Troubleshooting Guide

​Flightradar24 AB

www.flightradar24.com
 Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................2

NORMAL OPERATION ..............................................................................................3

TYPICAL DISRUPTIONS ...........................................................................................4

RECEIVER OFFLINE .................................................................................................5

FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING .............................................................................5

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 Introduction

This guide has been prepared to help you identify and resolve basic issues affecting the
performance of the Flightradar24 receiver and associated equipment, including
connection to the Internet and uploading aircraft messages to our central servers.

In normal operation, you should not have to perform any monitoring or maintenance.

Your receiver is monitored remotely and we will send an automated email alert if it has
been offline for more than 6 hours. If the receiver is still offline for more than 72 hours
and we haven’t heard back from you, our support team will contact you to get it back
online.

It is important that you let us know whenever you change your email address.

This is our primary method of contact, using the address you supplied when you applied
for a receiver. This address is also linked to your FR24 account and validates your free
Business Subscription.

Your account has performance statistics for your receiver, with range plots and graphs
showing maximum distance, aircraft tracked and reported hits and positions.

The performance stats can be found in your account under ​My data sharing -> Show
Statistics

We very much appreciate you hosting our equipment and our Support team is there to
help you operate it to its maximum potential, delivering quality messages and best
possible range.

In addition to the guide, do not hesitate to contact us at ​s​upport@fr24.com​ ​for further

help and advice. Please quote the radar ID you were given when the receiver was first
activated and which is shown in your account.

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 Normal Operation

Receiver should be powered using the supplied 5.1 V, 2.5 A, micro USB power adapter.
Under normal operations receiver will display everything in green as seen below.

Do note that on the initial installation, all the text on the screen will not be green as all new
receivers after coming online need to activated from our side. Once that’s done, all the
text should turn green. See an activated vs a non activated receiver in the image below.

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 Typical Disruptions

One or more of the following may disrupt normal service:

1. No GPS Position

Check that the GPS antenna is connected and that it’s located where it can get a
satellite fix. The antenna is weatherproof and can be located outside.

2. Poor or reduced aircraft range

Check that the Mode-S external antenna is connected to the receiver and is
installed in the optimum location. Also check the coax connections are tight and
are dry. ​Moisture inside the connector can cause a signal short.​ To see how
to use the vulcanizing tape, please click on the link below.
http://wiki.modesbeast.com/Accessories:Sealing_Tape

3. No data is being uploaded to our server – Receiver Offline

Check that power supply is working and connected to the receiver. Also check that
Ethernet cable is connected to your local router/switch and you have an active
Internet connection.

To check that the receiver is connected to your local network, check option
“Network” shown on the screen if it’s UP or DOWN.

Anything shown in red on the screen could suggest a problem.

NOTE: Most of the issues can be fixed by simply power cycling the
receiver.

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 Receiver Offline
If we notice that the receiver has been offline for more than 6 hours we will send you an
automated alert via email.

“​The Flightradar24 receiver F-XXXXNN you are hosting is offline​”

On receipt, first check all cables are connected, power is available and the receiver is
connected to your local network which has a good internet connection.

Anything in red on the screen can give you a good idea of where the problem could be
coming from. If you are not able to figure out where the problem is coming from, contact
s​upport@fr24.com​ ​for further advice.

Further Troubleshooting

If the receiver is still offline, there is no GPS position or the aircraft range is poor, our
Technical Support may ask you to make more detailed checks to see if the problem is
caused by a defective receiver or component.

Symptom Cause Corrective action

Power ​LED Off (front ​red No power Check that the power
LED to the left of the screen)
adapter is working OK.

If available, use another,

working power adapter
(5.1V/2.5A minimum).

Power ​LED lights up one Receiver faulty or DC power If available, use another,
time and then goes Off supply is not working working power adapter
(5.1V/2.5A minimum).

If this doesn’t work, the

receiver may be faulty and
will have to be replaced.

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 Power fails ​after working Power supply is damaged or If available, use another,
for 3-4 minutes there is not enough power working power adapter
(5.1V/2.5A minimum).

If not available, contact

Support@FR24.com​ to get
a replacement power
supply.

GPS Signal​: NO GPS antenna not placed in a GPS or receiver may be

good spot, not connected
faulty if GPS puck is placed
properly or antenna is faulty.
outdoors and is connected
properly to the receiver.
Also, if no visible damage
can be seen.

Network: ​Down Receiver not getting an IP The receiver will obtain an

from the router IP address from your router
DHCP or you can set a
static one. If a static IP
address is assigned, it must
have a valid IP address in
the same subnet. Common
occurrence when a new
router is installed. All you
need to do is connect the
receiver directly via LAN
cable to your computer
(make sure to have your
computer’s network card
setup within the same
subnet) and access it’s
status page using that static
IP. Go to Network
configuration and unforce

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Red text on the screen Depends on what appears
red
Aircraft: Shows 0 Coax cable not properly
constantly connected to the antenna or
receiver.
--------------------------------------
The coax cable, antenna or
receiver may be faulty
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the static IP. Save and
Restart.
You should get a good idea
of where the problem is
coming from based on the
info shown on the screen.
Double check if the coax
cable is properly connected
to the antenna and
receiver.
------------------------------------
If you have another
Mode-S receiver, such as a
DVB-T USB, please
connect our coax cable
and antenna.
If the DVB-T doesn’t work
with our coax and antenna,
please test our receiver
using a different coax cable
and antenna if you have
these. If the LEDs remain
as before, the receiver may
need replacing.
If you don’t have another
Mode-S receiver but do
have a multimeter, please
check if there's connection
on ground / signal on the
 coax. If the coax cable and
connectors are OK, the
receiver may need
replacing.

Poor range​. In a good Antenna, coax cable or Check the coax

location with no local receiver may be faulty or connections at the receiver
obstacles, the external there are bad connections. and antenna are tight.
antenna should provide a ------------------------------------ Make sure there is no
range in excess of 200 water at the antenna
nautical miles. Your connection which should
statistics page will show be sealed with self-
your range plots and amalgamating tape.
distance graph. If you have another
Mode-S receiver, such as
a DVB-T USB, please
connect our coax cable
and antenna.

If the DVB-T doesn’t work

with our coax and
antenna, please test our
receiver using a different
coax cable and antenna if
you have these. If the
LEDs remain as before,
the receiver may need
replacing.

If you don’t have another

Mode-S receiver but do
have a multimeter, please

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 check if there's
connection on ground /
signal on the coax. If the
coax cable and connectors
are OK, the receiver may
need replacing.

----------------------------------
Antenna is not in the optimal The antenna should be
location
installed externally with a
360 degree view of the
horizon free from
obstructions such as tall
buildings, trees and hills.

Antenna is near a It may be possible to fit a

transmitter or any other filter between the receiver
source of interference i.e and the antenna to remove
cell towers. the interference. Contact
Support@FR24.com

Internet connection is very Possible interference from The DC Power Supply

slow or degraded the FR24 DC power supply needs replacing. Contact
generating RF noise support@fr24.com

Both LAN port LEDs are Receiver is offline and both Contact
dead LAN port LEDs on the back
of the receiver are dead support@fr24.com
for instructions.

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