Receiver compatibility: check the whole chain

One label cannot describe the whole setup

“The aircraft has ADS-B” is a useful starting point, not a compatibility specification. ADS-B Out transmits information; ADS-B In receives it. The FAA explanation of In and Out distinguishes the services and explains why an In-only receiver does not necessarily provide the same traffic picture as a fully participating installation.

Record the actual chain

Before changing hardware, make a small equipment note:

1. Receiver or installed avionics: exact model, firmware and configured output.
2. Link to the tablet: network name, connection method and permissions.
3. App: version, accepted protocol and the products it actually displays.
4. Aircraft installation: whether it has appropriate ADS-B Out, separately from the portable receiver.

For FLAL, use the receiver guide to check the supported GDL 90 path. A model name alone is not proof that a particular firmware/configuration exposes that data to FLAL. Check the manufacturer's current documentation; do not assume different Stratus models or Avidyne configurations behave identically.

Understand traffic gaps

The FAA describes direct ADS-B reception and ground-based rebroadcast services as distinct inputs. Coverage, equipped aircraft and service participation affect what can appear. The FAA ADS-B FAQ is a useful starting point for service limitations. Treat the display as an aid to awareness, not a complete inventory of nearby aircraft or permission to stop the appropriate lookout.

A useful ground test record

• Does the app identify the receiver rather than merely showing Wi-Fi joined?
• Which position source is active, and how recent is it?
• Which weather products have actually arrived?
• What does the app display after the receiver is turned off?

A quiet ramp cannot prove airborne traffic performance or full broadcast coverage. Keep a dated record of the tested tablet, app, receiver and firmware, and retest after changes. If asking support for help, that record is far more useful than “ADS-B is not working.”

Separate the two success criteria: a reliable local connection, and current usable data for the intended task. You need to establish both.