🛒 HARDWARE GUIDE

Build Your ATC Station

Everything you need to run PiLNK. All links are to Amazon — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

⚠ BEFORE YOU BUY — OPERATING SYSTEM

PiLNK currently runs on Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm (64-bit). Debian Trixie (13) is not yet supported — support is coming soon. When flashing your SD card or NVMe with Raspberry Pi Imager, choose the Bookworm image, not the newest release. Either way your hardware is safe — Bookworm runs perfectly today, and Trixie support is on the roadmap.

🛒 WANT IT PRE-BUILT?

Get the full PiLNK hardware kit — pre-configured and ready to go. Early bird pricing available now.

VIEW PILNK KIT →
ESSENTIAL — YOU NEED THESE
ESSENTIAL
🖥️
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB)
The brain of PiLNK. The Pi 5 handles ADS-B decoding, ATC audio in your browser and the web interface simultaneously with headroom to spare.
✓ Used in PiLNK — EpsomPi runs on Pi 5 8GB
🛒 Buy on Amazon
ESSENTIAL
📡
FlightAware Pro Stick Plus
The best ADS-B dongle for aircraft tracking. Built-in 1090MHz filter and amplifier — tracks planes up to 200nm away.
✓ Used in PiLNK — ADS-B receiver (serial 00000001)
🛒 Buy on Amazon
ESSENTIAL
📻
RTL-SDR Blog V4
The second dongle for live ATC audio on VHF airband (118-137MHz), played in your own browser. The V4 has a built-in bias tee for powering an LNA.
✓ Used in PiLNK — VHF audio receiver (serial 00000002)
🛒 Buy on Amazon
ESSENTIAL
🔌
Raspberry Pi 5 Power Supply (27W)
The official 27W USB-C power supply. Running two SDR dongles demands good power — don't cheap out on this one.
✓ Required for stable dual-dongle operation
🛒 Buy on Amazon
RECOMMENDED — MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
RECOMMENDED
📶
RTL-SDR Wideband LNA
Low noise amplifier that dramatically improves ATC audio quality. Powered directly by the RTL-SDR V4 bias tee — no extra cables needed.
✓ Used in PiLNK — ATC audio is crystal clear with this
🛒 Buy on Amazon
RECOMMENDED
💾
Raspberry Pi NVMe SSD (256GB)
The official Pi-branded NVMe SSD. Guaranteed compatible with Pi 5, PCIe Gen 3, rock-solid reliability. AJ uses one — boot times are night and day vs SD card.
✓ Used in PiLNK — EpsomPi runs from NVMe
🛒 Buy at PiShop
RECOMMENDED
🗄️
Pi 5 NVMe HAT
Connects your NVMe SSD to the Pi 5's PCIe slot. The official Raspberry Pi NVMe HAT is the easiest option.
✓ Required if using NVMe SSD
🛒 Buy on Amazon
RECOMMENDED
🏠
Pi 5 Case with Fan
Running two SDR dongles generates heat. A good case with active cooling keeps everything stable during long sessions.
✓ Keeps temps under control
🛒 Buy on Amazon
OPTIONAL — NICE TO HAVE
OPTIONAL
📡
1090MHz ADS-B Antenna
A dedicated outdoor antenna dramatically increases your aircraft tracking range. Worth it if you want to see planes 200+ nm away.
🛒 Buy on Amazon
OPTIONAL
🔌
USB Hub (Powered)
If you want to connect keyboard, mouse and both dongles simultaneously, a powered USB hub keeps everything stable.
🛒 Buy on Amazon
OPTIONAL
💾
SanDisk 32GB MicroSD
For a basic SD card setup or as a backup. Our installer supports both SD and NVMe boot.
🛒 Buy on Amazon
🛒 PiLNK is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program.
We earn a small commission when you purchase through our links — at no extra cost to you.
This helps fund PiLNK development. Thank you for your support!! ✈️