) and then proceed through the checkout process until you get to the "Thank You" page. You will also get an order confirmation delivered by email.
Do this for every BYOD station that has a granted or purchased GeoSigner (you do not need to do this if you bought a HYFIX or other approved hardware station). You can provide separate addresses for each station, or the same one for all of them.
If you have multiple stations in one Wingbits account and you need to check which stations you have successfully added your address for, you can visit the Orders Page of the Wingbits Shop and sign in with the relevant email address. All of your orders will show on this page.
You can click through to each order and then underneath the product name in the order summary section you will see the station name that the order correlates to.
We are doing this through the shop as it makes it easy for us to sync your addresses directly to our third party logistics provider, who will ship out the GeoSigners. It also means that you will get notification emails with tracking information automatically when your GeoSigner ships out to you.
Is it possible to change my shipping address?
If you have provided your shipping address via the process in the FAQ above and you subsequently need to update your shipping address, please reach out to us via a support ticket on Discord or by emailing hi@wingbits.com.
When will I receive my dongle?
At the moment we are targeting shipping in December 2024. As we continue to work through the manufacturing process we will start to get a better idea of exact shipping timelines and will share these with the community, when available.
Miscellaneous
What are the dimensions and weight of the GeoSigner?
The dongle is 1.3 x 1.8 x 10.0cm and weighs 15g.
The GPS antenna is 5 x 3.9 x 1.8cm (not including cable) and weighs 65g.
The packaging box that the GeoSigner and antenna arrive in is 12 x 12 x 3.5cm and weighs approximately 175g in total.
What is the temperature rating of the GeoSigner?
The GeoSigner is rated for -40 to +85 degrees Celsius.
Can I put the GeoSigner dongle outside? Is it IP rated?
The GeoSigner dongle itself is not IP rated and should not be installed outside.
We have applied a conformal coating to the circuitry to increase the durability in humid environments but this will not make it waterproof. If your GeoSigner is deployed outside and gets wet it is likely to fail and this will not be covered by our warranty.
If you need to deploy the dongle outside, please make sure to place it inside an IP67 (or higher) rated enclosure to keep it out of the elements.
As discussed above, the antenna itself is IP68 rated and can be placed outside.
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