AirWhere - Building Your Own!

If theres anything that you think would be useful to add to any of the build pages, please do contact and we can add. If your looking for some advice on how to update a purchased AirWhere unit please visit the how to update AirWhere page. Prebuilt AirWhere units can be purchased from the AirWhere Shop, or contact us for details. We have just made an Android only tracking app - please download for free from Google Play, search for AirWhere or click Android App Kobo ESP32 - Heltec Board - Easiest Build ESP32 Heltec - Kobo - AirWhere Integrated The heltec board offers a quick and easy build for the Kobo integrated version, just wire GPS, battery and various parts in, solder your kobo in and you have a full setup, no wires etc. Range is slightly down on the other versions but still works well. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link Heltec/TTgo integrated. Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP32 - Heltec - Kobo - AirWhere USB This AirWhere build is super easy ! Purchase the board, put the software on, bit of configuring and plug it in, usually takes under an hour. Very cheap and simple to make if you have a kobo flight computer already. If you dont want to do ANY soldering to a shop bought kobo this can be purchased and attach with just 3 wires a GPS to this unit, plug it in and you have AirWhere. Pop it all in a box and your away. Build Links are for the 2 versions. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link Prebuilt Kobos Kobos with NO GPS Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP32 - Heltec - Kobo - AirWhere Wifi Connect your AirWhere via Wifi, with the heltec board. If you have a prebuilt kobo or a freshly purchased kobo this option can connect with no wires and give the system GPS and airwhere. Very simple build, will take under an hour and some configuring. The standalone wifi version is already working and tested. The prebuilt kobo version isnt finished yet, few issues to overcome, please email for details. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link Prebuilt Kobo - TBC Kobo with NO GPS Purchase This AirWhere Device Kobo ESP32 - Standard Board ESP32 - Kobo - AirWhere Integrated This is the full build and install of the latest version of AirWhere, it can be quite difficult to new builders but aslong as you have some previous soldering experience the build is not too difficult. Taking around 3-4 hours or a couple of evenings and use any of the kobo family, we supply a case for each of these which are very useful. This can be a fully blown setup and the cheapest instrument you can make out of the airwhere options. We will describe the build with an RF Solutions radio board, see pinouts for any other boards you want to connect. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link AirWhere Integrated Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - Kobo - AirWhere USB To be able to use the RF solutions lora board which offers the greatest range, this is the build to go with a wired USB kobo. Attach a GPS internally if your kobo doesnt have one or use your onboard GPS ( LK8000 only ). Not a massively difficult build but requires soldering skills and to fit into case. We can supply. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link AirWhere ESP32 USB Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - Kobo - AirWhere Wifi To run a wifi version of the project without the heltec board and use a different radio board please choose this option. Add to a case and connect wirelessly to the Kobo. Good choice for people who dont want to open up their kobo or for prebuilt kobos. Can be run as a independant tracker if going lightweight and want to be visible. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link AirWhere ESP32 WiFi Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - AirWhere & FLARM This build is for the latest FLARM version, please visit www.flarm.com to get more information about FLARM and what this board does for you. The board beacons on FLARM so the gliders can see us and transmits and receives on AirWhere so the system will run as normal. Not a very difficult build, less wires than the RF Solutions board. A GPS is required for this build but the system can be connected to removely via WiFi or BLE. Serial and USB always works aswell. Highly Recommended. Please visit the shop to purchase the boards. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link ESP32 - FLARM Purchase This AirWhere Device Kobo ESP8266 ESP8266 - Kobo - AirWhere Integrated The classic setup using the original ESP8266 board, now over thousands of hours of use, reliable, low power and low cost. Add a bluefly vario and thats a full system, sounds, baro temp, vario etc. Extremely cheap way to have a full flight instrument, choose any of the kobo family and build, long battery life and superb screen make this a great option. Recommended. Another massive benefit is the huge range of FLARM base stations around the world that will track your device online in real time. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario Build Link Kobo ESP8266 Integrated Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP8266 - Kobo - AirWhere USB A Cheap option to the Heltec board if you want more range by using the RF Lora board, not a hard build but still requires some soldering knowledge, more instructions coming shortly. Can be built with a GPS for untouched kobos or without for kobos with a gps onboard ( LK8000 only ). Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario Build Link AirWhere ESP8266 OTG Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP8266 - Kobo - AirWhere Wifi To connect to the Kobo using wifi this option can be made, however we recommend the esp32 version as there has been a lot of work and development on this setup and changes have been made to make it more stable and reliable. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario Build Link ESP8266 Wifi Version Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP8266 - AirWhere & FLARM The last edition to the ESP8266 range, if you are looking for just a FLARM tracker or a low power consumption AirWhere device with FLARM this works well. Some soldering is required. The setup is most probably the cheapest FLARM beacon in the world today and features Airwhere transmit and receieve and then a beacon on FLARM so gliders and some general aviation who are running FLARM can see you. Another massive benefit is the huge range of FLARM base stations around the world that will track your device online in real time. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario Build Link AirWhere ESP8266 FLARM Purchase This AirWhere Device Android - ESP32 - Heltec Board - Easiest Android build ESP32 - Heltec - Android - Wifi Great for testing the project or flying with, this build is extremely simple, 30 mins or so and AirWhere will be operational, pop it in a case and go fly. We have had several people with very little computer knowledge build off our instructions, do give it a try. This cheap and simple solution works on any Android setup, tablet or phone with LK8000 or XCSoar. No GPS required, just plug the board into usb and thats all the wiring / building required apart from a case. Power from a usb battery bank, a 5000mah bank will give a couple of full days use. Recommended for anyone beginning the project or wants to see what AirWhere is all about. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link Heltec - Android - Wifi Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP32 - Heltec - Android - BLE Similar to the standard wifi setup, the BLE version features ultra power and superb reliability, follow the initial build setup in the link and then follow the instructions to add a BLE module. Hopefully soon we will have native BLE onboard the ESP32 so a BLE module will be required, until however, it is a very cheap simple 4 wire addition. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link Wifi ESP32 Heltec setup Add BLE Purchase This AirWhere Device Android - ESP32 - Standard Board ESP32 - Android - Wifi To fit the RF Lora radio board please use this setup, connect to the esp32 via android wifi. Requires some soldering but offers excellent range. Use of LK8000 is recommended, however most other flight computers will support. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link Android ESP32 Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - Android - BLE To fit the RF Lora radio board please use this setup, connect to the esp32 via android BLE. Requires some soldering and a BLE module adding at present time but offers excellent range. Use of LK8000 is recommended, however most other flight computers will support. Low power and the reliability of BLE make this a recommended version to use. Multiple BLE devices can be attached so if your using an XC Tracer or other GPS aswell, this can be run in tandem. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario Build Link Follow both links :-ESP32 Android & Add BLE Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - Android & FLARM For an all in one versions or FLARM tracker this version is highly recommended, its the cheapest esp32 version and can be used with BLE or WiFI aswell. Requires an onboard GPS, mostly any serial GPS will do with a PPS pin. Includes the onboard software to update the FLARM board whenever required. ( This is free ) Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere Sounds AirWhere vario BLE Build Link AirWhere Android FLARM Purchase This AirWhere Device Iphone - ESP32 - Heltec - Easiest Iphone Build Iphone - ESP32 Heltec - FlySkyHy - AirWhere This is the easiest build for FlySkHy, 7 wires soldered to the board should get you going, does not take long. For the moment we need to add an external BLE module which isnt expensive and a gps. Now run FlySkyHy and select FLARM device - AirWhere and you will have the full AirWhere setup. ( also compatible with the TTGO boards ) Picture shows XCTracer which can be run at the same time as the AirWhere system. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere vario Build Link AirWhere Iphone Heltec Purchase This AirWhere Device Iphone - ESP32 Standard board ESP32 - Iphone - AirWhere To attach the RF Lora board or any other radio board please run this version for maxiumum range and configurability. The ESP32 itself is very cheap and then just solder on the bits you require. Add the BLE module to connect to the Iphone. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere vario Build Link ESP32 IPhone Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP32 - IPhone - AirWhere FLARM To add FLARM to your FlySkyHy setup then choose this option, require some soldering and configuring but will give you a FLARM beacon so all general aviation running FLARM can see you, also transmits and receives on AirWhere. Add optional vario to give you a full setup. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras BlueFly vario AirWhere vario Build Link AirWhere Iphone FLARM Purchase This AirWhere Device Ground Stations ESP32 Heltec - Ground Station - Easy! The most simple ground station to make, flash the software onto the board and then configure, no soldering or other work required, should take around 30-45 mins. Connects to your internet via WiFi so require no wiring and keeps itself alive so no need to check the station once setup correctly. Link to building your own antenna will be shown below - these antennas have worked upwards of 80km. Alternatively one from can be purchase ready to go. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras Antennas Build Link Heltec Ground Station Purchase This AirWhere Device ESP8266 - Mobile Phone Ground Station ( GSM ) We understand its impossible to have a ground station everywhere as some places there is no wifi or internet. However if there is a mobile phone connection, this is a simple solution. Wire up a sim800L to the esp8266 board, configure and add a sim card gives you a mobile ground station running on mobile internet. The only requirement will be power. A large 12volt battery would last weeks if not months, however there are plans for a solar powered version which will hopefully be available soon. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras Antennas Build Link GSM Ground Station Purchase This AirWhere Device Standard ESP8266 - Ground Station This is the standard ground station which has been running in several places for over 18 months now with no problems or servicing, apart from upgrading the versions. Simple to build and configure this ground station is very cheap and can be put in place in minutes, currently connectivity over WiFi, however a wired version is coming. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras Antennas Build Link ESP8266 Ground Station Standard ESP32 - Ground Station Ground station running on the latest board, the esp32, this build enabled the choice of either of the radio boards, functionality is the same as the esp8266. Build Difficulty Cost Power consumption AirWhere Range Optional Extras Antennas Build Link ESP32 - Ground Station