Summary of Mode-S Receivers

[Anmer]

These are the main products that are available, in descending price order.

This isn't a recommendation and the buyer is fully responsible for choosing and purchasing a receiver.

My advice is to always try and see the products working with the software, which can differ substantially in functionality and usability.  Some are available through dealers, others only direct from the manufacturer.

Some are prebuilt, others are self-assembly kits requiring soldering.  A few have Ethernet connectivity, others just USB.

Some are high quality, others not so good.

Some include a base antenna, others don't.  Some have bespoke software, others work with third-party products, typically PlanePlotter which must be purchased seperately.

Some have sold in tens of thousands, others in the low hundreds.

I may have missed a receiver or two but don't think so.  Kinetic has just announced its "lightweight, portable and price busting" Blue Puck Mode-S receiver but no release date or price yet.

The quoted prices are the lowest I could find and correct at time of posting, as are the url links.

I hope this helps, but I suspect it doesn't. 

Choices, choices, choices.

Kinetic SBS-3
Prebuilt
USB and Ethernet
Mode-S Receiver
Software Defined Radios Included
Basestation Software
Magmount Antenna Included
GBP £499

Transponder Mouse
Prebuilt
USB
Mode-S Receiver
PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Antenna (Purchase seperately)
Euros 524

AirNav RadarBox Pro
Prebuilt
USB
Mode-S Receiver
RadarBox Software
Magmount Antenna Included
GBP £299

Aurora Eurotech
Prebuilt
USB
Mode-S Receiver
Aurora 3D Software
Antenna (Purchase seperately)
GBP £293

Mode-S Beast
Self Assembly Kit
USB (Ethernet option at extra cost)
Mode-S Receiver
PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Antenna (Purchase seperately)
Euros 299

GNS 5890
Prebuilt
USB
Mode-S Receiver
adsbScope Software Included
Optional - PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Magmount Antenna Included
GBP £159

Bullion
Prebuilt
Ethernet
Mode-S Receiver
adsbScope Software Included
Optional - PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Antenna (Purchase seperately)
Euros 144

microADSB
Prebuilt
USB
Mode-S Receiver
adsbScope Software Included
Optional - PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Magmount Antenna Included
Euros 78

miniADSB
Self Assembly Kit
USB
Mode-S Receiver
Optional - adsbScope Software (Free)
Optional - PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Antenna (Purchase seperately)
Euros 49

RTL2832/R820T Dongles
DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcast - Terrestrial) Devices
USB
Requires software to decode Mode-S data, such as RTL1090 for Windows.
Other software decoding options available to run under Linux
Optional - adsbScope Software (Free)
Optional - PlanePlotter Software (Purchase Seperately)
Helpful Guide here.
Euros 28 or less

[mezoo]

A very good overview.

Just one note on the software for the USB receivers.
Most work with the free "Adsbscope" programmes from sprut - This provides a tracking and a simple logging feature.
GNS supplies adapted version of this programme.

The ADSBSCope version from ic7k provides a database, but no plotting.

Both programmes supply servers to connect to most PP compatible programmes e.g. Virtual Radar Server, SBS  Populate, etc.
So if unless you are looking for advanced features of PP e.g. Mlat, Beamfinding you dont have to buy PP.

[Anmer]

Thanks.

PP also offers data sharing.  Does ADSBScope?

There are other software options such as Globe-S from jetvision.de.

I didn't set out to include all the software options, just provide a receiver overview.  Since PlanePlotter is the most widely used, I included that where the receiver doesn't ship with proprietary software.

[mezoo]

Anmer,

ADSBScope provides decoded and raw data input and output.
But I don't think data sharing in the way it is done by PP is possible.

I have not tried data sharing with any programme therefore I am no expert on this.

[Anmer]

Thanks mezoo, much appreciated.

[Anmer]

Bullion PoE Receiver

Has anyone used the Bullion and if so can they confirm how the power is supplied and at what voltage?  Does it comply with the IEEE standard for PoE?

[Develish]

Bullion PoE Receiver

Has anyone used the Bullion and if so can they confirm how the power is supplied and at what voltage?  Does it comply with the IEEE standard for PoE?

It appears to me that it uses a simple dumb POE injection. Not compliant to IEEE802.3af or at. I designed and shipped the world's first high POE splitter, but would not like to use this board in this purpose. 

[TasmaNet]

i am trying to buy 2 x Bullion POE versions with antenna, but the web page is broken, all i can do is order a USB version, which is not what i want

Thanks if you can help

[IanH]

At the bottom of the web page it says:

"If you  want to buy, mail me to put in waiting list. I hope 20 days to come your order.

E-mail:   miro@mnet.bg"

So suggest you send an e-mail 

[GregHudson]

G'Day Anmer.
Do you know of or have heard of anyone performing sensitivity / accuracy tests for the receivers listed ?
i.e. which one is actually the best bang for the buck ?

Regards, Greg.

[Anmer]

i.e. which one is actually the best bang for the buck ?

Difficult question.  How much do you get per buck?

In my personal opinion (and shared by others) the best "quality" receivers are the Kinetic SBS range and the Beast/Transponder Mouse.

http://www.kinetic-avionics.co.uk/index.php

http://www.modesbeast.com/

The advantage (for some) is that the SBS uses the Basestation proprietary software whereas the Beast (and many other receivers) tend to use the PlanePlotter generic software.  Nothing wrong with PlanePlotter but Basestation has a strong following.

Then again, if price is a consideration, the microADSB and miniADSB are good budget receivers.

http://www.flightradar24.com/hardware

I'm sure others here will add their opinions.

[tarbat]

Also worth considering the trade-off between sensitivity and the doughnut effect.

[viking9]

I'd love someone to point me to a technical reference dealing with the effect of receivers on antenna radiation patterns. In over 25 years as a licensed radio ham I never come across such a reference. I have always understood that the only factors that affect antenna radiation pattern (providing it is connected to the correct impedance) are antenna gain and external objects such as roofs, buildings etc.

[Truetrack]

I'd love someone to point me to a technical reference dealing with the effect of receivers on antenna radiation patterns. In over 25 years as a licensed radio ham I never come across such a reference. I have always understood that the only factors that affect antenna radiation pattern (providing it is connected to the correct impedance) are antenna gain and external objects such as roofs, buildings etc.

And so do I .

But to answer Tarbat's consideration

Sensivity is the lowest signallevel at which a receiving circuitry is performing properly for
decoding/demodulating.
This is mainly given in microVolts.

There are no fixed values for antennas. No wonder due varying factors like transmitting power,
distance, varying angle of reception, obstacles and the like.

Here Gain is used
Expressed as a relative signalstrength achieved, compared to either hypothetical isotropic element
or in praxi a dipol, the values given in dBi respectively as dBd.
(since a dipol has alrdy some 2.3 dB gain, these figure is ~2.3dB lower, if you have to compare)

With omnidirectional Verticals now
by design the more you achieve more Gain to the horizon thus flattening out the ring of
-lobe of reception- by stacking more elements in the Vertical, the less sensitive is your
vertical antenna from above.

The more GAIN the greater the dough-nut effect. (collinear Verticals)

A Receiver alone cannot have any doghnuteffect at all.

(I remember, it was once claimed in the past).
Unfortunately however the now-a-days entertainment electronics are prone to let signals pass through its housing somewhere into the circuitry.

[sterigia]

hi all. i was thinking of selling my sbs mk1 which still functions perfectly and buy a puck. is there any advantage in doing this or should i just keep my sbs mk1 and maybe consider a sbs mk3, after i've payed my taxes . what i would like to know is if there are any advantages in puck vs sbs mk1
thanks for any advice
cheers, frank
ps i will go to london for a few days after 20 years of absence, i'm really looking forward to it