SBS1 + Network card stopped working

[Anmer]

I would love a prototype FR24 "Beast" +card, how would a long time (+10years) FR24 data sharer become a tester and help FR24 with it?

My "prototype" is about 10 years old!  My original FR24 receiver failed so I moved the SD card to the early prototype.  I don't test anything for FR24 these days.

[Oblivian]

And I've been around since about 2006/2008? (when the app was java?) And beta test the 'newer' windows client after that before other platforms were thought of

Got sponsored to host a more stable ModeSbeast when they come about

But you aren't alone. They overlooked all the long time sharers when it come to dishing out the beaglebone based and subsequent models too and they went to those close to the airport that may only ran it for a week and vanished.

[Anmer]

I've worked with FR24 and there are some good guys there.  But I think it's lost the plot.  Saw this thread the other day.

In my day, every sharer was an asset and I wouldn't have even considered replying as FR24 did 

Blue is the sharer, red FR24 Support.  Names have been removed to protect the innocent!

FYI:
FR24's treatment of sharers is not the best. I just turned of FR24 sharing for good.
Lots of queries my ass. The questions is asked several times. They simply won't answer..

Read from bottom and up.



As we get a lot of queries, everyone has to wait their turn. Anyways since you have turned off the feed, I will close the ticket.

Nothing heard back... as expected.

I take it as you don't like to answer simple questions like those stated previously. In return I just tested that the new key was ok and then turned of FR24 sharing.
My Radarcape will not share any data with FR24 until you answer my two simple questions.

I know perfectly well that FR24 is not dependent on my data. However there is a growing frustration in more than a few forum's around about FR24's way of treating it's sharing users. Your reputation is not the best and I am not alone turning off my sharing to FR24.

Have a good day...


Well thanks, but since this is a SUPPORT email, WHY THE HECK CAN't YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASKED?

One more time:
•   Question: RadarCape support is telling me you are not returning MLAT data. Why?
•   So why is the keys so short lived?

Thank you for contacting Flightradar24.com.

Your Support reference is 355113.

Here you go: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi,

So why is the keys so short lived?

My position:
Degrees Lat Long
Degrees Minutes
Degrees Minutes Seconds
Degrees Minutes Seconds


Thank you for contacting Flightradar24.com.

Your Support reference is 355113.

Yes, we need to create a new key for you. Please provide your coordinates in decimal format.

Hi
I have a sharing key issued by you in April 2017. Ti does not work any longer with my RadarCape. The Key is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just get this error on the RadarCape/FR24 feed:
13-04-2020 23:28:38(T) 2020-04-13 23:28:38 | [time]Synchronizing time via NTP
13-04-2020 23:28:58(T) 2020-04-13 23:28:58 | [time]Time synchronized correctly, offset +0.0005 seconds, drift 0.0000 seconds/minute
13-04-2020 23:30:35(T) 2020-04-13 23:30:35 | [feed]Downloading configuration
13-04-2020 23:30:35(T) 2020-04-13 23:30:35 | ERROR
13-04-2020 23:30:35(T) 2020-04-13 23:30:35 | [failure]: Not found, check your key!
13-04-2020 23:30:35(T) 2020-04-13 23:30:35 | [feed]Failed on start, Sleeping 120 seconds
In RadarCape, there are three options for sharing with FR24
•   Sharing Disabled
•   ADS-B only
•   ADS-B with MLAT
Question: RadarCape support is telling me you are not returning MLAT data. Why?

[Algernon]

So, new PSU nope, nada!

Plan B time

Now powered up via USB attached to my Mac and reconfigured the config files. The SBS is not in my loft but next to my Mac

BIG hurdle was, the reconfiguring of the setting and point the Mac's FR24 app to look at the USB port (not the network port as was) the SBS is plugged into. To save others that may have the same issue and no google fu-ing helped and FR24 offered zero support, here is the solution...

Re-run the reconfig via the app in the menu up top near the date and time
This will ask you to input some options that are self-evident until

"please enter your receivers COM port number device path"

This means what type of port, which actual port on the laptop (more than one) and how does the data get there

In terminal, with the SBS UNPLUGGED run

ls /dev/tty* | grep usb

This will list out anything plugged into any USB ports

Now plug the SBS USB port into the Mac and re-run that command

the new item in the list is your SBS, add this 'path ' to the re-config tool. Mine was
/dev/tty.usbserial-1420
but you will need your own and if you change the USB port at a later date you will need to find that port in the same way and re-config again

Hope this helps someone, took me ages.

So there we have it - all sorted

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you @Anmer for all the help and going well out of your way to help me. What a Gentleman.
Let us hope others with future problems are aided by this thread.

Cheers

[Anmer]

Thanks for the update.

I'm not sure I follow what you managed to get working and how?

You mention a Mac.  But before you said BaseStation was not connecting to the SBS-1's Ethernet port.  Were you running BaseStation on a Mac?

Is the SBS-1 Ethernet option now working?

[Algernon]

Yes, sorry

so the set up used to be : FR24 app on a Mac talking to SBS via Ethernet. Power/volts side of the SBS now does not work, so..

USB connected to my Mac to the SBS still works. So now reconfigured the FR24 app on my Mac to not talk over Ethernet but over USB to the SBS.

The issue was the path needed in the configuration to make the magic happen. But thats explained.

make sense?

[Anmer]

Thanks.  Did you check the polarity of the DC power supply?  It's usually reversible.

[Algernon]

Yeah - I did that too, thanks. The one in your picture is easy to reverse. All very odd I know

[Anmer]

Thanks.

I really don't understand what may have failed and why?  The SBS power supply is working, albeit only when supplied by USB.  Plus I've not known this to happen before.

Have you opened up the SBS?  I guess you must have to add the Ethernet module?  Maybe you can see a broken connection or something on the power supply?  I assume you remember to move the slider switch when swapping between USB and DC?

[Algernon]

I don't get it either!

Yep had the box open many many times, no dry solder joints, no melted away pins, no heat or burn marks. Toggle switch feels fine. Removed the Network card from the pins all in order too.

Yep tried the rocker switch every which way possible.

Even tried wiggling all things while live to see if I could get a flicker of power through and ID the area of intrest. nada zilch

[Anmer]

One last suggestion.  Is the socket on the SBS corroded?  Is the pin OK?

[Algernon]

Nope, no corrosion. I did put some WD40 on the adapter (unplugged) and pushed in the socket and moved around to clear any electrical scaling, made no difference. Inner contact pin fine also fine. Volt metered all the contacts and getting through to in the inside of the board.

[Anmer]

Thanks again for trying all these suggestions,

I've run out of ideas now!

[Algernon]

Thank me, NO, thank you - and some

[Anmer]

Sorry to re-open this thread but I was looking once again at my SBS-1 with the Ethernet module add-on.

From memory, the original SBS-1 always had an on-board Ethernet port, covered by a Kinetic sticker.  Then, after some customer pressure, Kinetic offered an optional cable to connect the port to the main circuit board.  Just a ribbon cable.

But, again from memory, it had to connected the right way. To help this, the cable had a red line on one side.

Is yours an upgraded SBS-1 with the added cable and which way round is it connected?

See attached.

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