ADLite and VRS

[mezoo]

Until recently I have been using SBSPopulate to update my basestation.sqb file.
Unfortunately this program seems to have been disabled by GAS.

Currently I have been trying to connect Virtual Radar Server with ADLite
This currently only works partially and ADLite cannot run unattended.

What I have done :
- I use Virtual Radar Server 2.0.2 with the current DatabaseWriter plugin to get the data from my Radarcape and write it to the basestation.sqb.
  (This is what worked for SBSPopulate)
- In VRS I have set up a rebroadcast server on port 33001 for ADLite which gives the data in Basestation format.

- Sothat ADLite will start I have downloaded the basestation.exe program.
- I start the Basestation program (without any connection to a receiver)
- Then I start ADLite and connect it to the port or the VRS rebroadcast server.
   (ADLite is pointed at the location of the basestation.sqb file)

- Pressing the Start button in ADLite gets aircraft data but it ends with a error (something about string to integer conversion)
- If I press continue ADlite does nothing.
- If I repress the green start button ADLite gets another batch of data but ends in the same error message

Checking the basestation.sqb I see that ADlite is updating the data correctly.
Manual update also works.

All I want is that ADLite auto populate the database as was previously done by SBSPopulate.

Any ideas

(I am running Windoes 7 Home premium)


[Attachment deleted by Admin to save file space]

[mezoo]

One other observation:

Each time I press ADLite's start button, ADlite opens a  new port to VRS.
(see Attachement)

The previous ports are buffered by VRS and later closed.

Does ADLite require some TP response which is not sent by VRS ?

[Attachment deleted by Admin to save file space]

[jonfear]

Hi Mezoo

It does appear that there is something different in AD Lite vs AD full. AD Full works correctly, I use it myself at my two locations, no BS installed.

I have read that many people have the same issue as you. I do suspect that AD Lite is looking for a BS heartbeat or similar whereas AD Full does not. Seems rather strange but I have not heard of anyone getting it to work without BS working.

Sorry, not much help. I do think the service is very good hence the reason for me subscribing (No, nothing to do with GAS!).

Best wishes

Jon

[mezoo]

I actually found a very simple way to make it work.   

Instead of the rather complicated route with virtual com ports there is a very simple way by using sergsero's modemixer programme

http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,2921.0.html

Sergsero's great little programme 'translates' the output of the receiver into a format the Basestation programme can process.
This gets Basestation to work and the ADLite works as it should !

I created a batch file with the command line (see below) to start modemixer
Then start Basestation and then ADLite

Example Command Lines
For direct serial connect to Beast and direct output to BaseStation.exe on port 10001:
C:/>modesmixer.exe --inSerial COM1:3000000:hardware --outServer sbs10001:10001

           This is fo a Beast on COM1, Basestation set to 127.0.0.1 Port 10001

For direct tcp connect to RadarCape (Fr24) and direct output to BaseStation.exe on port 10001:
C:/>modesmixer.exe --inConnect 192.168.0.2:10003- --outServer sbs10001:10001
(receiver Fr24) C:/>modesmixer.exe --inConnect 192.168.0.2:30334 --outServer sbs10001:10001

           For a Radarcape/Fr24 on IP 192.168.0.2 Port 30334, Basestation set to 127.0.0.1 Port 10001


The programme can do a lot more, but this gets ADLite to work.
As a bonus you can play around with the Basestation programme.

[Anmer]

AD and AD Lite look for an active BaseStation session, however it gets the data from a receiver..

[Breitling]

AD and AD Lite look for an active BaseStation session, however it gets the data from a receiver..

So there's no way to use AD Lite without Basestation?  I'd like to update my basestation.sqb database but I'm used to PlanePlotter and don't want to run more software on my old radar dedicated computer.

[IanH]

I thought when I was looking at similar a few months ago that all ADLite needed was a running program call BaseStation.exe.

Didn't actually have to be the real thing 

So I just renamed sbsplotter.exe, started it, pointed ADLite at the ADSB receiver IP address and it works - just checked and confirmed from a FR24 receiver.

Edit: need to see if it works with ModeSMixer as well since PlanePlotter is going to need to connect to the receiver as well.

Edit2: Just remembered PP can output 30003 data so maybe that is the source for ADLite

[mezoo]

You dont have to do anything with basestation.exe
On the first start just tell it were to look for the output from the receiver.

Then you can minimise and forget it.   

[Breitling]

Sorry, I don't fully understand. I tell you what I have and what I pretend:

- Scenario #1: FR24 box, ADL and PP. PP connects to FR24 box via TCP on port 30334. ADL connects to FR24 box via TCP on port 30003. Each time I press start on ADL, it populates an aircraft (just one), shows the message "Basestation is not running" and stays on pause status.

- Scenario #2: FR24 box, ADL and PP. PP connects to FR24 box via TCP on port 30334. ADL connects to PP via TCP onport 30003. Much the same as in #1.

- What I want: VRS merging different feeds (FR24 boxes, dongles, etc), rebroadcast to PP, and use ADL in some way to manage updating my basestation.sqb database.

[Anmer]

Sorry, I don't fully understand. I tell you what I have and what I pretend:
- What I want: VRS merging different feeds (FR24 boxes, dongles, etc), rebroadcast to PP,

Is that for sharing PP data or just local use?

[Breitling]

Sorry, I don't fully understand. I tell you what I have and what I pretend:
- What I want: VRS merging different feeds (FR24 boxes, dongles, etc), rebroadcast to PP,

Is that for sharing PP data or just local use?

I'd like to share PP data as i'm already doing now.

[Anmer]

I'd like to share PP data as i'm already doing now.

Thanks.  Just checking as I thought FR24 didn't allow sharing of data from its receiver?

[Breitling]

I'd like to share PP data as i'm already doing now.

Thanks.  Just checking as I thought FR24 didn't allow sharing of data from its receiver?

Ah ok, you're right, missed that point. So I need two different installations, one for FR24 boxes and another one for dongles and PP network. I have to figure out how to mix them all without breaking FR24 exclusivity agreement.

So let's think in the second one: dongles -> VRS -> PP. How can I update my database in this schema?

[jonfear]

Hi Breitling

You will find that VRS does not pass through the data required by PP for MLATS. PP recommends that you feed VRS from PP. This is not helpful when you have multiple dongles.

If you are running the dongles under linux the it is simple to combine the feeds together, this command should work:

nc -d <secondary ip address> 30005 | nc 127.0.0.1 30004 &

Under windows then would the modesmixer work?

I do not have any spare systems to try it at present.

Just some food for thought...

Jon

[Breitling]

Many thanks Jon, always learning here from you all. There's something I have clear now: FR24 boxes and dongles apart from each other. I'ts a shame because FR24 receivers have a great coverage and contribute nicely to database.

My main goal is MLAT on PP network, so my mind's mesh is bigger now

Dongle1 -> dump1090 ---> modesmixer -> PP -> VRS ??
Dongle2 -> dump1090 -^

And where to insert ADL ??