PlanePlotter receives and decodes live digital position reports from aircraft and plots them on a chart.
Using PlanePlotter, you can see a radar-like display of all those aircraft around you that are transmitting the appropriate digital messages including ACARS, ADS-B and HFDL.
PlanePlotter - Features
The animated screen grab from PlanePlotter (left) was kindly provided by John Locker.
Message display
PlanePlotter shows a table display of messages received and decoded from live aircraft transmissions.
Data saving
PlanePlotter archives all the digital data that it receives and decodes to a log file.
Chart display
PlanePlotter plots aircraft positions, altitudes and times decoded from the message traffic that it receives. These include embedded position reports, AMDAR reports and ADS reports contained in ACARS messages, ADS-B position reports received by the Kinetic SBS1(tm) or AirNav System RadarBox(tm) Mode-S receivers, and position reports on HF using Charles Brain's PC-HFDL software. The plot can be superimposed on a suitable aeronatical chart that you have prepared, or PlanePlotter can download satellite imagery and plot the aircraft symbols on that. Where altitude information is available (eg Mode-S messages), you can select the data by altitude band to distinguish low level and high level traffic.
Google Earth server
If you are receiving Mode-S ADS-B position reports, PlanePlotter can interface to Google Earth to display aircraft positions over the Google Earth base map. It can even give you a dynamic real-time view from the flight deck of an aircraft that you designate.
Direction finding
PlanePlotter can determine and display the direction of any transmission using a simple passive antenna switch. This allows aircraft to be located even if they are not equipped with ACARS or Mode-S/ADS-B.
Input signals
PlanePlotter can decode ACARS messages, display the message content and plot any positions on a chart.
PlanePlotter can process and display ADS-B position reports captured by the Kinetic SBS1(tm), the AirNav Systems RadarBox(tm) and the RxControl Mode-S receivers.
PlanePlotter can also work in conjunction with Charles Brain's PC-HFDL software (http://www.chbrain.dircon.co.uk/pchfdl.html) by automatically extracting position reports from the log file and plotting them in real time on the same chart display. PlanePlotter adds value by calculating course and heading from successive reports from the same aircraft and plotting the predicted position between reports (right).
PlanePlotter can drive a passive antenna switch and display the direction (QDM) of any aircraft voice transmission.
GPX overlays
PlanePlotter can display waypoints, tracks or routes over the current chart using data from a user-defined GPX format file.
Alerts
PlanePlotter can generate visible and audible alerts on detection of a specified registration, flight number or ADS identifier, on detection of any new aircraft, or on detection of an aircraft whose position is inside a user-defined Alert zone polygon.
Memory-Map Navigator support
PlanePlotter can direct the Memory-Map Navigator program (www.memory-map.com) to display dynamic aircraft position symbols over its proprietary maps using data from either ACARS or Mode-S ADS-B (in conjunction with the SBS1 receiver).
OLE/COM interface
You can access the position and other data for each aircraft known to PlanePlotter using a simple VB script or other OLE/COM capable program. You can use the same interface to update data held by PlanePlotter and to control the user interface.
DDE access
You can access ACARS, HFDL and Mode-S messages received by PlanePlotter using DDE. This facility makes PlanePlotter an ideal front end for other ACARS software.
Peer-to-peer output
PlanePlotter can send its message data to another remote instance of PlanePlotter using UDP/IP datagrams. You can send ACARS messages, HFDL messages, Mode-S (ADS-B) messages and Direction finding measurements so that another computer displays the same data as your computer.
Peer-to-peer audio
PlanePlotter can send audio to another remote instance of PlanePlotter using UDP/IP datagrams. This means that a remote user can hear the ATC instructions that you are hearing on your local air band receiver.
Internet sharing
PlanePlotter can send its message data to a shared server so that messages that you have received locally (ACARS, HFDL or ADS-B), can be seen by other PlanePlotter users in different areas. In this way, each user enjoys the reception coverage of all the cooperating users together. Consult the software licence for the special terms and conditions applicable to this feature.
HF selcal decoding
PlanePlotter can decode HF selcal tones that can be used to identify an aircraft communicating on the HF air bands. No position reports are carried by HF selcal but it provides yet another means of monitoring aircraft that PlanePlotter can perform.
Report generator
PlanePlotter can generate a text file containing user-defined data fields for aircraft received during the session.
Movie generator
PlanePlotter can generate an AVI movie file showing a speeded up version of the display window. You can review aircraft movements, including those received by sharing, at a later date by playing the AVI file in, for example, Windows Media Player.
Graphical file output
PlanePlotter can generate a JPG graphic file of the current window at regular intervals. You can use the same file repeatedly (to upload it to a web page, for example) or a succession of sequential file names for later processing. It can also generate a time-lapse AVO movie file of any of the display screens.
Localizing aircraft without positions
PlanePlotter can even give you an idea of where aircraft are that are not radiating positions. By combining the information from all the sharers who are receiving the aircraft, Planeplotter can shade in the area on the chart in which the unknown is located.
Automatic registration from 24-bit hex code
Although Mode-S ADS-B messages do not include the aircraft registration letters, PlanePlotter can can determine the registration letters algorithmically, from the 24-bit hex address, for most aircraft registered in France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Canada and United States.
Multilateration of aircraft without ADS-B
Some aircraft transmit Mode-S messages without transmitting the ADS-B formats that include position. Provided that there are sufficient suitable users receiving such an aircraft, PlanePlotter can can determine the position using the arrival time of the Mode-S transmissions at each user. In the diagram at right, the blue lines are hyperbolic curves based on each pair of participating users. The intersection of the hyperbolae indicates the position of the selected aircraft. See below for more details on using this feature. Note that the special licence conditions applicable to the Internet sharing feature, also apply to Multilateration.
SMS Alerts
You can configure PlanePlotter to send details of aircraft that trigger your specified alerts, to a mobile phone number as a text message. This feature requires you to specify your mobile phone number and to buy message credits for the texts that you want to receive using this link.
My Sky View
PlanePlotter is able to display a perspective view of the sky, as seen from your home location. It allows you to make positive identification of aircraft contrails during the day and of aircraft strobe lights at night. The daytime view shows the position of the Sun and Moon and the nighttime view shows the Moon, bright stars and planets for reference purposes.
Requirements to run PlanePlotter
- Pentium level PC running 2k/XP/Vista with compatible sound card
- For ACARS : VHF receiver tuned to an appropriate ACARS channel in AM mode and Aircraft within VHF range that are transmitting the messages
- For ADS-B :
- Kinetic SBS1(tm) Mode-S receiver and BaseStation software (www.kinetic-avionics.co.uk).
- AirNav Systems RadarBox(tm) receiver system.
- PlaneGadget Radar (www.radargadgets.com).
- Aurora Mode-S receiver (coming soon http://www.auroraeurotech.com).
- RxControl Mode-S receiver system (kit built).
Versions of PlanePlotter up to 2.6 work with the Spider version of BaseStation; subsequent versions work with the Snoopy BaseStation. Versions of PlanePlotter from 3.8 work with the RadarBox(tm). Versions of PlanePlotter from 5.4.3.3 work with the RxControl receiver. Versions of PlanePlotter from 5.4.7.5 work with the PlaneGadget Radar receiver. - For real-time flight deck views : Google Earth software
- For direction finding : DF antenna switch
- For HFDL plotting : PC-HFDL software (http://www.chbrain.dircon.co.uk/pchfdl.html) and an HF SSB receiver
- For HF selcal decoding : HF receiver with USB mode and fine tuning steps
- To share local ATC calls : VHF receiver with AM mode tuned to your local ATC frequencies
- Some of the advanced features in PlanePlotter are relatively complex and may involve unfamiliar concepts. There is an implicit requirement that PlanePlotter users have some familiarity with routine Windows operations, file manipulation etc., that they understand something about firewalls, routers and networks, that they are able to find their own latitude and longitude, and that they are prepared to spend time diligently studying the Help file to understand how to get the best out of these advanced features.
PlanePlotter can be downloaded freely and comes in a
self-extracting EXE file which automatically installs itself.
The download file size is a modest 6 Mb.
Registration of PlanePlotter
PlanePlotter can be freely downloaded and used for 21 days. After
that time it must be registered. Registration can be done
swiftly and securely on-line and costs only Euro €25 (plus
VAT for EU residents) for personal use. A higher fee applies to professional
or commercial use of PlanePlotter. We strongly recommend that you ensure
that PlanePlotter performs to your satisfaction before
registering.
Multilateration in PlanePlotter
Multilateration to locate Mode-S aircraft that are not transmitting ADS-B position reports, is a premium service within PlanePlotter. Only "Master Users" of PlanePlotter can initiate multilateration requests.
SBS1/SBS1e users who are regular raw data providers are automatically Master Users. If you are an SBS1/SBS1e user and if you have set up your system to provide raw data to the multilateration scheme and your system has been validated and you make it generally available for other users' benefit, then in return for your contributing raw data, you are automatically entitled to Master User status and there is no additional fee for using this feature. Note that providing raw data is not the same as the routine Internet sharing of aircraft data between users and very occasional or intermittent provision of raw data does not qualify. Only regular raw data providers have automatic Master User status.
If you are a PlanePlotter licence holder but are not an SBS1/SBS1e user, or if there are reasons why you cannot contribute raw data regularly, you can request temporary Master User status for an experimental period of 21 days using the link below. If you request the 21 day trial, you are not committed to paying any fee unless you want to continue to use it after the end of 21 days. After that, you may choose to pay a small annual fee of Euro 12.00 (plus VAT in EU countries) to continue as a Master User. To request your 21 day free trial, please follow the link below.
PocketPlanePlotter
If you have a Pocket PC (eg an iPaq PDA with ARM processor), then you can decode ACARS messages when you are mobile, by using PocketPlanePlotter. It is intended for use in situations where it is not convenient to use a laptop or desktop computer. Pocket PlanePlotter does not include as many options as the desktop version but it can save decoded messages in a log file for later analysis.
Support for PlanePlotter users
- David Taylor has orchestrated an invaluable wikipedia for PlanePlotter that you will find here. PlanePlotter wikipedia.
- There is a lively user group on Yahoo groups where you can find useful files, charts, utilities and answers to a wide range of questions. PlanePlotter user group.
Plug-ins for PlanePlotter
CombiPlotter provides you with a low-overhead means of displaying the aircraft data known to PlanePlotter on another chart view. It will plot simultaneous data from ShipPlotter, PlanePlotter, OrbcommPlotter and SondeMonitor on a single chart.
PP2GM shows you your PlanePlotter aircraft on a Google-Map display. Curt Deegan has exercised his skill with scripting languages to extract the current aircraft displayed on the PlanePlotter chart and to display them instead on a local Google-Map presentation. This add on requires a recent version of PlanePlotter and an Internet connection for Google-Maps but it does not require a web server.
FindFlight is another of Curt Deegan's outstanding scripts. FindFlight uses a flight number to retrieve flight and airport details from Internet on-line databases. PP designated plane feature used to select which flight to look up and can add the result to the PP database Route field. PP Route time stamp used to update old routes. Allows changing options while running. Will look up and set reg.num. and a/c type. Manual, automatic, and unattended modes. Includes AutoZoom function. Now with mouse-over pop-up route info display.
PP Outline Navigator contributed by Keith, a new add-on author, is a simple one click navigation toolbox that enables you to pan, zoom save and restore in Outline View with just one click. NOTES - requires .NET Framework version 2 (or possibly the latest version 3.5 to be safe), also PP must be running BEFORE you run this executable!
Disclaimer
There are considerable variations in the legislation concerning radio reception in the different administrations around the world. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not your local administration permits the reception of radio signals from aircraft. It is specifically forbidden to use PlanePlotter for any illegal purpose whatsoever. The existence and the availability of PlanePlotter is not to be construed as an incitement to commit any unlawful act. It is for use only in those states and regions where such use is permitted.
The peer-to-peer data exchanges are to be used only where the users at both ends of the link are situated in jurisdictions were such use is permitted.
The Internet sharing and multilateration features are to be regarded as experimental and may be withdrawn at any time.
PlanePlotter code is tested to an extent that is adequate for entertainment and educational use but is neither warranted nor tested for any operational use whatsoever.
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