Active display down 5th October 2019

[big john]

That's that then! An aviation enthusiasts with the knowledge and time to produce an alternative is very unlikely.
I guess If you want an up to date database it will have to be done manually. with some form of database editor if you don't have ADLite. Otherwise the only public alternative I can see is PlanePlotter.

[Ospreyv22]

Hi,

I am not a user of ADLite or GAS but this letter was posted on Mode-s  group,
With all credits to the group for posting making every user of ADLite aware of the situation.

After two weeks of hoping against hope I have been asked on behalf of Gatwick Aviation Society to circulate this unfortunate message to as many Active Display users as possible:

"Many years ago Gary Jones became a member of the Gatwick Aviation Society (GAS). He was a brilliant programmer who included significant work at IBM on his CV as well as being a keen aircraft enthusiast.  With a few others he studied the then new SBS system, wrote Active Display and then recruited Kinetic to make the hardware required, and GAS so that the GAS website could act as a conduit from the hardware to the AD database. This all became a popular bit of electronic kit amongst spotters, and he happily supported users, many of whom were complete novices in the computing game. He also regularly improved the programme as changes were required, like ADPro and ADLite.

And then, five and a half years ago, Gary died.

Four of us at GAS (two not even SBS users), decided to try and carry on with supporting AD by continuing to update the hex-code database, while Gary's daughter maintained the administrative side, all because we felt the need to honour Gary's memory. However, most of you will have realised by now that changes to AD itself were beyond our capabilities. Soon after this Kinetic understood that everyone who wanted a set had one, and in the absence of further sales they took the business decision to withdraw.

Since then, the systems operability has gradually declined without Gary's input, these are its major drawbacks though there are others;

Professional technical support is now no longer offered,

The on-line forum for discussion of difficulties has withered,

The system cannot resist the latest 'electronic robots', slowing it,

The system cannot recognise some new registration marks (eg Guernsey 2-),

The system cannot recognise some new hex-code batches (eg newer Chinese B-),

The system is very difficult to align with Windows 10.

Two weeks ago the server which hosts the GAS website, and therefore the AD database, failed. There have been many recriminations between the interested parties, but it seems that the outcome is that much of the AD database, amongst other things, has been lost. Although it may be possible to rebuild the GAS website itself, within that it is very doubtful that any way can be found to re-establish the links between yourselves, the website, and whatever may be left of ADPro.

I think in our heart of hearts we all understood that ADPro would only have a limited life after Gary's departure, but we certainly hoped that it's end would come in a far less sudden and messy manner.

ADPro was a subscription service of course, even if the subscription was only nominal, and we would be happy to offer a pro-rata refund to those subscribers who wish it, it works out at £2.08p per month remaining on your sub. If you wish to take advantage of this please e-mail Nicky Jones at nicholajones@outlook.com

Finally, can we once more reiterate our sadness at how this has unfolded, we can only hope that once the dust has settled you will look back at your time using the various AD iterations with some pleasure."

[Ospreyv22]

Apologies guys, just noticed that someone has already posted about the issue,
teach me to follow the thread in future.

Apologies

[deedaa1950]

Does anyone on this forum know of an alternative to active display to autopopulate SBS 3

[Nigel]

Possible alternatives to AD are PlaneBase as previously mentioned. There is also ADU Software and Aerodata Software. Both of these have an SBS utility, but both are expensive.

Nigel

[Graham Bell]

Sadly nothing lasts forever- May I place on record my thanks to Gatwick Aviation Society for hosting Active Display over the years.This program was without equal and a lasting tribute to its late author.
Regards-
G.B.

[ben2311]

What other alternatives are there to AD, other than ADU or aerodata?  I don't mind paying but was hoping not to spend that much.

[CloudWarrior]

I used ADU for a while but it used to change all my operator flags back to default so I stopped using it. An expensive experiment. I will miss AD.

[terrywadeairbus]

Further to my post on the 14th October 2019 regarding what happens to AD Pro on licence expiry.

I've been in contact with Nichola Jones who advises that as it stands at the moment when a licence expires AD will no longer work, however Nichola is looking into the possibility of setting up a licence server when and if any data can be recovered.

Perhaps if anyone's AD Pro licence is about to expire they can confirm the program ceases to function?

Regards

Terry Wade 

[Anmer]

Perhaps if anyone's AD Pro licence is about to expire they can confirm the program ceases to function?

It appears to stop working as soon as the licence expires.

https://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,10468.msg43271.html#msg43271

https://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,10468.msg43273.html#msg43273

[terrywadeairbus]

Hi Anmer

Thanks for the links.

I've been manually updating new aircraft details and my extensive route DB for AD Pro, so I think
I'll just stop doing that for the time being, although my licence doesn't expire until March 2020.

Nichola did say if she gets any further news on a new licence manager she would let me know, if I hear anything I'll post any news I get.

Terry

[Anmer]

One thing to bear in mind Terry.

Nicola may be able to verify an active AD Pro licence.  But that doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft database will be available to provide updates via AD, Lite or Pro.

I'm using AD Lite to manually update my sqb file as it's easier than using BaseStation Reporter or the pop-up BaseStation Aircraft Details.

But, as I understand it, AD Pro can't even do that when the licence expires.

[robbo45]

Hi All,   Like Anmer I am using AD Lite to keep an updated SQB file, so far has been pretty successful using Airframes, FAA, Bones Manx reg etc. I guess will only be able to as long as the good people who update these sites continue to do so!!!  Robin

[Harpic]

One thing to bear in mind Terry.

Nicola may be able to verify an active AD Pro licence.  But that doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft database will be available to provide updates via AD, Lite or Pro.

I'm using AD Lite to manually update my sqb file as it's easier than using BaseStation Reporter or the pop-up BaseStation Aircraft Details.

But, as I understand it, AD Pro can't even do that when the licence expires.

So AD Lite carries on letting you update manually that's better then nothing at all.  Only problem how can you get AD lite is it available still ?

[terrywadeairbus]

As Anmer says, my understanding too is that as it stands at the moment once your AD PRO
licence expires you cannot use it all. If the licence issue is resolved I should imagine you could still manually update the aircraft details and route database which would be better then nothing at all,
especially if like me you want to see route details on your SBS taken from your own route db if you have one.