AirCast

AirCast Setup Guide

Get your drone streaming in under 30 minutes with our pre-configured Raspberry Pi image. Simply flash, boot, and configure through the automatic WiFi hotspot.

Compatible Devices

Fully Supported

  • ✓Raspberry Pi 5 (all variants)
  • ✓Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (all RAM variants)
  • ✓Raspberry Pi 400
  • ✓Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
  • ✓Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
  • ✓Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Requirements

  • •Minimum 8GB SD card (16GB+ recommended)
  • •4G/LTE modem or Wi-Fi for connectivity
  • •USB or CSI camera for video capture
  • •Connection to drone flight controller (USB/Serial)
  • •Power supply from drone battery (BEC/regulator)

Download

Latest Development Release

Version v1.2.4-dev.28 • Latest features, may be unstable

Dev

Raspberry Pi Image

Download v1.2.4-dev.28 (.img.xz)
Flash to SD card (16GB+ recommended)
SHA256 Checksum

Compatible with: Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5, and Zero 2 W (64-bit ARM)

View all releases →

Quick Start Guide

Quick Setup

  1. Download the image file above
  2. Flash to SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager or balenaEtcher
  3. Insert the SD card and power on (wait 2-3 minutes for boot)
  4. Connect to the AircastDevice WiFi network (password: 123456789)
  5. Open http://aircast.local "Bind Device Now"
  6. Sign in to your AirCast account and enter the device code shown on screen

Detailed Installation Steps

Step 1: Flash the Image

Use Raspberry Pi Imager or balenaEtcher to write the image to your SD card:

Option A: Raspberry Pi Imager

  1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager
  2. Click "Choose OS" → "Use custom"
  3. Select the downloaded image file
  4. Click "Choose Storage" → Select SD card
  5. Click "Write" and wait

Option B: balenaEtcher

  1. Download balenaEtcher
  2. Click "Flash from file"
  3. Select the downloaded image
  4. Select target → Your SD card
  5. Click "Flash!" and wait

Step 2: Boot and Connect

  1. Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi
  2. Power on your Raspberry Pi and wait for it to boot (2-3 minutes)
  3. The device will automatically create a WiFi hotspot:
    • •Network name: AircastDevice
    • •Password: 123456789

Step 3: Bind Your Device

  1. Connect your computer or phone to the AircastDevice WiFi network
  2. Open a web browser and navigate to: http://aircast.local
  3. Click "Bind Device Now" to start the binding process
  4. Click "Open AirCast Login" - this opens a new tab where you'll sign in
  5. Enter the device code shown on the binding page when prompted
  6. The device will automatically connect once authorization is complete

What happens after binding:

Once bound, your device will automatically start streaming to the AirCast server. You can then monitor and control your drone through the AirCast web interface or desktop app.

Configuration

SSH Access

SSH is enabled by default. Connect using:

ssh pi@aircast.local

Default password: raspberry

Security: Change the default password immediately after first login:passwd

Network Configuration

The AirCast device creates an automatic hotspot for configuration:

WiFi Hotspot Details:

  • Network Name: AircastDevice
  • Password: 123456789
  • Configuration URL: http://aircast.local
  • Fallback IP: http://192.168.4.1 (if aircast.local doesn't work)

The hotspot remains active even after configuration, allowing you to access the device for maintenance while it's connected to the internet through your configured connection.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • Cannot access aircast.local:

    Some networks don't support mDNS. Use the IP address instead. Find it using your router's admin panel or by connecting a monitor to the Pi.

  • No video stream:

    Check camera connection and ensure it's enabled using raspi-config. Verify the camera module is properly seated.

  • No telemetry data:

    Verify the connection to your flight controller. Check baud rate settings and ensure MAVLink is enabled on the flight controller.

  • Poor streaming quality or disconnections:

    Check your 4G/LTE signal strength. Consider using an external antenna or switching to a different network provider with better coverage in your flying area.

  • SD card corruption:

    Always shut down properly using sudo shutdown -h now. Use a high-quality SD card rated for continuous use.

Getting Help

If you encounter issues not covered here:

  • Check existing issues or create a new one on GitHub
  • View system logs: journalctl -u aircast

Advanced Usage

Build Your Own Image:View the pi-gen build configuration

The Aircast Pi image is built using the official Raspberry Pi OS build tools. You can customize and build your own version.

AirCast Setup Guide | Pre-configured Pi Image | AirCast