Over a year ago I wrote about my initial experiences building and testing out the open-source Stratux ADS-B In receiver. I’ve gotten more involved with the project since then, testing out new hardware and changing my existing build. I’ve also had the chance to use some competing hardware!

TL;DR: build yourself this $140 Stratux

If you’re a pilot without existing access to ADS-B In weather and traffic, build this list. The same results cost $233 a year ago, and the software has matured while the hardware has improved. For under $150, you can get dual-band ADS-B In traffic and weather with WAAS position data. It’s fantastic.

UPDATE: new writeup 17 July 2017, with a new $140 parts list

I first heard about the Stratux project a few months back, in a subreddit that described how to build your own ADS-B In receiver for under $120. It uses software-defined radios to pick up ADS-B data, then processes it using open-source software. As a pilot who’s dabbled with the idea of plunking down around $1000 on the Stratus 2S, this was a pretty attractive idea: less than $200 for traffic and weather on my iPad? Heck, I could build a receiver and order a new iPad for less than the list price of the Stratus.

I took the plunge, ordered the parts, and tried it out.

The verdict? It works brilliantly.

I previously talked about figuring out how to use an FAA certificate and other steps towards flight-seeing as a pilot in Iceland. This is a more in-depth review of the planning involved, what I used, and where I went.