Will a laptop or other portable equipment receive and display Mode S radar info?

[C. Osbourne]

Recently I saw a Garmin G1000's (very cool) Mode S
radar display, superimposed over the moving map display.
They call it: "Mode-S transponders with Traffic Information
Service (TIS)"

We were in a class "B" area, and seeing all the traffic
in the area superimposed over the sectional map was
really fantastic.

My question is, is there a way to do something like this
with a laptop, computer that will receive this signal
in a portable unit that could be moved from plane to
plane?

The Garmin is a wonderfull piece of equipment, but way
outside my price range. Here's a page that shows some
info about the "Mode S" technology.

http://mit.edu/6.933/www/Fall2000/mode-s/technology.html

[Newps]

C. Osbourne wrote:
> Recently I saw a Garmin G1000's (very cool) Mode S
> radar display, superimposed over the moving map display.
> They call it: "Mode-S transponders with Traffic Information
> Service (TIS)"
>
> We were in a class "B" area, and seeing all the traffic
> in the area superimposed over the sectional map was
> really fantastic.
>
> My question is, is there a way to do something like this
> with a laptop, computer that will receive this signal
> in a portable unit that could be moved from plane to
> plane?


No, the data is only sent to airplanes with mode S transponders. That's
how your plane is in the middle of the display and data about other
aircraft are referenced to you. It's not just a generic broadcast that
can be picked up by anybody with the right receiver.

[BTIZ]

you don't need the G-1000, with a modeS transponder connected to the right
interface and other data requirements will provide the display, the small
Garmin 430/530 units do that also and I'm sure there are other brand names

BT

"C. Osbourne" > wrote in message
...
>
> Recently I saw a Garmin G1000's (very cool) Mode S
> radar display, superimposed over the moving map display.
> They call it: "Mode-S transponders with Traffic Information
> Service (TIS)"
>
> We were in a class "B" area, and seeing all the traffic
> in the area superimposed over the sectional map was
> really fantastic.
>
> My question is, is there a way to do something like this
> with a laptop, computer that will receive this signal
> in a portable unit that could be moved from plane to
> plane?
>
> The Garmin is a wonderfull piece of equipment, but way
> outside my price range. Here's a page that shows some
> info about the "Mode S" technology.
>
> http://mit.edu/6.933/www/Fall2000/mode-s/technology.html
>
>

[C. Osbourne]

Thanks for the info, Too bad you can't just setup the right
equipment to receive the signals, but what you say makes sense.

It's just that's it's "drop dead cool", I'd really like to have
something that shows that data, that didn't cost as much as
the other 1/2 of the plane!



In article >, says...
>
>
>
>C. Osbourne wrote:
>> Recently I saw a Garmin G1000's (very cool) Mode S
>> radar display, superimposed over the moving map display.
>> They call it: "Mode-S transponders with Traffic Information
>> Service (TIS)"
>>
>> We were in a class "B" area, and seeing all the traffic
>> in the area superimposed over the sectional map was
>> really fantastic.
>>
>> My question is, is there a way to do something like this
>> with a laptop, computer that will receive this signal
>> in a portable unit that could be moved from plane to
>> plane?
>
>
>No, the data is only sent to airplanes with mode S transponders. That's
>how your plane is in the middle of the display and data about other
>aircraft are referenced to you. It's not just a generic broadcast that
>can be picked up by anybody with the right receiver.
>
>
>

[Darrel Toepfer]

C. Osbourne wrote:

> Thanks for the info, Too bad you can't just setup the right
> equipment to receive the signals, but what you say makes sense.
>
> It's just that's it's "drop dead cool", I'd really like to have
> something that shows that data, that didn't cost as much as
> the other 1/2 of the plane!

There are several programs (subscription required) that allow you to see
all IFR traffic in the area on a computer via the internet...

Not the same thing, but its getting there and bringing the costs down...

[Webdaddy]

You could subscribe to Flight Explorer Personal Edition (10 Hours a
month) for $8.95 and then purchase a Verizon EVDO card and subscribe to
that service for $89.95 a month. Works well below 12500 ft. only problem
is that the data displayed is 10 minutes delayed due the the security
situation. Thats what I do and it works fine. A little pricey at $100 a
month but I need both of the features for work so it works out for me.
Another option if you live in certain areas may be the acarsd client
which shows acars reports only (very limited coverage areas however) but
its free.

Kevin


Darrel Toepfer > wrote in news:OeY_d.36645$6g7.17252
@bignews1.bellsouth.net:

> C. Osbourne wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the info, Too bad you can't just setup the right
>> equipment to receive the signals, but what you say makes sense.
>>
>> It's just that's it's "drop dead cool", I'd really like to have
>> something that shows that data, that didn't cost as much as
>> the other 1/2 of the plane!
>
> There are several programs (subscription required) that allow you to
see
> all IFR traffic in the area on a computer via the internet...
>
> Not the same thing, but its getting there and bringing the costs
down...
>

[Montblack]

("Webdaddy" wrote)
> You could subscribe to Flight Explorer Personal Edition (10 Hours a
> month) for $8.95 and then purchase a Verizon EVDO card and subscribe to
> that service for $89.95 a month. Works well below 12500 ft. only problem
> is that the data displayed is 10 minutes delayed due the the security
> situation. Thats what I do and it works fine. A little pricey at $100 a
> month but I need both of the features for work so it works out for me.


10 minute delay? That's already 20 miles (one way) at only 120 mph.

Is this still useful info? Curious about this feature.


Montblack

[Morgans]

"Montblack" > wrote >
> 10 minute delay? That's already 20 miles (one way) at only 120 mph.
>
> Is this still useful info? Curious about this feature.
>
>
> Montblack

But the key factor is how far a storm night move; not very far. As long as
the radar view is reasonably wide coverage, it should help in steering
around storm cells. Better than nothing, and not too expensive.
--
Jim in NC

[Morgans]

"Morgans" wrote

"wihout his glasses on" <g>

**** how far a storm (m)ight move****

That makes more sense, right?
--
Jim in NC

[Montblack]

("Morgans" radar)
> But the key factor is how far a storm night move; not very far. As long
> as
> the radar view is reasonably wide coverage, it should help in steering
> around storm cells. Better than nothing, and not too expensive.


I guess I was focused in on the Mode S radar info as positioning other
'aircraft' on a screen - with the
10 minute delay.

Maybe I missed the (flying)boat here and it's 90% a weather radar system...?


Montblack
First rain showers of the season. Heavy and steady rain all morning in the
Twin Cities - yard snow finally all gone today. Only the biggest cul-de-sac
snow piles are still hanging on.

[Newps]

Montblack wrote:

> ("Morgans" radar)
>
>> But the key factor is how far a storm night move; not very far. As
>> long as
>> the radar view is reasonably wide coverage, it should help in steering
>> around storm cells. Better than nothing, and not too expensive.
>
>
>
> I guess I was focused in on the Mode S radar info as positioning other
> 'aircraft' on a screen - with the
> 10 minute delay.

Mode S radar will not give the pilot any weather info. It can't, unless
the FAA has now mandated Mr. Weather to have a mode C transponder in his
cloud. Weather info comes from primary radar.