Install OnAir on macOS, Windows and Linux

Download#

Get the file for your system from the latest release on GitHub (currently 0.2.5; the Download page also lists the 0.2.6 beta pre-releases).

macOS#

1. Open the .dmg and drag OnAir to the Applications folder.
2. The app is not signed with a developer certificate yet. The first time, right-click OnAir and choose Open.
3. Intel Macs need a processor with AVX2 (2013 or newer).

Windows#

1. Run the installer, or unpack the zip and start OnAir.exe. Windows may warn about an unknown publisher because the installer is not code-signed.
2. Install the USB driver for your radio once (see below).
3. Release 0.2.5 and later start on any 64-bit x86 processor and use AVX2 when the processor has it (earlier versions crashed at start on processors without AVX2).

Linux#

1. On Debian or Ubuntu run sudo apt install ./onair_<version>_<arch>.deb, then start OnAir from the menu or with onair.
2. The .deb carries its own video decoder, so it does not depend on your system's FFmpeg.
3. On other distributions unpack the portable archive and run bin/onair.
4. For Airspy radios add yourself to the plugdev group (sudo usermod -aG plugdev $USER), log out and in again, and replug the radio.

USB drivers on Windows#

A HackRF, RTL-SDR, Airspy, Airspy HF+, Fobos SDR or RX888 MkII needs the WinUSB driver, installed once with Zadig.

• RX888 MkII: in Zadig turn on List All Devices and install WinUSB for both 04B4:00F3 (boot loader) and 04B4:00F1 (the running radio), unplug and replug on a USB 3 port, then refresh OnAir's radio list. Details on the RX888 page.
• LimeSDR Mini: needs FTDI's FT60x driver (see the README inside the download).
• LimeSDR-USB (Cypress FX3): needs the Cypress CyUSB3 driver that LimeGUI installs, not WinUSB. Do not replace it with Zadig.
• SDRplay RSPs: install SDRplay's own API first, see the SDRplay page.

Updates#

OnAir checks GitHub for a newer version a few seconds after it starts (then at most once a day), downloads the package for your system in the background, verifies it against the SHA-256 that GitHub lists and installs it when you close the program.

• The version button at the top right shows the state and holds the settings: turn the check off, turn automatic install off (you get a button instead), or leave out pre-releases.
• macOS replaces OnAir.app; Windows runs the installer quietly (Windows asks for permission); Linux replaces the portable folder, and a .deb install asks for your password through the system installer.
• Only github.com is contacted. See Privacy.