AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: MrT on October 03, 2009, 01:54:27 AM
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Anyone know how I can download ACARS to trial a copy without giving my credit card details?
It seems if you want to download a demo, you have to supply cc payment details.
I'm not comfortable with that.
Cheers,
Paul.
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MrT I agree that does suck from Airnav! Why should you give Credit Card details to get a trial of the software! I paid for Acars 2.1 and AirNav Suite many years ago. I sometimes boot them up now. They have not been updated for many years!
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Hi FlightChaser
I bought it years ago too, but misplaced it.
Is ACARS worth the investment these days ?
I recall I didn't get many hits from my location.
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Anyone know how I can download ACARS to trial a copy without giving my credit card details?
It seems if you want to download a demo, you have to supply cc payment details.
I'm not comfortable with that.
Cheers,
Paul.
i use the free one, http://www.acarsd.org/download.htm
from pat
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Thanks Pat,
I'll have a look.
Cheers,
Paul.
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I gather with RadarBox you dont really need ACARS as it is built into RB software ?
Can I just hook my scanner up and have RB decode it ?
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I gather with RadarBox you dont really need ACARS as it is built into RB software ?
Can I just hook my scanner up and have RB decode it ?
No you can't. You need the Airnav Acars software.
Frank
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I gather with RadarBox you dont really need ACARS as it is built into RB software ?
Can I just hook my scanner up and have RB decode it ?
No, ACARS is not built into RB and RB can not decode ACARS as well. You need separate a scanner, good (highplaced) antenna, ACARS-decoding-software (like AirNav Acars Decoder 2.1) and a PC-soundcard.
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So RadarBox just reads and imports its ACARS data from other software like ACARS ?
What other ACARS software is compatible ?
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Only the AirNav ACARDS Decoder 2 software - see the RadarBox Help and Manual for further details.
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Only the AirNav ACARDS Decoder 2 software - see the RadarBox Help and Manual for further details.
Thanks.
Is there anyway I can download it then pay for it after I've tried it ?
I don't like giving my CC details just for a demo
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So RadarBox just reads and imports its ACARS data from other software like ACARS ?
There is very little integration in RB when you are using the AirNav ACARS software despite all the data being transferred to RB. Pretty much all you will see in an indicator that ACARS data has been received for a particular aircraft. All the other data seems to go straight into a bitbucket :(
Unfortunately this area has received little to no attention during RB development.
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see the RadarBox Help and Manual for further details.
Maybe for some more informations see also this topic:
http://www.airnavsystems.com/forum/index.php?topic=3301.0 (http://www.airnavsystems.com/forum/index.php?topic=3301.0)
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I used to use ACARS software quite a lot, but although I have the AirNav software, I find that with so much information already available in the aircraft lists an on the map, I don't really have the time to look through the ACARS data. Very few aircraft seem to pass position on ACARS and even then it is so sporadic as to make tracking using ACARS a bit hit and miss (positions info is not used by the AirNav software anyway). If you are into collecting ACARS logs and going through these, then I can understand the need, but really ACARS has been left behind by new developments.
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Pretty much all you will see in an indicator that ACARS data has been received for a particular aircraft. All the other data seems to go straight into a bitbucket :(
This is not correct.
If you are using AirNav ACARS Decoder 2.1 in combination with RB then you will see ALL te details of the ACARS-message RB detected behind the ACARS-tab in the RB interface!
(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp18/Bierboum/Screenshots/ACARS-tab.jpg)
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Hi John,
Do you have any interfernce problems when running your scanner whilst RB is also running ?
I think I'd like the option of having ACARS data. I used Wacars & ACARS years ago with some success.
Cheers,
Paul.
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[If you are using AirNav ACARS Decoder 2.1 in combination with RB then you will see ALL te details of the ACARS-message RB detected behind the ACARS-tab in the RB interface!
This is true, but there is almost no integration of the data, as I said - ALL the data is provided to RB, but it doesn't do anything with most of it.
Yes it displays what it has received in a log format, but that is available directly from the ANAD program anyway. RB is not adding any value to the data.
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9637/20091003183804.jpg)
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Ah, what about the message content though?
That's the real juicy bit.
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Do you have any interfernce problems when running your scanner whilst RB is also running ?
Not 100% sure I understand your question, but no there is no interference with anything else on the computer.
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I have to say that I find the"Acars" feature of RB rather pointless. I have always regarded RB as a giant step forward from Acars decoding and plotting.
Those interested in Acars might as well run the two programs side by side and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
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Do you have any interfernce problems when running your scanner whilst RB is also running ?
Not 100% sure I understand your question, but no there is no interference with anything else on the computer.
I notice when running my scanner near the laptop with RB running, I seem to be getting a bit of radio interference through my scanner.
Just wondering if that could have any bad effects when receiving ACARS
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Do you have any interfernce problems when running your scanner whilst RB is also running ?
Hi Paul,
No, I have not. I am using two separate antenna's. One is connected to the RB and one to the scanner.
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I have to say that I find the"Acars" feature of RB rather pointless. I have always regarded RB as a giant step forward from Acars decoding and plotting.
Those interested in Acars might as well run the two programs side by side and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
I always looked on ACARS as a totally different aspect to a/c monitoring. The content of the message is what can be interesting at times.
Like Johns NOTUG in another thread.
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Do you have any interfernce problems when running your scanner whilst RB is also running ?
Not 100% sure I understand your question, but no there is no interference with anything else on the computer.
I notice when running my scanner near the laptop with RB running, I seem to be getting a bit of radio interference through my scanner.
Just wondering if that could have any bad effects when receiving ACARS
You could quite easily be picking up 'hash' from the laptop via the antenna or by the cable you have connecting your radio and the laptop. Move the antenna as far away as possible. Yes, it will affect ACARS decoding.
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I notice when running my scanner near the laptop with RB running, I seem to be getting a bit of radio interference through my scanner.
ANAD does a really good job of decoding the data, you can feed all sorts of bad/overloaded signals into it and it still decodes the data. I have my scanner connected to my TV antenna and there is a bit of hum introduced by the masthead amp, but it doesn't faze ANRB.
I guess if the interference was close to the signaling frequencies it might impact it, but I haven't noticed any problems.
The only time I had a problem was when I moved to the ICOM IC-RX7. IT has far too many settings on it and the default AM decoding is with an AF filter turned on - presumably ICOM think only humans are going to listen to AM. Anyway turning the filter off fixed that for me.
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Those interested in Acars might as well run the two programs side by side and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
funny you should say that, that is exactly how I usually have mine set up :)
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7250/20091003191043.jpg)
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ALL the data is provided to RB, but it doesn't do anything with most of it.
OK, I agree with this. But what should RB do with all the various informations in the ACARS-massages? ACARS is a way of communication that hase nothing to do where RB should be used for in my opinion: see on the screen where aircrafts are positioned and follow them as far as possible....
The ACARS facility is integrated in RB to pleasure AirNav ACARS Decoder users to see the ACARS-information / messages in the same software.
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and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
A verry selfisch thougt.
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But what should RB do with all the various informations in the ACARS-massages?
RB can take a lot of info from ACARS and display in both the interface pane and radar screen. Especially if the aircraft is not broadcasting ADS-B.
Quite often here I see ACARS messages for planes only sending MODE-S info with
Location info (GPS)
Flight id's
Routes
And probably more that I can't think of now. Also it would be great to have the message detail in a window on the main page - much like the Flight Level panel under the radar screen (but smaller).
There are a lot of things that could be done. Just needs a bit of focus :)
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and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
A verry selfisch thougt.
and the space in RB devoted to Acars could be used for some other purpose.
A verry selfisch thougt.
Not at all. These are two completely different systems serving twwo different purposes.
No reason why they should be connected.
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I certainly agree that ACARS can compliment the RB data.
I just need to get my scanner setup a bit further away from RB and my laptop.
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OK pjm! I understand and it is clear to me what you mean. As ACARS-hobbyist as well I only can totaly agree with you in this case. It would be nice if AirNav your ideas will work out.
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It would be nice if AirNav your ideas will work out.
In the screenshot below you can see that RB has received Flight ID (QF0569) and Routing info (YSSY-YPPH) but none of that detail is shown in the interface. Also RB hasn't displayed the ACARS icon in the interface either. It seems RB only displays the ACARS icon if the ACARS data is received AFTER it has received the MODE-S info and is displaying it in the interface screen.
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5834/20091004171609.jpg)
(http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8786/20091004171813.jpg)
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Well, I just paid for ACARS online and just finished setting it up.
I think it will be a worthwhile addition.
I'm going to hook my old Uniden scanner up as a dedicated ACARS receiver.
Paul.
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I'm going to hook my old Uniden scanner up as a dedicated ACARS receiver.
I used to use a Bearcat UBC220XLT when I was first deciding if I wanted the ACARS data and it was a great receiver for the purpose.
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Yes, I used the XLT200 way back in 1999 with ACARS and WACARS.
It worked pretty well.
Just need to find a new battery for it. The old one is toast. Uniden don't make them anymore and they are hard to find.
If you know anywhere I can get an old Uniden BCLXT200 slide on battery pack I'd be most appreciative. I need the whole unit, not just replacement nicads as I managed to damage the original trying to hotwire it to a dc wall power adaptor.
Cheers,
Paul.
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If you know anywhere I can get an old Uniden BCLXT200 slide on battery pack I'd be most appreciative. I need the whole unit, not just replacement nicads as I managed to damage the original trying to hotwire it to a dc wall power adaptor.
Sorry - in this throw away world we live in now its probably almost impossible. There is something on ebay, but by the time you pay to post it to Australia you could probably buy a brand new, latest model, locally.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=XLT+200&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&LH_PrefLoc=2&_odkw=XLT200&_osacat=0
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Yeh, It is really a fantastic scanner though.
It has served me well for 16, going on 17 years. I'll keep looking around.
The latest Uniden model (equivalent to the XLT200) is around $400.
I just bought a new Uniden 396T so I have a scanner. Just want this one as a backup and for ACARS.
Paul.
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Update to this;
I finally found a supplier of Uniden batteries in the US!
Around $60AUS shipped.
Happy with that!!!
Cheers,
Paul
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If you, in Australia have them, look at Amateur Radio Rallies, as there are a number of companies, espaecially in the UK, that will rebuild existing battery cases, with a new set of rechargable nicads, for a small fee, on top of the cost of the Nicads.
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Thanks
If you, in Australia have them, look at Amateur Radio Rallies, as there are a number of companies, espaecially in the UK, that will rebuild existing battery cases, with a new set of rechargable nicads, for a small fee, on top of the cost of the Nicads.
[/quIf you, in Australia have them, look at Amateur Radio Rallies, as there are a number of companies, espaecially in the UK, that will rebuild existing battery cases, with a new set of rechargable nicads, for a small fee, on top of the cost of the Nicads.
Thanks for that, but I needed the complete unit, not just the batteries. I mangled the original beyond repair. : (
Found a mob in the US that sells them relatively cheap. www.grove-ent.com
Cheers,
Paul.
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I have Airnav Acars 2.1 and Airnav Suite 2004. I would like the RadarBox to include Acars plots too and be more integrated. I have to move things around to get the two systems together. Airnav Suite 2004 was my first taste of plotting aircraft on a map. The messages can also be interesting!
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Ah, what about the message content though?
That's the real juicy bit.
just saw a good one :)
(http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8276/20091005225303.jpg)
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Here a not so good massage:
(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp18/Bierboum/Screenshots/HIS.jpg)
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My ACARS software is working great.
Here is an interesting message decoded today from Air New Zealand NZ4792
ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .ZK-NCG [Boeing 767-319/ER Air New Zealand]
Message label: 87 Block id: 0 Msg. no: M02A
Flight id: NZ4792
Message content:-
MWA
HI SUMICH.WE PUT IN 4
792 AS 4 NBRS IS ALL
WE PUT.PREVIOUS FLTS
WOULD HAVE SAME.WOULD
TH
Not sure what thats all about ?
Cheers,
Paul.