Best flight tracker app for NZ?

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Shaggie

80 posts

Master Geek

# 109379 18-Sep-2012 23:52

Hi all

Downloaded FlightRadar24 and initially all seemed good but over past few days/week i've noticed that several flights I KNOW are in the air not showing up! Very frustrating espcially when i work for the airline concerned!

All my settings seem set to default base settings....

Anyone have any experience with a GOOD flighttracking app for my 4S?

Cheers n thanks

Shane

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# 687957 19-Sep-2012 00:54

Just remember though that in order for a plane to show up it must have an ADS-B transponder - if it doesn't no app will show it (in NZ anyway).

I use FlightRadar24 as well and think it's the best one out there.

A couple of Air NZ's B737s have it, their domestic A320s and Jetstar's A320s do as well, and pretty much every other international flight will show up as well.

http://www.flightradar24.com/how-it-works

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sbiddle

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# 687965 19-Sep-2012 06:08

I use Flight Radar 24 as well.

As mentioned above it only works on planes that have ADS-B transponders. The ADS-B transponder data ia slso fed from individuals who have receivers setup and feed realtime data back online, so doesn't have blanket coverage.

ResponseMediaNZ

447 posts

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Emergency Management

# 687991 19-Sep-2012 08:12

As far as I know there is only 3 or 4 Stations in NZ that are feeding realtime data.

I know there is one in Christchurch that does a fair chunck of the South Island.

Hiamie

326 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 688010 19-Sep-2012 09:16

corksta: I use FlightRadar24 as well and think it's the best one out there.

+1

Just wondering if anyone is having success with the new cockpit view feature that is on the website version? I just noticed this new feature yesterday, but it seems to be very intermittent in operation - mostly not working - crashes and I have to reload the page to try again. When it does work its neat! I tried 2 different dual core PC's and both Firefox and IE, but results remain poor to mostly unusable, for me. (My broadband is quite fast and stable at about 10Mbit/s)

So, I downloaded the iPad app version (paid for the pro version). Sadly this cockpit feature is not (yet?) incorporated into the iPad version of Flightradar24. however, another feature for the iPad pro version is the ability to hold the iPad up to the sky and find a plane in the camera, and the flight details display on the screen - cool!! :)

corksta

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# 688054 19-Sep-2012 10:23

Hiamie:
corksta: I use FlightRadar24 as well and think it's the best one out there.

+1

Just wondering if anyone is having success with the new cockpit view feature that is on the website version? I just noticed this new feature yesterday, but it seems to be very intermittent in operation - mostly not working - crashes and I have to reload the page to try again. When it does work its neat! I tried 2 different dual core PC's and both Firefox and IE, but results remain poor to mostly unusable, for me. (My broadband is quite fast and stable at about 10Mbit/s)

So, I downloaded the iPad app version (paid for the pro version). Sadly this cockpit feature is not (yet?) incorporated into the iPad version of Flightradar24. however, another feature for the iPad pro version is the ability to hold the iPad up to the sky and find a plane in the camera, and the flight details display on the screen - cool!! :)

Yeah for me it's hit and miss as well (Chrome 21 on Mac OS X Mountain Lion).

I'm sure I saw on Twitter that they're looking at ways to implement cockpit view on the iPad as well. Fingers crossed.

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steve2222

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 688059 19-Sep-2012 10:35

another feature for the iPad pro version is the ability to hold the iPad up to the sky and find a plane in the camera, and the flight details display on the screen - cool!! :)

PFAR Free app does that as well.

Hiamie

326 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 688119 19-Sep-2012 12:06

steve2222: PFAR Free app does that as well.

Thanks for that. I tried the free version of PFAR - almost identical to FlightRadar24 as far as identifying planes using the inbuilt camera.

From what I can tell, however, FlightRadar24 does Google map overlays which PFAR didn't show me so I assume PFAR doesn't do that at all, and FlightRadar24 much cheaper ($1.29) than PFAR ($4.19) for the paid versions, so my choice would be FlightRadar24.

Mind you, if all I wanted was the camera identification part of FlightRadar24, then PFAR offers this for free :)

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

# 688149 19-Sep-2012 13:00

Just out of curiosity, has anyone here set up one of these ADS-B systems?
Just wondering how much it might cost to set up a basic 'amateur/hobby' system that I could feed into the Flight Radar 24 website.

steve2222

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 688193 19-Sep-2012 14:45

Hiamie:
steve2222: PFAR Free app does that as well.

Thanks for that. I tried the free version of PFAR - almost identical to FlightRadar24 as far as identifying planes using the inbuilt camera.

From what I can tell, however, FlightRadar24 does Google map overlays which PFAR didn't show me so I assume PFAR doesn't do that at all, and FlightRadar24 much cheaper ($1.29) than PFAR ($4.19) for the paid versions, so my choice would be FlightRadar24.

Mind you, if all I wanted was the camera identification part of FlightRadar24, then PFAR offers this for free :)

Thanks - I will give FlightRadar a go.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 688213 19-Sep-2012 15:09

dontpanic42: Just out of curiosity, has anyone here set up one of these ADS-B systems?
Just wondering how much it might cost to set up a basic 'amateur/hobby' system that I could feed into the Flight Radar 24 website.

There is a bunch of information at nzradar.com that might be helpful in setting up an ADS-B system. Its worth a look through.

Cheers Mike

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

# 688490 19-Sep-2012 22:48

mruane: There is a bunch of information at nzradar.com that might be helpful in setting up an ADS-B system. Its worth a look through.

Cheers Mike

Nice. Cheers for that. :)

Oblivian

3456 posts

Uber Geek

# 688504 20-Sep-2012 00:09

dontpanic42: Just out of curiosity, has anyone here set up one of these ADS-B systems?
Just wondering how much it might cost to set up a basic 'amateur/hobby' system that I could feed into the Flight Radar 24 website.

How did I miss this thread!

T-NZCH1 at your service :)

Ask away.

And yes, there is 3 others here in CHC, But NZCH2 (I know his location etc) has a very high gain antenna and good placement. So BOOMs in with coverage. (including ground traffic)

And as stated, the new ATRs will be equipped, and as they are phased out it won't matter too much that only a few of the 737s have it.

But sadly thats about it, I still monitor everything else out there that doesn't transmit location and display it locally like Mike at palmy north, But without a few more of us we can't use the MLAT feature to guestimate their locations based on reception time.

Oblivian

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# 688508 20-Sep-2012 00:23

Some of my past screenshots etc..

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=85871

Aquired pleanty more since then however. I'm back on a not so good receiver, but still able to receive as far as 170nm out. Which is well past the west coast and a lot of the traffic from aus into wellington.

psychrn

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# 688509 20-Sep-2012 00:31

I too have come to this thread rather late.
I have an Google play app called Flightaware.
I will look at the one suggested above too

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Oblivian

3456 posts

Uber Geek

# 688510 20-Sep-2012 00:43

You will find a lot of the data starting to overlap now.

As a couple of them use the same sources. For instance on FR24 the Orange AC over the US are obtained by FAA ADSI data, official feed supplied by a FAA approved source. But also delayed.

A lot of the others use this same data.

There is also another data source of receivers (T-F4V) sending data in too.

Other site with similar outcomes..
planefinder.net - a lot of planeplotter users upload to this and fr24 at the same time

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