How far a Remote ID receiver can pick up a broadcast isn't a fixed number — it depends on a combination of installation choices and environmental conditions specific to each site. Anyone planning a deployment benefits from understanding these factors rather than expecting a single stated range to apply everywhere.
Antenna height and placement
Because Remote ID broadcasts over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth behave like other short-range radio signals, line of sight matters. A receiver antenna mounted higher and with a clearer view toward the surrounding sky will generally pick up broadcasts from farther away and at lower altitudes than one mounted low or surrounded by obstructions. This is why installation guidance for detection hardware typically emphasizes mounting height and sightlines as much as the receiver hardware itself.
Terrain and obstructions
Buildings, trees, hills, and other structures between a receiver and an aircraft can attenuate or block the signal entirely, the same way they affect Wi-Fi coverage inside a building. Sites with significant terrain variation or dense structures nearby should expect coverage to vary by direction rather than forming a uniform circle around the receiver.
Radio conditions
Because Remote ID broadcasts share spectrum with everyday Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, receiver performance can also be influenced by the surrounding radio-frequency environment — the density of other 2.4/5 GHz devices nearby, for example. This is a general characteristic of the underlying radio technologies, and it's part of why real-world detection performance is best evaluated for the specific site and conditions involved rather than assumed from a generic figure.