Dotbox: Flight Tracker++

Designed to be as unobtrusive as a clock, The Dotbox lets you see at a glance which planes are nearby, along with their make, model, and route.

This new design brings a full set of features, including:

• ✈️ Live Flight Tracking with detailed plane information
  
• 🛰️ Real-time overhead position of the International Space Station
  
• 🌤️ Local Weather Forecasts with rain and temperature updates

Current Status

10th September 2025

I’m sitting on a few working prototype boards and I’m ready for round #2 of manufacturing. This version of the Dotbox drives the screen beautifully as it’s far more optimised than the Raspberry Pi version of the project which came before it.

The devices are now fully integrated: no assembly, no programming. Switch it on, connect it to your Wi-Fi with your phone, and manage everything through the official Dotbox dashboard.

Check out the blog to see how the project is progressing:

How much will it cost?

I’m working really hard to keep costs as low as possible. I can’t confirm an exact price just now this is coming in at a fraction of the price of building your own. The cool thing is it also feels like a far superior product.

When will it be ready?

Soon! I’m aiming for Christmas 2025. That said this is a one-person project, self-funded and built alongside full-time work and family life. Timelines may will shift, so thanks in advance for your patience.

How can I get one?

I’m going to put together a newsletter for updates about the project and as soon as it’s available for purchase you’ll be the first to know.

Can I build my own?

You sure can! I’ve put together a guide on how to build your own using a Raspberry Pi. There’s a build guide at the official repo and more information on my blog:

• GitHub – ColinWaddell/FlightTracker
• Colin’s brain dump – Fridge Flight Tracker