Host a Coastal Hub receiver

You can help cover your area by setting up a receiver. It’s a one-time hardware purchase followed by a quick software install.

What you’ll need

• Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB)Runs the Coastal Hub software 24/7.
• MicroSD card (16GB+)Holds the operating system.
• SDR dongle(s)One for pager, plus one or two for radio. Around £25 each.
• VHF antennaMount outside, as high as possible.
• Ethernet cableConnects the Pi to your router.
• USB power supplyOfficial Pi power supply recommended.

Costs

• One-off hardware: ~£80–£120 (Pi + SDR + antenna + cables)
• Ongoing: Just electricity (~£2–3/month) and internet
• Software: Free — no subscription, no licence fees

Skill level

You’ll need to be comfortable with:

• Flashing a microSD card (Raspberry Pi Imager makes it easy)
• Copying and pasting a single command in a terminal
• Mounting an antenna outdoors

That’s it. The installer handles everything else automatically.

Time required

About 30 minutes from opening the box to your receiver being online.

Ready to get started?

Create a free account, then follow the step-by-step wizard.