BYOD — Bring Your Own Device
Use Your Own Stratux Receiver
Already have a Stratux ADS-B receiver? Flash our free universal firmware and enjoy the exact same Drone Pilot ADS-B experience as our own receivers — Bluetooth auto-connect, AHRS, and full internet passthrough included.
⚠️ Important — Standard US Stratux Build
The standard US Stratux build has a known issue where it crashes when internet passthrough is enabled. Internet passthrough allows live weather, TFRs, and map data to work while connected to your Stratux via WiFi — it's an important feature.
We strongly recommend flashing our universal firmware below, which is based on the stable EU Stratux build and does not have this problem.
What You Need
| Item | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi | ✅ Tested Pi 3B+ or Pi 4 | Other Pi models with RTL-SDR should work but are untested |
| RTL-SDR Dongle | 1090ES + 978 UAT | Dual-band SDR recommended for full US traffic coverage |
| microSD Card | 8GB minimum | Class 10 or faster. We use Kexin cards in our own production units with excellent results. SanDisk and Samsung also work great. Avoid cheap no-name cards. |
| SD Card Reader | Required | To connect the microSD to your PC for flashing |
| BalenaEtcher | Free download | etcher.balena.io — Windows, Mac, and Linux |
Download the Universal Firmware
This firmware is based on the EU Stratux build and includes Bluetooth GDL90 auto-connect, BLE watchdog, AHRS and pressure sensor support, and stable internet passthrough. Tested on Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Pi 4. Works identically to our PilotADSB.com receivers once flashed.
⬇ Download Firmware v1.2 (700 MB)SHA256 checksum available on the GitHub releases page. Always verify your download before flashing.
How to Flash the Firmware
Download and Install BalenaEtcher
Go to etcher.balena.io and download the free app for your operating system. Install and open it.
Download the Firmware
Download the firmware zip file using the button above. You do not need to unzip it — BalenaEtcher reads zip files directly.
Insert Your SD Card
Insert your microSD card into your SD card reader and connect it to your PC. Use a card of at least 8GB Class 10 speed or faster.
Flash with BalenaEtcher
In BalenaEtcher: click Flash from file → select the downloaded zip → click Select target → choose your SD card → click Flash. Wait for the flash and verification to complete. This takes a few minutes.
Insert SD Card and Power On
Eject the SD card from your PC and insert it into your Raspberry Pi. Connect your RTL-SDR dongle(s) and power on via USB. Use a quality 5V power supply — a stable voltage is important, especially on Pi 3B+ units (see note below).
Wait for First Boot
First boot takes up to 2 minutes while the system generates a unique WiFi name based on your Pi's MAC address. Do not power off during this process.
Connect and Go
On your Android device open the Drone Pilot ADS-B app and tap the receiver icon. The setup and connection process is identical to a PilotADSB.com receiver — choose Bluetooth or WiFi, follow the prompts, and you're live.
WiFi Login Details
⚡ Raspberry Pi 3B+ — Power Supply Note
The Bluetooth chip on the Raspberry Pi 3B+ has a known sensitivity to voltage drops below 5V. If the power supply is marginal, the Bluetooth module can occasionally freeze. Our firmware includes a built-in watchdog that automatically detects this condition and reboots the unit to recover — no action needed on your part.
During a watchdog reboot the Stratux will be unavailable for approximately 90 seconds before coming back online. To eliminate this entirely, use a quality 5V/2.5A or better power supply, or connect via WiFi instead of Bluetooth. When connected via WiFi, Bluetooth is not actively used and this condition does not occur.
Pi 4 units do not have this issue.
Need Help?
Most BYOD issues come down to SD card quality, USB power supply capacity, or connection mode selection. If you're stuck, post in our community forum with your Pi model, Android version, and a description of what's happening. Our team and fellow pilots are there to help.
Questions About Your Setup?
Our community forum is the fastest way to get answers from our team and fellow pilots.
Visit the Forum Support Page