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)
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Raspberry Pi Image
Compatible with: Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5, and Zero 2 W (64-bit ARM)
Installation Instructions
- Download the image file above
- Use Raspberry Pi Imager or balenaEtcher to flash the image to an SD card
- Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi
- Power on your Raspberry Pi and wait for it to boot
- Connect to the WiFi hotspot "AircastDevice" using password
123456789 - Configure the agent at
192.168.4.1orhttp://aircast.local
Default Credentials
Username: pi
Password: raspberry
Hostname: aircast
⚠️ Please change the default password after first login!
Quick Start Guide
5-Minute Setup
- Download the image file above
- Flash to SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager or balenaEtcher
- Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi
- Power on and wait for boot (2-3 minutes)
- Connect to the
AircastDeviceWiFi network (password:123456789) - Configure at
http://aircast.localorhttp://192.168.4.1
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
- Download Raspberry Pi Imager
- Click "Choose OS" → "Use custom"
- Select the downloaded image file
- Click "Choose Storage" → Select SD card
- Click "Write" and wait
Option B: balenaEtcher
- Download balenaEtcher
- Click "Flash from file"
- Select the downloaded image
- Select target → Your SD card
- Click "Flash!" and wait
Step 2: Boot and Connect
- Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi
- Power on your Raspberry Pi and wait for it to boot (2-3 minutes)
- The device will automatically create a WiFi hotspot:
- •Network name:
AircastDevice - •Password:
123456789
- •Network name:
Step 3: Configure the Agent
- Connect your computer or phone to the
AircastDeviceWiFi network - Open a web browser and navigate to:
http://aircast.local - Complete the configuration wizard to set up your device
If aircast.local doesn't work, try using the IP address directly: http://192.168.4.1
What happens next:
The 4G modem serves internet to the hotspot, allowing you to complete the binding process. After binding, the agent will begin streaming to the Aircast server. You can then monitor and control your drone through the Aircast web interface or mobile app.
Configuration
SSH Access
SSH is enabled by default. Connect using:
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.
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