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.
What do the "R" and "B" labels on the enclosure mean?
The "R" and "B" labels on the plastic enclosure of the GeoSigner are for the Reset and Boot buttons respectively. These are small buttons that can be pressed with a paperclip.
The reset button does what you would expect - resets the GeoSigner. The Boot button is used to force the GeoSigner into firmware update mode.
Neither of these buttons are particularly useful during normal operation of the GeoSigner, and are only needed in rare cases where it is not possible to update the GeoSigner firmware in the usual way.
Essentially, they are a failsafe, but otherwise should never need to be used. You should only need to use them if explicitly told to do so by a member of the Wingbits team.
Software
Do I need to install new software for my GeoSigner to work?
If you originally used the standard Wingbits installation instructions, the new GeoSigner compatible Wingbits client will automatically install on your station using the usual built-in update process before the 1st February 2025. You can check if you have the latest version by running cat /etc/wingbits/versionor sudo wb-configfrom the command line. After the update the version will show as 0.0.9. If your version still shows as 0.0.8 it means your device has not yet got the update.
However, if you have received your GeoSigner already and would like to get a head start, the installation instructions for the new Wingbits client software that supports the GeoSigner can be found on the Installing new client page.
Note: If you are using software provided by 3rd parties such as Crankk or BHS you will need to wait for them to provide an update. And if you are using your own custom docker-based or other installation, you will need to manually update to this new client.
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 login email address at checkout.
Fill in your shipping address details (making sure the email address is the same one as used for your Wingbits 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.
NOTE: If the checkout shows $9999.99 and no discount, again check the email entered on the left in checkout under "Contact". This email MUST be your Wingbits login email, to confirm that you are able to claim a Geosigner for the station.
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 support@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.
Where will the GeoSigner ship from? Can I get a waybill or shipping invoice?
The GeoSigners will ship from Shenzhen, China and the shipping will include a tracking number which will automatically be sent to you via email from our Wingbits Shop. You will also be able to find the tracking number (after shipping) on the Wingbits Orders page.
Shipping invoices for customs clearance are attached to every package when shipping out. Unfortunately, our third party logistics provider is not able to provide individual shipping invoices automatically to each customer by email. However, if you need one of these for customs purposes, we can manually provide one for you. Just reach out to us via Discord or by email to support@wingbits.com.
Will I have to pay customs clearance fees or import VAT / duties?
Please be aware that the following information only relates to shipping of the GeoSigner and does not apply to any other shipping of merchandise, accessories or other 3rd party hardware stations (for example HYFIX WB200 and MGW310).
Delivery duty paid (DDP) destinations
If your shipping destination is in one of the following listed countries, your shipment will be sent DDP (delivery duty paid), meaning that the items will be cleared through customs automatically and all duties and taxes will already be paid as part of the shipping charges. In most cases, shipments to these countries should get through and be delivered to the destination address (door-to-door) without any further input from the recipient.
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA.
Other destinations
If your delivery country is not in the above list, shipments will be sent DDU (delivery duty unpaid) which means that they will only be cleared through customs once they reach the destination country. Depending on your local import tax and duty regulations, you may then have to pay a fee for the clearance of the items through customs - Wingbits cannot pay these fees. Often this includes a percentage fee for taxes/duties and a one-off fee for the customs clearance agent (usually the shipping carrier) to clear the items through customs. It is common that you have to pay these fees before the shipping carrier is allowed to release the item to you and deliver it to the final destination.
As per standard international rules, the goods will be declared at their actual cost price even though we have issued ("granted") some of the GeoSigners to station owners free of charge.
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately, worldwide shipping and customs clearance can be quite complicated and this information is just provided as a guideline. Most countries reserve the right to vary their import terms and conditions in certain circumstances and on certain shipments and it is hard to predict these situations in advance. As always, we will do our best to resolve any particular issues as they arise and if you have any questions and concerns you can reach us by creating a support ticket on Discord or via email to support@wingbits.com.
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 and antenna?
The GeoSigner and antenna are both 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.
What is the electrical power usage of the GeoSigner dongle?
The average power draw is under 0.5 Watts (5 Volts at <120mA). We are performing more tests on this and will add more information here when we have it.
What product certifications does the GeoSigner have?
The GeoSigner dongle has CE, FCC, UKCA and IC certifications. As well as RoHS and REACH compliance.
FCC ID: 2BKJ9-GEOSIGNER (Download Documents)
IC ID: 32966-GEOSIGNER
Note: the GeoSigner also contains FCC ID: 2AC7Z-ESPC3MINI1 (ESP32-C3-MINI-1 microcontroller module) FCC Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference. (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
SAR Information Statement
Your device is a radio transmitter and receiver. It is designed and manufactured not to exceed the emission limits for exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission of the U.S. Government. These limits are part of comprehensive guidelines and establish permitted levels of RF energy for the general population. The guidelines are based on standards that were developed by independent scientific organizations through periodic and thorough evaluation of scientific studies. The standards include a substantial safety margin designed to assure the safety of all persons, regardless of age and health. The exposure standard for devices employs a unit of measurement known as the Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR. The SAR limit set by the FCC is 1.6 W/kg*. Tests for SAR are conducted with the device transmitting at its highest certified power level in all tested frequency bands. Although the SAR is determined at the highest certified power level, the actual SAR level of the device while operating can be well below the maximum value. This is because the device is designed to operate at multiple power levels so as to use only the power required to reach the network. In general, the closer you are to a wireless base station antenna, the lower the power output. Before a device model is available for sale to the public, it must be tested and certified to the FCC that it does not exceed the limit established by the government adopted requirement for safe exposure. The tests are performed in positions and locations (e.g. at the ear and worn on the body) as required by the FCC for each model. The highest SAR value for this model device when worn on the body, as described in this user guide, is 1.101W/Kg (Body-worn measurements differ among device models, depending upon available accessories and FCC requirements). While there may be differences between the SAR levels of various devices and at various positions, they all meet the government requirement for safe exposure. The FCC has granted an Equipment Authorization for this model device with all reported SAR levels evaluated as in compliance with the FCC RF exposure guidelines. SAR information on this model device is on file with the FCC and can be found under the Display Grant section of http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid after searching for FCC ID: 2BKJ9-GEOSIGNER. Additional information on Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) can be found on the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) website at http://www.wow-com.com.
* In the United States and Canada, the SAR limit for a device used by the public is 1.6 watts/kg (W/kg) averaged over one gram of tissue. The standard incorporates a substantial margin of safety to give additional protection for the public and to account for any variations in measurements.
Body-worn Operation
This device was tested for typical body-worn operations. To comply with RF exposure requirements, a minimum separation distance of 5mm must be maintained between the user’s body and the device, including the antenna. Third-party belt-clips, holsters, and similar accessories used by this device should not contain any metallic components. Body-worn accessories that do not meet these requirements may not comply with RF exposure requirements and should be avoided. Use only the supplied or an approved antenna.
Industry Canada (IC) Statement
This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
This equipment complies with IC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. End user must follow the specific operating instructions for satisfying RF exposure compliance. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. These requirements set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg averaged over one gram of tissue. This device was tested for typical body-worn operations. The highest SAR value for this model device when tested for body-worn operations is 1.101 W/Kg. To comply with RF exposure requirements, a minimum separation distance of 5mm must be maintained between the user’s body and the device, including the antenna. Third-party belt-clips, holsters, and similar accessories used by this device should not contain any metallic components. Body-worn accessories that do not meet these requirements may not comply with RF exposure requirements and should be avoided. Use only the supplied or an approved antenna.
Déclaration d'Industrie Canada (IC)
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence.
L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes:
(1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
Cet équipement est conforme avec l'exposition aux radiations IC définies pour un environnement non contrôlé. L'utilisateur final doit respecter les instructions de fonctionnement spécifiques pour satisfaire la conformité aux expositions RF. Cet émetteur ne doit pas être co-localisées ou opérant en conjonction avec une autre antenne ou transmetteur. Ces exigences définissent la valeur SAR limite à 1.6 W / kg en moyenne par gramme de tissu. La valeur SAR la plus élevée pour ce modèle de appareil testé lorsque porté sur le corps est 1.101 W/Kg. Cet appareil a été testé pour des opérations portés sur le corps typiques. Pour se conformer aux exigences d'exposition aux radiofréquences, une distance minimale de 5 mm doit être maintenue entre le corps de l'utilisateur et le combiné, y compris l'antenne. Les pinces de ceinture, les étuis et autres accessoires similaires utilisés par cet appareil ne doivent pas contenir de composants métalliques. Les accessoires portatifs qui ne répondent pas à ces exigences peuvent ne pas se conformer aux exigences d'exposition RF et doit être évitée. Utilisez uniquement l'antenne fournie ou une antenne approuvée.
