ADS-B vs Remote ID: two different broadcasts
Learn how aircraft ADS-B differs from drone Remote ID, which radios receive each signal, and how Layer400 brings received tracks into one map.
By Layer400 · Reviewed
The short answer
ADS-B and Remote ID are different radio broadcasts. ADS-B reports aircraft positions and related flight information. Drone Remote ID broadcasts identification and location information locally over supported Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transports. A receiver for one does not automatically receive the other.
Layer400 brings received aircraft and drone reports into the same live map. It does not turn a Wi-Fi adapter into an ADS-B radio, or an aircraft feeder into a universal drone detector.
What you need to receive them
| Question | Aircraft ADS-B | Drone Remote ID |
|---|---|---|
| Radio path | The Layer400 direct receiver path is 1090 MHz ADS-B. | Supported Wi-Fi Remote ID broadcasts in the current receiver release. |
| Hardware | A compatible USB SDR and 1090 MHz antenna, or an existing decoder feed. | A compatible monitor-mode Wi-Fi adapter and antenna. |
| Existing setup | Share compatible aircraft JSON from a decoder that already owns the SDR. | Keep internet access on Ethernet or a separate Wi-Fi interface. |
| What absence means | No received report, not proof that the sky is empty. | No received report, not proof that no drone is present. |
The FAA describes 1090ES and the separate 978 MHz UAT link. Do not assume a 1090 MHz Layer400 setup receives 978 MHz UAT. Likewise, Remote ID as a standard includes Bluetooth, but that does not establish Bluetooth support in a particular Layer400 release. Read the current hardware catalogue before buying.
Why aircraft and drone heights differ
An aircraft’s reported altitude and a drone’s height above ground can use different reference surfaces. A pressure-based altitude is not interchangeable with height above a local field. Comparing the two numbers without a common reference can produce a false impression of separation.
The map identifies the available measurement. The proximity explanation describes when Layer400 can estimate three-dimensional separation and when it falls back to horizontal distance.
Can I keep my current aircraft feeder?
Yes, when its decoder exposes a compatible source. Layer400 can sit alongside an existing feed to ADS-B Exchange, Flightradar24 or FlightAware. The important connection is to your local decoder, not to a commercial network’s website or account.
Use the existing ADS-B feed guide to check the source. One program should own a physical SDR. Multiple consumers can use the decoder’s output without trying to claim the same radio.
Which should I build first?
If you already run an aircraft feeder, start by sharing its working data and add a supported Wi-Fi adapter for drones. If you want only drone reception, start with the Wi-Fi receiver. A combined station needs the appropriate hardware for each signal, suitable antenna placement and a stable internet connection.
Install and connect a receiver, or read what Remote ID can tell you first.