ModeSDeco2 and ModeSMixer2 - console programs for RTLSDR and transcoding

[sergsero]

ModeSDeco2 for RTL2832 DVB-T dongle and AirSpy SDR



Modesdeco2 is a console (command line) Mode S decoder specifically designed for working with RTL2832U chip dongles or AIRSPY SDR devices in Windows and Ubuntu Linux on Intel/ARM platform with sufficient computing power of processor.

Code: [Select]

Example for RTL:
C:\modesdeco2.exe --gain 42 --freq-correction 62 --location 32.51:104.98 --web 8088 --db D:\data\basestation.sqb --frdb D:\data\flightroute.sqb --silhouettes D:\data\silhouettes --pictures D:\data\pictures --beast 10003 --msg 30003 --sbs10001 10001 --metric --web-auth admin:admin  --google-key AIXXxxxxXXXXxxxxxXXXXXxxxxXXXX

Example for AirSpy:
C:\modesdeco2.exe --airspy --location 32.51:104.98 --web 8088 --db D:\data\basestation.sqb --frdb D:\data\flightroute.sqb --silhouettes D:\data\silhouettes --pictures D:\data\pictures --beast 10003 --msg 30003 --metric --add-reference-point 56.39252:85.22168:THR21 --add-points 56.23667:83.98861:NN 56.69139:85.32917:SP 57.00722:82.05972:BA --web-auth admin:admin

Run program with the one option "--help" for getting the command-line options.
To stop the program, press the key combination <Control+C>

Since June 2016, Google Maps requires a special Google Maps API key. Without this key, you cannot display Google Maps in ModeSDeco2.
Before you can set this API key in your ModeSDeco2, you’ll need to generate it. You must have a Google account to generate a key for Google Maps Javascript API. Go to the Google API Console https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/ and click ‘Get A Key’. If you want to use an existing project, please select it from the list. Otherwise, select ‘Create a new project’ and enter a project name, for example, modesdeco2. Than click ‘Enable the API’ (existing projects) or ‘Create and Enable API’ for new projects.
Copy the API key you generated from the Google Maps API Manager and add to command line the option "----google-key XXXX", where XXXX is your API key.


The aircraft and tower icon courtesy of Andrew Whewell http://www.virtualradarserver.com/
The silhouettes courtesy of Ian Kirby http://www.sbsbst.co.uk/iank/
The WEB page "Charts" use Highcharts http://www.highcharts.com/

+ fixed option "--airspy-rfbias" for powering a preamplifier directly from Airspy by injecting DC
+ option "--filter-nodup" has been changed to the opposite - by default it "On"
But there is an overhead of extra memory bandwidth required on the host side to unpack the data into a useful format, so for optimal performance bit packing is disabled.

- disabled option "--airspy-packing" for AirSpy bit packing mode where 4 sets of 12 bit samples are packed into 3 sets of 16 bits for the transfer across the USB bus and this is good for some computers with cheap USB chipsets. But there is an overhead of extra memory bandwidth required on the host side to unpack the data into a useful format, so for optimal performance bit packing is disabled.


v. 20170127
Windows modesdeco2_windows_20170127.zip https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iZHR6cDY2T0VIdDQ

When you run this version of program you can get an error that msvcp140.dll and msvcr140.dll are missing in your OS.
Please, download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 from the Microsoft site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=48145. This is for English interface OS or select your language on the Microsoft site page.
There are multiple files available for this download. Once you click on the "Download" button, you will be prompted to select the files you need.
You will need to install file of 32 bit version vcredist_x86.exe regardless of what bitness has your operating system!
The Visual C++ Redistributable Packages install run-time components of Visual C++ libraries. These components are required to run C++ applications that are developed using Visual Studio 2015 and link dynamically to Visual C++ libraries.



Ubuntu 16.04 intel 64 bit: modesdeco2_x86_64_20170127.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6ielVNYVdhMFBMUXM
Ubuntu 14.04 intel 32 bit: modesdeco2_i386_20170127.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iMk5OcUpSb1psWVU


Raspberry Pi 2/3: modesdeco2_rpi2-3_20170127.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iNWJpQk5LTUktZ0E
Raspberry Pi 3: modesdeco2_rpi3_20170127.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iMV9hbEdiOFU0TDQ

Odroid XU: modesdeco2_odroid_XU_20170127.tgz soon


Odroid C: modesdeco2_odroid_C_20150628.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iRnpzY2NhX0RHTlU
Odroid U3: modesdeco2_odroid_U3_20150628.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iZGNkVjJNNnJKUHc
Freescale i.MX6Q CUBOX-i4Pro: modesdeco2_cubox-i4pro_20150628.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iaVJUX3hqUUg0ekU


OS X Yosemite 10.10: modesdeco2_osx_20150815.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iZlNONVVnMHkyLVU

ModesMixer2 http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,2978.msg15240.html#msg15240

[Anmer]

Can you explain what this does, who will be interested in using it and why?

[sergsero]

ModeSMixer2



This is a console (command line) program that can do:
Merge the data into a single network stream from any number of sources in different formats: binary BEAST, AVR, AVRMLAT, SBS30006, RAW Kinetic SBS10001, Basestation_30003 MSG and/or from serial physical interfaces - USB/COM ports (Windows) or /dev/tty* (Linux) This stream, in turn, may be issued to the network in various formats simultaneously. Type data format from network sources is recognized automatically. The data input can be in inConnect mode (pull from <address>:<port>) and inServer mode (listen data on own tcp-port <port>). Or inSerial mode for serial physical interfaces.[/li][/list]
Decoding/transcoding the input data to output feeds in different formats: binary BEAST, AVR, AVRMLAT, SBS30006, RAW Kinetic SBS10001, Basestation_30003 MSG.[/li][/list]
The data output can be in outConnect mode (push <address>:<port>) and outServer mode (listen data requests on own tcp-port <port>). Each output server can service multiple clients simultaneously.[/li][/list]

Example:
C:\>modesmixer2.exe --inConnect 192.168.0.2:50040 --inSerial COM4:3000000:none --inConnect 192.168.0.170:10001 --outServer msg:30003 --outServer sbs10001:10001 --globes 31008:table2:UUDD --google-key Zxxxxxx
./modesmixer2 --inSerial /dev/ttyUSB2:3000000:none --inConnect 192.168.0.10:10003 --web 8888 --db ~/tmp/basestation.sqb --frdb ~/tmp/flightroute.sqb --pictures ~/tmp/images --silhouettes ~/tmp/silhouettes

Run program with the one option "--help" for getting the command-line options.
To stop the program, press the key combination <Control+C>


v.20170924


Windows Intel x86: modesmixer2_windows_20170924.zip https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iSnU3amVldVVfUWc

When you run this version of program you can get an error that msvcp140.dll and msvcr140.dll are missing in your OS.
Please, download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 from the Microsoft site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=48145. This is for English interface OS or select your language on the Microsoft site page.
There are multiple files available for this download. Once you click on the "Download" button, you will be prompted to select the files you need.
You will need to install file of 32 bit version vcredist_x86.exe regardless of what bitness has your operating system!
The Visual C++ Redistributable Packages install run-time components of Visual C++ libraries. These components are required to run C++ applications that are developed using Visual Studio 2015 and link dynamically to Visual C++ libraries.



Ubuntu 16.04 Intel 64 bit: modesmixer2_x86_64_20170924.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iT01YRUFMcFZUVkU
Ubuntu 14.04 Intel 32 bit: modesmixer2_i386_20170924.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JXON6fEhTxTxSBmMt7jrk33p3xZjRe9l

CentOS 7 Intel 64 bit: modesmixer2_CentOS7_x86_64_20170506.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6ibm4yOGoxSGh6V2c

FreeBSD 11 Intel 64 bit: modesmixer2_FreeBSD11_x86_64_20170506.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6ianp5YzFFYXBrTDA (FreeBSD 11.0-RELEASE-p1 FreeBSD 11.0-RELEASE-p1 #0 r306420: Thu Sep 29 01:43:23 UTC 2016 amd64)


Raspberry Pi 2/3 jessie: modesmixer2_rpi2-3_20170924.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iZlY0MTlhWlRWTEE
Raspberry Pi 2/3 stretch: modesmixer2_rpi2-3_deb9_20170924.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6iclAyNUl1clRkbU0

Raspberry Pi B+ (Broadcom SoC BCM2835, ARM1176JZFS) Wheezy: modesmixer2_rpi1_20170506.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6ieklhdWg1ZVBWTUU (Debian GNU/Linux 7.11 (Linux 4.1.19+ #858 Tue Mar 15 15:52:03 GMT 2016 armv6l GNU/Linux))


OS X 10.10 Yosemite: modesmixer2_osx_20150715.tgz https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7NYXizl0U6ib3lOcjFPYmJXSDg

If you see on the page Map that all aircraft are being plotted in the top-left corner and the Google map does not load, then you need to do bypass your cache in browser.
Bypassing your cache means forcing your web browser to re-download a web page from scratch, which can often solve website display glitches. It is also required after installing user scripts. Bypassing your cache is simple, safe, and causes no permanent changes.

[Bethsalem]

I use RTL1090 and Virtual Radar Server software in conjunction with my dongles. I find this setup really good.

What advantages would your software add?

Perhaps if you post a tutorial walking through set-up and options selection, or at least some screenshots of the program working that would give a better idea of what you're offering.

Stephen

[sergsero]

This software is just another one that works for SDR technology with RTL2832 DVB-T dongle. Does those or other characteristics of software its advantages, in my opinion, everyone decides for himself have firsthand knowledge.

Of the existing differences modesdeco with Andy's RTL1090 are:
- working with Basestation directly (c:\>modesdeco.exe --gain 49.6 --net 10001 --sbs10001 --location lat:lon),
- the program is designed for 24/7 work without supervision or control of the operator, so it has no GUI, and run from the command line without expending additional resources of computer.

The purpose of this publication was help me to test this software in regions with intensive air traffic and large number of the received Mode-S (ads-b) messages. Unfortunately, in my region there are no a large number of flight aircraft at a time.  If someone can help me, I'll very grateful to him. And it's does not require a change his habitual setup.

[kdt1]

Works good Sergsero, Thanks

[sergsero]

New ModeSMixer v.20131121

[Keef]

Thank you sergsero,

I tried this today and it works as advertised.
Your hard work is appreciated 

Cheers,

Keef.

[coyotefxl]

Hi Sergsero,

I'm testing Modesdeco and I must say that it has increased the packet rate between 30 to 50 percent compared to RTL1090 and it's producing good raw reports for Planeplotter with the avr-mlat output format but in AVR format, the signal report is missing (I think it's the format that doesn't allow though). So I tried also the Beast format. I has signal strenght but the raw reports are not usable for mlat and Beamfinder. It seems the timings are bad. So could it be possible to correct the Beast format or add the signal strenght in the avr-mlat format? Continue your good work!

Luc Fontaine
+qX in Planeplotter

[sergsero]

Hello Luc,

... it's producing good raw reports for Planeplotter with the avr-mlat output format but in AVR format, the signal report is missing (I think it's the format that doesn't allow though). So I tried also the Beast format. I has signal strenght but the raw reports are not usable for mlat and Beamfinder. It seems the timings are bad. So could it be possible to correct the Beast format or add the signal strenght in the avr-mlat format?

I would like to clarify:
AVR-MLAT format does not provide data about the level of received signal. His format is: <@><6 byte MLAT counter><7 or 14 byte Mode-S><;><CR><LF>. The signal level is the invention of Gunther and is only present in BEAST binary format: <0x1a> <"3">  6 byte MLAT, 1 byte signal level, 7 or 14 byte Mode-S.

When the data is output in the AVR-MLAT format, are they suitable for MLAT or Beamfinder? Or they are not suitable as BEAST binary also?

Now the MLAT counter has a resolution of 83.333 ns for Mode-S, not 500 ns. It is possible that the reason is this.  I'll try to find out.

Thanks,
Sergsero

[coyotefxl]

I would like to clarify:
AVR-MLAT format does not provide data about the level of received signal. His format is: <@><6 byte MLAT counter><7 or 14 byte Mode-S><;><CR><LF>. The signal level is the invention of Gunther and is only present in BEAST binary format: <0x1a> <"3">  6 byte MLAT, 1 byte signal level, 7 or 14 byte Mode-S.

When the data is output in the AVR-MLAT format, are they suitable for MLAT or Beamfinder? Or they are not suitable as BEAST binary also?

Now the MLAT counter has a resolution of 83.333 ns for Mode-S, not 500 ns. It is possible that the reason is this.  I'll try to find out.

Thanks,
Sergsero

Hi Sergsero,
Yes AVR-MLAT seems good for mlat but I have to get a mlat fix since using your software as I think there were not sufficient data when I tried it to have good results and Beamfinder is OK like with RTL1090. But in Beast output format, the beams in Beamfinder are pointing almost anywhere and when I test in Planeplotter with the option Test Networking-->Check GS/MU status, the graph that is displayed with the dots at the bottom of the page print randoms dots instead of the oblique and nearly aligned dots with RTL1090 or Modesdeco in AVR-MLAT. So there's something wrong with your implementation of the Beast output format in Modesdeco.

I like to have the signal level of the signals I receive that if the Beast output format is fixed with good timings and/or reliability, that would be great because I would have best of both worlds.

BTW, I don't have too much traffic and especially this week so I cannot tell how it's doing with high packets rate but last sunday, it was stable with 75 packets/sec and it never crashed since I first tried it last saturday night.

Regards,
Luc Fontaine
+qX

[sergsero]

This program work by SDR technology.

[kdt1]

Thanks

[sergsero]

Hi kdt1,
the ability to process information from TIS-B DF18 messages I checked in URSS - ground vehicles and obstacles:


Unfortunately, check the ADS-R, I can't for the want of it in my area - is it working correct?

Thanks,
Sergsero

[kdt1]

Sergsero

Were you able to use the bin file I sent you? I have not seen any TIS-B logged yet, but will keep testing, I did notice that I only have to use the modesdeco and basestation to receive traffic verses  the initial modesdeco, modesmixer and basestation combination, can you confirm I am using your program correctly?



Basestation Version 1.2.3.180

modesdeco_xp.bat

(@echo off
cmd /c  modesdeco_xp.exe --filter-nocountry --rbs --device-index 0 --gain 49.6 --net 10001 --sbs10001 --location 44.827:-93.613
PAUSE
Exit)


Many thanks on your commitment

Kyle