Standalone PlanePlotter?

[TTECH]

Hello everyone,

I've been using PlanePlotter for a while now and with great results.
The only downside is that I always need to have my laptop running to provide raw data to the PP network.
Is there any way to do this 'standalone'?
So I mean that I can provide raw data to PP without needing to run my laptop the whole day / night.
I also just want PlanePlotter to run when I want to watch the current situation but ALWAYS provide data.

Thanks!

TTECH

[Anmer]

From your signature I assume you are decoding messages from your DVB-T "dongle" receiver using RTL1090.exe on a Windows PC?

If this is correct, surely you need a PC/laptop running RTL1090.exe to provide decoded data for PP?

[IanH]

The dongle needs something to process its output and send it over the internet. If you don't use the laptop, something else has to do that.

And as an aside. I'm not sure, since I have not been paying too much attention over the summer, but I don't think that RTL1090 is the preferred software for providing data to PlanePlotter any more.

Dump1090 apparently gives "better" (can't remember what that might be timing?) and enables the dongles to contribute to MLAT.

[Triple7]

Hi Tibo,

For standalone operation, you might consider the Raspberry Pi (RPi) this coupled with a dongle and Dump1090 running under a flavor of Linux (Raspian) should give you a solution to your needs.

There is an excellent write up by David Taylor on how to set things up here:

http://www.satsignal.eu/raspberry-pi/dump1090.html

There is also a PPUP1090 program that can upload directly to the PP server without the need for PP to be running on a PC. Details on PPUP1090 are towards the bottom of David's page.

I had a plan to use my RPi in this confutation over the summer, but several things got in the way which means I haven't done it yet. I will try and sort it out over the winter (but which winter is debatable)

Tim

[TTECH]

From your signature I assume you are decoding messages from your DVB-T "dongle" receiver using RTL1090.exe on a Windows PC?

If this is correct, surely you need a PC/laptop running RTL1090.exe to provide decoded data for PP?

Actually, I am using dump1090 now because it provides raw data.

The dongle needs something to process its output and send it over the internet. If you don't use the laptop, something else has to do that.

And as an aside. I'm not sure, since I have not been paying too much attention over the summer, but I don't think that RTL1090 is the preferred software for providing data to PlanePlotter any more.

Dump1090 apparently gives "better" (can't remember what that might be timing?) and enables the dongles to contribute to MLAT.

Indeed, using dump1090

Hi Tibo,

For standalone operation, you might consider the Raspberry Pi (RPi) this coupled with a dongle and Dump1090 running under a flavor of Linux (Raspian) should give you a solution to your needs.

There is an excellent write up by David Taylor on how to set things up here:

http://www.satsignal.eu/raspberry-pi/dump1090.html

There is also a PPUP1090 program that can upload directly to the PP server without the need for PP to be running on a PC. Details on PPUP1090 are towards the bottom of David's page.

I had a plan to use my RPi in this confutation over the summer, but several things got in the way which means I haven't done it yet. I will try and sort it out over the winter (but which winter is debatable)

Tim

Looks interesting!
I will take a look at it tomorrow.
Will the PPUP1090 provide raw MLAT data like dump1090 does (rtl1090 didn't)?

[Triple7]

I think the combination of Dump1090 and PPUP1090 on the RPi does give raw data that is usable to the PP network - as far as I am aware.

Tim

[IanH]

I had a plan to use my RPi in this confutation over the summer, but several things got in the way which means I haven't done it yet. I will try and sort it out over the winter (but which winter is debatable)

I used a RPi and Dump1090 while the software was still being developed (I think some of my comments are in David Taylor's write-up) and it worked well. Haven't tried it out again recently but like Tim, seems like a project for the winter (maybe October). The important thing for the RPi is to buy a good quality power supply - not the cheapest one available! Initially the RPi needs to be connected to a monitor (HDMI) and keyboard to set up various parameters. But once that is done, it can be controlled over ethernet without a keyboard or monitor.

If you decide to try it out, let us know of any problems.

Ian

[TTECH]

Thanks for the info everyone!
I have read the website.
Looks an interesting project!