Aircraft ACARS/ADS-B in NZ

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Oblivian

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#85871 27-Jun-2011 15:29

Hey dudes,

I did search thinling there was a prior thread mentioning ACARS, but cant seem to find it at this time.

So heres a new one on my recent playing around.

Ive been messing around ever since Police went *whistle* digital here with other aspects. One of them being ACARS decoding. And now ADS-B. Pointless data, but one of those 'cause I can!' hobbies.

ACARS is a short message system from a centre console in aircraft to/from ground crews. With data regarding flight plans/weather/general comms/GPS co-ords.

Ive been dumping this data into a SQL database for display in a nice PHP generated table (will an example later) which translates Registration/AC type etc.

The more recent on-the-cheap purchase was to get a microADSB unit, to decode ADSB radar signals.

This is a different mode of plane-plane radar that more or less says 'here I am, dont hit me' negating the need for ground controllers between continents.

This method has a GPS location within each 'blip' and software is able to display this graphically. There are 3 stations in NZ, NZAA, NZCH (off atm) and NZPN all inputting to http://www.flightradar24.com for quite a bit of coverage over NZ, but zoom out to see the traffic over AU/Europe :)

Another good NZ based resourse is http://www.nzradar.com Mike has been helpfull to point me in the direction when working with the SQL/PHP stuff and also has quite a few logs to browse.

If anyone else is interested in getting into it. Sing out.

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/15741f76a297eb91095c15e89c7e964e.jpg

This shows Emirates comming in from around 10,000ft, then a local Airbus beating it to the ILS path

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#486461 27-Jun-2011 15:32

Hi there,

Interesting to see somebody else had an interest in this too, I was trying to find a decoder too but couldn't seem to find any available. I wouldn't mind seeing some of your results if you were willing to show them off.

Cody

corksta

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#486477 27-Jun-2011 15:56

I'm a plane geek as well. I collect the registration of aircraft I see around the world and aircraft I fly on, but still trying to work out the best way to tabulate it.

What you've done here is pretty awesome Oblivion, be nice if there were more ADS-B receivers around, using the FlightRadar24 iPhone/iPad app is pretty cool.

Oblivian

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#487604 29-Jun-2011 23:24

The christchurch monitor for FR24 is offline at present while he is in australia working. I was getting my kit together as a secondary backup but I don't think my range, and lack of fulltime server will be appropriate for them.

Heres a SS of tonights hits on acars. ACARSD dumps them to a sql dbase (guided by nzradar.com guide) and then I pull the info from there. Jetstar (when not avoiding ashclouds) send GPS waypoints on trans tasman flights on approach and I have strings to strip them and convert them into clickable google earth format when present. I can receive these from the west coast as opposed to line of sight ADS Signals.

The regos are also clickable for lookups similar to nzradar.com

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/685f62a57f4dcb293495800942452abb.jpg

Getting there with my ADS-B Setup. Coax cable ready, just need a pigtail and a panel mount and I'll complete the construction of a DIY antenna for roof mounting. Should boost the range a bit.

Have been logging them into SQL from a trial version of planeplotter.

Even captured the C17 arrival to CHC today. Apparently here to do a medivac from the ice during 24hr darkness. Keen!

Oblivian

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#489586 5-Jul-2011 11:09

I'm now sporatically updating to Flightradar24.com as NZCH1 :)

The normal CHC radar guy is overseas, not that it will bother most you akl folk. Theres 1 in the middle of akl and one at the airport, so you guys get most the north island covered mixed with the palmy user.

Patchy coverage. And in middle of making an antenna to mount on a pole to increase my range from 20nm to hopefully around 120-200. Cable, pigtain and adaptor at the ready.

Will keep you posted.

And anyone in wlg wanting to add (or dunedin/invers)... they are more than open to it :)

Oblivian

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#492254 11-Jul-2011 23:39

Well. I made the antenna. Works a treat!

I get around 90nm average. Fartherest contact 123nm out from me. Covers Lake rotoiti to the north, to Oamaru in the south.

And between the 2 coasts either side.

Again.. if anyone in Wellington wants a task and is interested. I can point you in the direction to fill a hole we have accross the water :)

Contact tonight.. often see just his contrails.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2300/qf17.jpg

msukiwi

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#1748323 26-Mar-2017 20:45

Well I have been "into" ADS-B receiving for about 6 months now.

I don't feed anyone else. (There are over 35 in Christchurch already feeding anyway - I see no point in adding another one)

Originally used a discone with an Airspy Mini and ADSBSpy on Win10 and "got hooked".

Bought in a dedicated 1090MHz Aerial from Slovenia or was it Slovakia via eBay.

Progressed to a Blue Flightaware SDR stick with inbuilt filter and preamp.

Added Dump1090-Mutability on an RPI-3 (What a learning experience that was!) and run Virtual Radar Server on my Win10 machine.

Then use Virtual Radar and ADSBScope to display.

Interesting ADSBScope does not detect ZK-OXI ever - Yet Virtual Radar does.

Also sometimes one "sees" an aircraft before the other.

I just added a Flightaware 5.5dBi antenna to my 6.5m pole. (And gained about 50km extra range)

The new antenna is definitly worth it. I get near to "theoretical" coverage.

Only annoying thing is the number of large and tall trees within a block of me. You can see the "wedges" of blocking from them.

1090MHz doesn't get through them and since in the unobstructed directions I'm receiving up to 267km so far. (Just north of Nelson / Blenheim / West Coast)

So adding a preamp won't help. (A chainsaw might :-) )

Good to know when military aircraft are in the area as they are blocked on the online sites.

I saw the RAF Airbus A332 here for the Air force celebrations / sales pitch replacement for the Hercules. It was impressive when it did a really slow pass.

So Flightaware definitely from my experience make a very good USB stick and antenna.

What a great hobby!

sbiddle

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#1748465 27-Mar-2017 08:01

Many people just run feeders to get free access to the apps without paying.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

frankv

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#1748470 27-Mar-2017 08:13

codyc1515:
I was trying to find a decoder too but couldn't seem to find any available.

Look into RTL-SDR. You can buy a cheap dongle for a PC and use it to pick up transponder (ADSB) signals. In particular, there's https://github.com/MalcolmRobb/dump1090 to run this on a Raspberry Pi.

Oblivian

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#1748491 27-Mar-2017 08:48

Was going to suggest the same sbiddle. My 2nd test id is ch26.

There's only probably 10 regular long range uploaders. The rest come and gone, incorrectly resigned up each time they reinstall (reserves another id) or get 20k range from the bedroom window to keep a premium account going

Until they changed to require signal before id activation it use to dish them out to people who ran the software for the hell of it with no receiver intentions

afe66

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#1748551 27-Mar-2017 10:28

I setup one of my raspberry pi 3 last week using the piaware image that uploads to flightaware.

Very easy. Copy the image to SD then plug in RTL-SDR USB stick and away you go...

I'm in a valley in Dunedin but can see 50km using the tiny 6 inch antenna.

According to flightaware there are 4 people within 100km of Dunedin uploading data and 75% are running raspberry pi.

Need to look into a proper antenna to put on the roof. Currently it's sitting on my desk.

A.

afe66

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#1748555 27-Mar-2017 10:33

Do the ground navigation beacons also broadcast on ads-b? Because I have a plane sitting on one of the hills where I know there's a beacon that is used to turn to lineup with Dunedin Airport.

A.

Oblivian

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#1748560 27-Mar-2017 10:45

afe66: Do the ground navigation beacons also broadcast on ads-b? Because I have a plane sitting on one of the hills where I know there's a beacon that is used to turn to lineup with Dunedin Airport.

A.

C87ED5 or similar? Yeah one of airways stations for a reference point in their system I think.

afe66

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#1748624 27-Mar-2017 11:51

Sounds about right.
Initially I wondered if it was a chopper working on transmitters, but it doesn't move.

Did pickup the rescue helicopter the other day.

A.

msukiwi

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#1749521 28-Mar-2017 15:53

Managed to get an A320 from Melbourne to Wellington today at 290km from me here in Christchurch. (It was Northwest of Westport)

I must say the Flighaware antenna is really good.

Shindig

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#1749938 29-Mar-2017 09:44

msukiwi:

Managed to get an A320 from Melbourne to Wellington today at 290km from me here in Christchurch. (It was Northwest of Westport)

I must say the Flighaware antenna is really good.

I feed FR24 off a RPI and the 1.5M whip antenna. It works ok, but range is pretty poor. Currently in the loft, but do plan on a project to get all the kit outside and up high.

I've read about those flightaware antenna. Quite pricey at around $120NZD.

Where did you get yours from?

The little things make the biggest difference.

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