What you need

Which board

A Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5 or Zero 2 W is the default, and the rest of these docs assume one. Aircast OS also ships for boards from Orange Pi, Radxa and Banana Pi, which run the same Aircast software and are in beta.

The --board value is what the Flasher's command-line tool takes; the Flasher app asks for the board on its first screen.

Beyond cell coverage: Starlink

Aircast streams over any IP uplink, not just cellular. Plug a Starlink Mini into the Pi 4's Ethernet port and it becomes the uplink, with the same video and telemetry anywhere with open sky. The dish adds roughly 1.1 kg and a 25-40W power budget, so it suits heavy-lift airframes and ground-relay setups (dish at the ground station or vehicle, drone on 4G) rather than small quads. Where your phone has signal, the 4G kits above stay the right choice. The Starlink Mini guide covers activation, plan, wiring and power.

How it connects

Everything hangs off the Pi. Power comes from the drone battery through a BEC, the flight controller and modem connect over USB, and the camera streams RTSP over the network.

On the Pi Zero 2 W, which has a single USB port, the modem and flight controller share the powered hub. The flight controller needs a data cable to the autopilot's USB port (Pixhawk, Cube and most modern autopilots have one); Aircast finds it by itself, with no wiring config. For a full build with a Pixhawk 6C, Starlink Mini, gimbal camera and gripper servos, see the wiring diagram.

Shopping tips

• Pick the Pi 4 for headroom, the Pi Zero 2 W to save weight. Both are tested and fly well. The Pi 4's four USB ports and extra RAM give the most margin for 1080p; the Pi Zero 2 W trims ~45g and runs the full stack through a powered hub.
• Stick to SIM7600-family modems. Aircast configures them by itself. Generic HiLink/RNDIS USB sticks act as their own router and need switching into network mode first.
• Check your carrier's APN. The image uses the internet APN, a common default. If your carrier uses another, the modem registers but never gets data until you change it under Connection in the drone's Device tab.
• Mind the antenna. Keep the LTE antenna clear of the carbon frame, ESCs and power leads. Metal and electrical noise kill cellular range at altitude.
• Use an RTSP camera. Aircast pulls video from an RTSP or ONVIF stream over the network and does not capture USB webcams. Tested Cameras lists validated picks.
• Check 4G coverage where you fly before choosing a carrier, and buy the Pi from an official reseller to avoid counterfeits.