AirCast

Common Issues & Solutions

Quick fixes for the most common AirCast setup and operational issues.

Connection Issues

Cannot connect to AircastDevice hotspot

The Wi-Fi network doesn't appear or won't accept the password.

Solution:

  • Ensure the Pi has fully booted (wait 2-3 minutes after power on)
  • Verify password is exactly: 123456789
  • Try forgetting the network and reconnecting
  • Check if the hotspot service is running:
sudo systemctl status hostapd

Cannot access 192.168.4.1

Browser can't reach the setup page after connecting to hotspot.

Solution:

  • Ensure you're connected to AircastDevice network
  • Disable mobile data on your phone during setup
  • Try different browser or incognito mode
  • Use IP directly: http://192.168.4.1 (not https)

Device offline in dashboard

AirCast device shows as offline after initial setup.

Solution:

  • Check 4G modem has active data connection
  • Verify SIM card is properly inserted and activated
  • Test internet connectivity:
ping -c 4 google.com

Check AirCast agent status:

sudo systemctl status aircast-agent

Video Streaming Issues

No video stream

Camera connected but no video appears in dashboard.

Solution:

  • Verify camera is powered on and connected
  • Check RTSP URL is correct in configuration
  • Test camera stream locally:
ffmpeg -i rtsp://camera-ip/stream -t 5 test.mp4

For USB cameras, check device:

ls -la /dev/video*

Poor video quality or high latency

Video is pixelated, choppy, or delayed.

Solution:

  • Check 4G signal strength (should be -85 dBm or better)
  • Reduce video bitrate in configuration
  • Enable adaptive streaming
  • Monitor bandwidth usage:
iftop -i wwan0

Hardware Issues

4G modem not detected

System doesn't recognize the 4G/LTE modem.

Solution:

  • Check USB connection is secure
  • Verify modem appears in device list:
lsusb

Check for modem interface:

ls -la /dev/ttyUSB*

Install modem drivers if needed:

sudo apt-get install usb-modeswitch

Raspberry Pi won't boot

No activity lights or boot sequence.

Solution:

  • Check power supply provides sufficient current (3A for Pi 4)
  • Verify SD card is properly inserted
  • Re-flash SD card with fresh image
  • Test with different SD card (Class 10 or better)
  • Check for red LED indicating power issues

Telemetry Issues

No telemetry data from flight controller

MAVLink connection not established.

Solution:

  • Verify serial connection to flight controller
  • Check baud rate matches FC settings (usually 57600)
  • Ensure MAVLink is enabled on the telemetry port
  • Test connection:
mavproxy.py --master=/dev/ttyAMA0 --baudrate=57600

Useful Debug Commands

# Check all AirCast services sudo systemctl status 'aircast*' # View real-time logs sudo journalctl -u aircast-agent -f # Check network interfaces ip addr show # Monitor system resources htop # Check disk space df -h # Test internet connectivity curl -I https://app.aircast.com