Check the chain in order.
Broadcast→Receiver
Observation→Service
Map display
Check the transmitting system
Use its own status and documented test procedure. Confirm that the expected RID function is supported and enabled.
Check receiver compatibility
Confirm the supported protocols, radio hardware and software. Do not assume that an app can receive every signal merely because a phone has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Check the service
Look for the service’s published coverage and access limitations. A receiver observation and a publicly displayed track are different outputs.
A useful reception test note
Record the aircraft and receiver versions, test location, approximate separation, obstructions and the time. Keep the test within the aircraft’s permitted operation. Repeatable observations are more useful for support than a screenshot of an empty map.
For a practical example of received observations, see the map guide, which includes a labelled Layer400 promotion. A map is not an enforcement verdict or a compliance certificate.
Sources & review.
Official guidance behind this answer
Source review: 26 October 2026. Our practical checklists are editorial aids. Check the current source and your operation’s conditions before making a flying decision.