Hi All.
I am very interested in buying an SBS receiver, but totally blank on what it actually does and how it all works.
Am I correct in saying that I can track aircraft over flying at high altitude in my area, and find its registration number etc.
If anyone has any time to give me some info, I would be very grateful.
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Regards
Nordjet415
By: nordjet415 - 11th February 2007 at 19:17
Re SBS Help
Guys
Thanks very much for all the info, its much appreciated.
Regards
Nordjet415
By: pilotwannabe - 11th February 2007 at 13:53
I stick to Open ATC, which runs in Google Earth…
Might not be as good as SBS but is free and only delayed by 5 minutes or so.
🙂
By: RingwaySam - 11th February 2007 at 11:30
It is expensive but theres nothing competing with it, hence why it costs so much – I bet it doesn’t even cost £100 to make it :p Anyway if you need any help and you have MSN feel free to add me. If not you can email me! 🙂
By: Skymonster - 11th February 2007 at 10:59
They call it a “virtual radar” but it isn’t a radar. Aircraft equipped with Mode-S transponders can send position/altitude/speed/flight number reports to ground stations at very regular intervals. These position reports are detected by the SBS-1, interpretted by the software, and plotted on a “radar-style” display on a PC. As already said, not all aircraft are mode-s equipped and not all transmit position reports. Over the coming years, more aircraft will be mode-s equipped, and that will mean more will be trackable on SBS – at present, if an aircraft is not mode-s equipped it will not show up at all.
As well as position/altitude/speed/flight number, mode-s equipped aircraft transmit a unique six-digit hex-code which identifies the aircraft. These hex-codes are NOT the registrations of the aircraft. The software that supports the SBS-1 has a facility to tie-up hex-codes to aircraft registrations, but in turn the user of the SBS box needs a source of these cross-references. Several sources exist, but the coverage can be patchy especially for smaller aircraft outside of Europe (or that do not operate into Europe), and for new aircraft only the hex-code will display until someone somewhere manages to tie the hex-code to a registration – you need to keep this cross reference up to date, therefore. Bear in mind that if the hex-code to registration tie up is incorrect, the registration will show up incorrectly on the PC screen.
IMHO SBS is a very useful gadget if you’re a registration collector, and an interesting (and expensive) curiosity if you’re just a watcher of aeroplanes. Remember that if you’re going to use it away from home, you’re going to need a laptop computer to take with it.
Andy
By: Paul E Lee - 11th February 2007 at 09:21
Hi There
Depending on your location you will be able to see a varied amount of traffic including Ground, Low Level and High Level Traffic
I see u are in Blackburn,you will be able to pick up most SBS equipped traffic into all the airfields around
After initial set up there are a number of free add ons that will enhance the SBS allowing u to see the registrations and a lot more
Just be aware that location is vital any high buildings or other objects in the way of your aerial will reduce traffic in that direction, also be aware that not all aircraft are equipped to display their position the figure varies but from personal experience about 40% of traffic are displayed but as I say this can vary.
Any thing else you want to know just post here
The Knetic Forums http://www.kinetic-avionics.co.uk/forums are a superb source of information and help
Finally I have had mine over a year and it was without doubt the best £500 I have spent in ages
Best Regards
Paul E Lee
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February 10, 2007 at 7:38 pm