Android APP for PlanePlotter [PPm]...its here !

[satcom]

Great news from Luke...who has developed PPm for PlanePlotter




Hi folks,

It gives me great pleasure to announce the official release of PlanePlotter mobile!
http://planeplottermobile.com http://planeplottermobile.com
This is a great PlanePlotter viewer companion for Android 4+ devices, providing access to the PlanePlotter servers wherever your mobile data plan extends.

Primary views:
- Map
- Table
- SkyAR
- Info
- Gallery
- Locations

Customize the Map display markers and weather overlays, add your choice of aircraft silhouettes and airline operator flags, and use your existing Master User licence to view Mlat aircraft.

Download is available on the website, along with screenshots, installation and operation instructions, and related links.

Note: The download is not through Google Play, but is a standalone file. This requires that you permit installation of third-party apps on your Android device. For installation instructions, please refer to:
http://planeplottermobile.com/installation.html http://planeplottermobile.com/installation.html

Many thanks to beta testers for their feedback and suggestions. For those curious, perhaps beta testers can be talked into sharing their experience so far.

All the best,
Luke Harwood.

[Anmer]

Thanks Satcom.

Who can use this and how much does it cost?

Must the user also have a PP licence to use it or be a Master User to view MLAT traffic?

[satcom]

It  costs $9US  plus tax.
If you are a Master user on PP you can request mlats on the Android via Bev
If you are not a PP master user ,you can buy the app then purchase Mlats in the normal way at 12 Euro plus tax pa

[viking9]

I've just bought it and installed it on my Samsung SM-T800. it's fantastic.

I'm just waiting for my Master User to be implemented on it.

Tom

[Anmer]

Thanks Satcom.

So anyone can use the app but only those with a PP licence and Master User status can see MLAT plots?

There's no need to have a PP licence to view non-MLAT traffic?

I'm only trying to understand the options.

[Anmer]

In the absence of a response to my question, I'm assuming that anyone can buy the app for US $ 9.00 plus tax.  Which tax I'm not sure.

Comparatively the app is expensive offering less coverage than Flightradar24, Planefinder and (even) RadarBox24.  Subject to my assumption being corrected, the basic app doesn't offer the additional MLAT traffic that Flightradar24 displays?

Its USP is the option to pay extra to upgrade to view aircraft (both ADS-B and MLAT) that are not shown on other apps.

But, for this one has to add the cost of a one off PlanePlotter licence at Euro 25 plus tax and, if you don't regularly share suitable data from a Mode-S receiver, an annual fee of Euro 12 plus tax.

I'm sure many will be willing to pay for this but it makes the app expensive compared to alternatives which sell for as little as US $3.00.

And other networks usually provide all available apps and enhanced websites features free of charge to those who share their Mode-S data.  Conversely PlanePlotter charges its data providers.

Maybe the release of this app establishes PlanePlotter as a commercial product and not just a private network for aviation enthusiasts?  And it will be interesting to see how aircraft operators, aviation authorities and government agencies react to seeing their aircraft tracked on a publicly available app which others block on request?

[viking9]

Mike,

The tax is the VAT of the country you are resident in. I paid £8.39 via PayPal. It's an absolute bargain.

Do you think that if FR24 was as good as PP that all those users would bother to use PP? I'm sorry but FR24 just doesn't cut the mustard for Mlats of Mil aircraft and often doesn't have details of Bizjets and Bizprops.

If you weren't so biased against PP you wouldn't be giving PPm a slagging off without trying it. As for your last comment regarding aircraft operators, aviation authorities and government agencies reaction - well that just shows that you have not bothered to read the information on the website which quite clearly states; "Existing Master Users (MUs) may view positionless aircraft (e.g. military, private) with their PP MU licence!". This makes it clear that anyone wishing to see those positionless aircraft will have to purchase the PC version of PP. Which means, of course, that those features are not available to the general public.

I'm really disappointed with your negative comments about this product without you having used it, Mike.

Tom

[Anmer]

I'm really disappointed with your negative comments about this product without you having used it, Mike.

Tom, my comments were about the cost of the app and how it compares to alternatives.  I don't need to use it to make these comparisons.

I'm sure that the PP app will be a welcome addition for many existing and new PP customers.  But I'm trying to be objective and, like anyone else here, am entitled to post an opinion, even if it differs from yours.  I was trying to be factual, not negative.

You cannot dispute:

1. The app is more expensive than alternatives.

2. MLAT is only available if one has bought a PP licence at Euro 25 plus tax and either shares data as a Master User or pays an annual fee of Euro 12 plus tax.

3. PP global coverage is not as extensive as FR24, Planefinder or RadarBox24.  This may change.

4. PP is charging existing licencees and sharers for the app whereas others make theirs available free of charge.

5. I didn't claim that FR24 was as good as PP for MLAT, though it could be better if it didn't withhold some flights.  But it does display available MLAT traffic free of charge.

6. The new PP app is generally available as is a PP licence and Master User subscription.  PP promulgates the notion that it operates a closed user group which it doesn't.  Anyone can pay for the service.

You have this mistaken notion that I'm "biased against PP" which I am not.  Read all my posts.  I have the utmost respect for the product but think it can be improved.  Others agree, you may not.

Personally, I'm not in favour of aircraft being blocked or having "personal" data withheld from view.  I lobbied strongly against Kinetic when it failed to deliver its promised MMS data sharing, claiming that the "authorities" wouldn't allow it.  I don't think FR24 should withhold data either but I suspect it has good reasons for doing so.

All I said was it will be interesting to see how those who don't want their flights displayed might react.

You have always been a strong supporter and advocate for PP and I respect your opinion  even if I don't always agree.

But others have different views and as long as they post within this forum's Rules, they're entitled to present them.  And that includes me.

[viking9]

Sorry Mike, but PPm is not a COAA product. It's a private individual's product which he rightly charges for and it cannot be compared to any other tracking app available for tablets.

In fact PlanePlotter for PC is unique too in that, not only can it use data from aircraft 1090MHz squitters but it can display one's locally received aircraft on the chart - alone or along with shared aircraft. It can work with the Basestation database, which it can update. It can display aircraft on the chart and in the aircraft list using a large number of filters and can output reports based on those filters. For example I have recently agreed to report on Business aircraft flights over Northern Ireland. PP allows me to set up an alert zone for ICAO Class A0 and A1 aircraft and some others which fall outside those categories. I have also set a filter to send those alerts to a daily report (or any interval of 10 minutes or more) which includes selected aircraft details including LAT and LONG.

PP can also decode ACARS messages, display the message content and plot any positions on the chart. It can also work in conjunction with Charles Brain's PC-HFDL software by automatically extracting position reports from the log file and plotting them in real time on the same chart display. PlanePlotter adds value by calculating course and heading from successive reports from the same aircraft and plotting the predicted position between reports. It can even drive a passive antenna switch and display the direction (QDM) of any aircraft voice transmission.

Oh! I almost forgot - PlanePlotter for PC can display your local aircraft without an internet connection.

[Anmer]

Please stay on topic Tom and don't hijack it to promote PP.

Are you suggesting that PPm has been developed without the approval and cooperation of COAA?

As I recall, the use of PP data by third parties was not allowed?

[Smudger98]

Seems that PPm is a Bev product..
Quote from GrahamDevizes another site..

"Have noticed that it doesn't show MLATs, light aircraft or military. Have emailed COAA about this as my PC based P P shows everything.

EDIT - all you need to do is to email Bev at COAA, he or one of his blokes will check that you have already paid for Master User status on your home PC and then adjust your phone ( however they do that remotely is beyond me..) to show MLAT's militaries and light aircraft as mine is now doing.

According to COAA, all new aircraft logos should be available for home PCs within 48-72 hours"

Not being a user of PP, its all mud to me.. 
But thought it may help someone..

[Triple7]

PPm is written by a chap called Luke Harwood, it is clearly in association with COAA but Bev is not the author of PPm.

You request MU status from Bev who checks to see if you are an existing PP user / Master User / Ground Station, if so you get MLat on PPm for free.

If you don't fulfill the requirements for free MLat you can pay the fee for it and become a MU. You don't need to purchase PP (the PC program) if you don't want to.

There is no "adjusting the phone remotely" it is the same as the PC program, it's all handled by the PP server.

Aircraft logos refers to a bespoke set of aircraft symbols that display on PP depending on certain conditions or modifications to your sqb user tag filed.

Smudger - I hope that clears the mud from wherever it's lurking 

[viking9]

Please stay on topic Tom and don't hijack it to promote PP.

I'm not hijacking it to promote PP, Mike. I have no connection to COAA and I was merely posting the information
so others could make up their minds whether it is worth their while purchasing PP for the PC.

Information - isn't that what this website is about?

Are you suggesting that PPm has been developed without the approval and cooperation of COAA?

Of course not, it is obviously approved and the author was obviously assisted by Bev.

As I recall, the use of PP data by third parties was not allowed?

The data isn't being used by a third party, he merely developed and is selling an app to use the data on
a mobile device.

[satcom]

From Bev

Hi

Any registered PlanePlotter user who already has Master User status
on their PC, and who registers PlanePlotter Mobile, should receive
automatic Master User status on PPm within an hour or two of
registering it, provided that the registered email address is the
same for both installations.

If the registered email address for PPm is different from that for
PP, then you will still have to email me to request normalisation but
otherwise there is *no need* to request elevation to MU status on
your PPm installation.

Regards
Bev
COAA

Just to add to that

Anyone can buy the PPm app even if they are not a registered PP user
If they then want access to mlat traffic they can do so in the usual way , by subscribing to the annual service at 12 Euro plus tax .

All PPm users are subject to strict EULA conditions as with PP itself

PP [including  PPm]  remains a private network available only to those who register either for PP for PC or PPm.
Use of the network is closely monitored/regulated

There are no rebroadcasts of data to publically available websites.
Users are connected directly to the PlanePlotter server

PP/PPm do not use FAA data feeds and as such need not  comply with the
Blocking Display of Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) Data regulations , formerly the BARR list
The ASDI regulations apply specifically to  having their flight information broadcast over the Internet.
PP/PPm do not  broadcast over the internet.


Hopefully this clears up any misconceptions.

[IanH]

Having been in sunny (and occasionally stormy) Spain for the past week, I've missed this conversation.

Regarding this comment:

But I'm sure many will be willing to pay for this but it makes the app expensive compared to alternatives which sell for as little as US $3.00.

Since the App and the PC program seem to be separately developed, the cost of the App must have been decided by the author. However much PP costs to register is an independent issue.

Personally I have no use for the App since I don't have enough data usage in my phone contract. Also I use PP on a netbook when mobile - I can live without MLAT on those occasions.

Overall the price of the App may reflect all this: a higher price than others apps since development costs need to be recouped from only a limited number of people who will be interested?