PlanePlotter

[Rey Ramon]

Another thing I dabble in is PlanePlotter. Any one else mess with it?

[Theodore Martin]

Ok, this is new for me. What else does it do besides showing the position of RW a/c?

[Michael Blakely]

Yes, I admit, I enjoy listening to LiveATC while watching plots on FlightRadar24. I just wish the plot didn't lag the live ATC by as much as they do.

[Rey Ramon]

I'm kind of just into it. It is real time tracking of real world airplane with information gathered off an antenna that connects to a USB dongle. It utilizes SDR...software defined radio drivers to capture and messages sent out by airplanes. Basically it captures ADS-B and S-mode data emitted by aircraft in realtime. Antenna can be as simple as $6 or $10 cheap anenteaa, to one that sells for a lot more. I'd like to upgrade to Flightaware's $45 antenna, but not worth it living at an apartment since I can't really install it outside. Also, there are plenty of diy websites out there. Since i'm living in an apartment currently, I only have a cheap $10 one that I recently upgraded from a $6. Yes I notice a difference in range. I also upgraded my dongle to the Flightaware Pro Stick Plus (has a built in filter) which sells for $20 on amazon. There are many programs and hardware options...Planteplotter, Flightradar, Flightaware's FlightFeeders, PiAware, and others. I'm just now starting to investigate decoding TCAS and what it takes to do that.


Planeplotter info and download here.
http://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter.htm

This below is where i learned how to set up planeplotter. The only change i think is using Dump1090 now instead of the rtl1090 as the SDR.
http://www.nicstorey.co.uk/planeplotter/

[Rey Ramon]

Flightradar24 and flightaware are different to an extent. They use information from airports, faa, and other private enterprises. So yes there is a delay there. Flightaware is into the ADS-B and S-mode info big time now. So much so that any one who runs a PlanePlotter or other tracking software can feed into flightaware to help their network. On flightaware, if you go to a flight, and select the track log, you will see ATC centers and what not. You will also see MLAT feeder information there too.
PlanePlotter is real time information. The only lag is the time it takes to acquire the radio signal, decode, and then display it in planeplotter. I live 1 mile from KSAT. I can see the airplane on my screen taxing to the runway, and taking off. I can then run out, and look up and see it happening. That's how I got to see AAL and one of the new 787 departing last week. Had no idea they were flying them into KSAT until then. No delay.

[Rey Ramon]

The only problem is that not all aircraft use ADS-B. It's mostly on newer aircraft. But as the conversion from old to newer aircraft, they'll be a time when you'll be capturing the majority of the information.

[Theodore Martin]

WOW, that's amazing. I thought it was simply getting data from the internet as does FlightAware. That's pretty neat that it is getting data direct from the air/radio. So I assume you are only able to track local traffic...or is it getting a retransmitted signal that is capturing regional or nationwide data?

[Rey Ramon]

You capture your local traffic or what ever traffic is within range of your antenna. But you share to the network, and also download from the network. if you hover the cursor over the aircraft, you get data on the plane, and also which reciever is supplying the information. so you can see the traffic you are actually capturing.

[Rey Ramon]

oh...and not just nationally...data share globally. A lot more planes in Europe are using ADS-B technology.

[Rey Ramon]

Thought I'd post a little comparison. Compared Flightaware against my antenna. Mine data was ahead of flightaware. That being said, I feed data to Flight aware.

[Rey Ramon]

Here is my feed on flightaware. Pretty cool set up they have. Looks like I'm able to just reach over 100 miles.
http://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/reyramon