To watch planes live you need a USB radio receiver to use as a data feed. It doesn't need to be plugged into the computer you use to watch planes with as long as you can connect to that computer with a network connection. The app comes with a 7 day free trial so you can test out your setup and make sure it works before paying anything for the app!

If you get stuck please email support!

The most common configuration is a USB device plugged into the Mac. It takes 3 steps.

You are going to need a USB RTL-SDR (or "DVB Tuner").

Step 1: Plug in the USB device

Step 2: Download and run Dump1090 Mac Server

Download Dump1090 Mac Server for free

Press Start and you should see "Status: Running…".

Step 3: Pick "localhost" in Max Planes

Now you should be up and running!

If you don't see "Connected" then email support for help.

Optional Step 4: Connect Max Planes from other computers

Other computers on your WiFi network can now connect to the same Dump1090 Mac Server and watch planes as well.

In the "Connection…" menu on other computers you should see your first computer's name. Click that and you will be watching the same data feed over your network.

Frequently Asked Questions

I keep getting "usb claim" errors, what's going wrong?

There are 2 main reasons for getting "usb claim" errors.

One is multiple applications trying to use the same USB device at the same time. One limitation of the USB RTL-SDR is only one application can use it at once. If you have another application open using it then you need to quit that. If you aren't sure which application is using it, try disconnecting it and reconnecting it as that will likely disconnect the other application.

Another reason you will see "usb claim" errors is insufficient power available to the USB RTL-SDR device. Most laptops and the Raspberry Pi can't output enough power to keep the USB RTL-SDR powered continuously. You may see the USB device in your devices list but when you connect get a connection failure. This is due to it trying to use more power to become operation but not enough power is available.

To fix this try adding a powered USB hub between the laptop or Raspberry Pi and the USB dongle.

It keeps disconnecting, what's going wrong?

You may be successfully connected and see a couple planes but then it will unexpectedly disconnect. This can happen when there is insufficient USB power available to the USB RTL-SDR.

Most laptops and the Raspberry Pi can't output enough power to keep the USB RTL-SDR powered continuously. You may see the USB device in your devices list but when you connect get a connection failure. This is due to it trying to use more power to become operation but not enough power is available.

To fix this try adding a powered USB hub between the laptop or Raspberry Pi and the USB dongle.