Aviation stuff (profession related and licensed)

Satellite receiver

433 MHz and 868MHz IoT protocol hacking

ShinyChrome:

 

I've been thinking about having a play around with ADS-B, but unsure on the best place to source kit; been looking at these two on Amazon, a FlightAware Pro dongle and 1090mhz aerial, but ends up being $131 NZD shipped here, so I'm sure there are probably cheaper options. Plus some cable to join them and a Pi or VM of course, but I can sort those locally.

 

You can play with just a $US10 USB TV tuner, assuming it has the correct RTL chip. The bundled antenna will pick up nearby ADS-B broadcasts.

That's all I use, paired with a cheap antenna off eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ADS-B-antenna-omni-1090-MHz-6-dBi-for-SBS-Radarbox-micro-ADSB-RTL-flightbox-/202815752785

Before investing too much, I'd recommend a "cantenna" first.

SirHumphreyAppleby:

 

You can play with just a $US10 USB TV tuner, assuming it has the correct RTL chip. The bundled antenna will pick up nearby ADS-B broadcasts.

 

That's all I use, paired with a cheap antenna off eBay.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ADS-B-antenna-omni-1090-MHz-6-dBi-for-SBS-Radarbox-micro-ADSB-RTL-flightbox-/202815752785

 

Interesting, although since the stick is only $20 USD, wouldn't it be just as easy to go with that? I'm assuming it's not specifically locked to FlightAware as well.

And, correct me if I am wrong, but the antenna I linked is about the same price ($40 USD) and appears to be the same spec as the eBay one? if its all the same, I'd probably prefer to buy it from a legit outfit like FlightAware to be honest.

joemate:

 

Before investing too much, I'd recommend a "cantenna" first.

 

That sounds... interesting

Edit: the f***ing stupid proxy linker is screwing up my Amazon links. These are the ones I meant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WZL6WPO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3 and https://www.amazon.com/FlightAware-FA-PROSTICKPLUS-1-Receiver-Built-Filter/dp/B01M7REJJW 

ShinyChrome:

 

Interesting, although since the stick is only $20 USD, wouldn't it be just as easy to go with that? I'm assuming it's not specifically locked to FlightAware as well.

 

And, correct me if I am wrong, but the antenna I linked is about the same price ($40 USD) and appears to be the same spec as the eBay one? if its all the same, I'd probably prefer to buy it from a legit outfit like FlightAware to be honest.

 

Prices and availability are significantly different from when I set up my system more than five years ago. I'd go with the FlightAware dongle now too, but only because the Pro model has a built-in filter. Otherwise, it won't be significantly different from a TV dongle on the inside.

The antenna linked to currently has no sellers shipping to NZ, so you'd need to find another source or use a freight forwarder, which is likely to be expensive. I'm limited by my location, but still see some aircraft over 200 miles with my current configuration.

SirHumphreyAppleby:

 

I'm limited by my location, but still see some aircraft over 200 miles with my current configuration.

 

The distance will be a factor of their altitude.

Anyone out there in the South Island or Australia with reliable ADS-B that would be interested in feeding a North Island station?

Having a real hard time finding any feeders in the South Island! (actually cant find any!)

Any help appreciated!

Thanks :)

What do you mean by feeders?

There are many many people feeding Flightaware in the south island.

There are 10 people feeding around Dunedin airport alone..

afe66:

 

What do you mean by feeders?

 

There are many many people feeding Flightaware in the south island.

 

There are 10 people feeding around Dunedin airport alone..

 

Hey Mate,

I'm just looking for people who would be interested in feeding a "stand alone" hobby, Non-profit ads-b website setup. I also feed flightaware and am aware that i can get a feed from ADS-B exchange but am not looking for a worldwide feed.

Is there any such list of all ADS-B receivers willing to share feeds? Google doesn't have much to offer in this respect :(

Countryman98:

afe66:

What do you mean by feeders?

There are many many people feeding Flightaware in the south island.

There are 10 people feeding around Dunedin airport alone..

Hey Mate,

 

I'm just looking for people who would be interested in feeding a "stand alone" hobby, Non-profit ads-b website setup. I also feed flightaware and am aware that i can get a feed from ADS-B exchange but am not looking for a worldwide feed.

Is there any such list of all ADS-B receivers willing to share feeds? Google doesn't have much to offer in this respect :(

I find the level of fascination with ADSB astonishing and surprising.

I can understand planespotters sitting at the closest spot they can get to snap good photos of various aircraft, but the ADSB fascination takes this to whole new level altogether. You never see the aircraft, (generally) it's some hunk of aluminium up there zipping from A to B along the same pathway as the aircraft ahead of and behind it.

Technofreak:

 

I find the level of fascination with ADSB astonishing and surprising.

 

Ditto for rugby etc.

I regularly pick people up from the airport, so I find ADS-B to be useful.

There is a sense of achievement that comes from getting the best signal you can for your location and maintaining a long uptime. There is also the warm fuzzy feeling you get giving back to the community by way of feeding data. I maintain free software and do volunteer work, both of which are much more fulfilling, but I but still feel good about giving my trivial little ADS-B feed to the world.

Technofreak:

 

I find the level of fascination with ADSB astonishing and surprising.

 

Same here :)

I've got hundreds of bits and pieces of electronics that I thought would be a good idea to buy and haven't done anything with... so when I recently brought an SDR stick for $20 (Bargain I couldn't resist !!) I was determined to do something with it :)

Turns out I am having quite a bit of fun building antennas and stuff to get better range, it's become a bit of a competition.

Worthless Weather Satellite pictures next !!

SirHumphreyAppleby:

 

Technofreak:

 

I find the level of fascination with ADSB astonishing and surprising.

 

 

Ditto for rugby etc.

 

I regularly pick people up from the airport, so I find ADS-B to be useful.

 

There is a sense of achievement that comes from getting the best signal you can for your location and maintaining a long uptime. There is also the warm fuzzy feeling you get giving back to the community by way of feeding data. I maintain free software and do volunteer work, both of which are much more fulfilling, but I but still feel good about giving my trivial little ADS-B feed to the world.

 

Exactly what does the world do with this info? Does it even need it? Other than knowing the potential arrival time of an aircraft which can be easily determined by other sources I don't see much value.

I wonder how everyone would feel if prying eyes were able to watch an equivalent signal generated by all cars, trucks and busses, thus being able to see where Joe Bloggs (you) was driving and at what speed etc?

Technofreak:I wonder how everyone would feel if prying eyes were able to watch an equivalent signal generated by all cars, trucks and busses, thus being able to see where Joe Bloggs (you) was driving and at what speed etc?

Aren't they called Traffic Cameras? Not tracked, but you can watch the cameras!

You can access lots of them from:

https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/cameras/