What do you really use your Mode-S receiver for?

[Sun Worshipper]

I came from an era of plane spotters where something like a Radarbox would have been viewed upon as satanic black magic.

However, I realise time and technology moves on and I was wondering, in this day and age, what people use a Radarbox for?

Is it purely to tie up registrations of aircraft you see in your area, is it used to locate aircraft whose registrations you need to find out if they are anywhere near you or something else.

This is purely to satisfy my curiosity and there is no right or wrong answer to the question.

[Anmer]

Do you only want responses about using the AirNav RadarBox or any Mode-S receiver?

[Sun Worshipper]

D'ya know Mike, I hadn't given that part of the question too much thought.  I suppose it's because I only have a Radarbox (although I do use FR24 and Planefinder)

But, having thought about it, I suppose the question could apply to any brand of Mode-s receiver.  Cheers!

[Bethsalem]

Personally,

Mode S Beast and Dongles for local aircraft identification and also to feed PP and VRS.

RadarBox Pro, currently used a door stopper, but it's ultimate use will be as a wedge between the bum cheeks of a certain Portuguese purveyor of the aforementioned piece of.......electronics.

Stephen

[Sun Worshipper]

RadarBox Pro, currently used a door stopper, but it's ultimate use will be as a wedge between the bum cheeks of a certain Portuguese purveyor of the aforementioned piece of.......electronics.

Oh Bethy, don't get me started.

This is a genuine attempt to find out why people use mode-s receivers.  I've always thought it was for 'plane spotting' type reasons but just wanted more confirmation from the fraternity.

[G4UMW]

Personally it's to identify by registration the traffic in my local area. My wife also likes to know where the airliners that pass over the house are going to.

[IanH]

My name is Ian and I've been a Plane Spotter for 52 years with some lapses. 

I use my Mode-S receiver primarily to notify me and identify the aircraft in visual range.

But also for interest in what's happening beyond visual range.

Living in Nottingham, finding out what was flying around here used to be difficult - tieing up radio callsigns if you could even figure out what frequency they were operating on. These new-fangled satanic boxes have changed all that and resurrected my interest.

[Anmer]

I started with an airband radio but then moved to Northamptonshire where I could only receive air-to-ground audio.  I wanted to know what was flying overhead (at high altitudes) and where they were heading.  The annual "Flight Routings" book was invaluable, but that ceased publication in 2006.  I think it was pubished in Haverfordwest, near to where I am now.

Started exploring ACARS and route mapping but at about the same time I read about the Kinetic SBS-1 which seemed more "customer friendly" with the included BaseStation software.  Found a pre-owned one on eBay which was a few weeks old and went ahead and bought it.  That was in September 2005 and the rest, as they say, is history.

My local range was good but I was curious about onwards routing so found a way to share traffic with other BaseStation users.  The server was hosted by FR24 in exchange for sharing our data.

I joined FlightAware back in 2005 but in those days it didn't offer ADS-B tracking. Although FR24, PlaneFinder and others have provided "global" coverage, I still yearn to have my SBS-1/3 setup again with a masthead antenna, tracking local traffic - all of it, including blocked and "hidden" hidden flights.  But I have to await my final house move before I can install the antenna where it will provide best coverage.

So, in essence, to know what aircraft are flying overhead, who owns them and where they're going.  And to help others enjoy the hobby.

[IanH]

And to help others enjoy the hobby.

Yes that is true for me too. If my input into PP repays the MLATs I get out if it, that's great.

And I wish I knew about the SBS in 2005 - I was so out of touch with the spotting scene by then. My only spotting was airports en route holiday and the occasional LHR spotting.

So can I add a rider to the question? How did you find out about Mode-S receivers?

For me it was a passing mention about RadarVirtuel in a Flight Sim forum at the end of 2009 that alerted to me the technology. But I didn't buy my SBS-1e until the end of 2011 - the online systems were becoming overloaded and unreliable at that point.

[Anmer]

So can I add a rider to the question? How did you find out about Mode-S receivers?

I'm pretty sure I read about it in an aviation magazine, possibly Aircraft Illustrated.  Then I found the Kinetic Forum.  Then the courage to buy an SBS-1 without telling the wife.

[Breitling]

My first goal is trying to catch non ADS-B traffic, small general aviation aircrafts in particular. Obviously I need more than a receiver and the help from PP nice features.

[Triple7]

I started out with this lark by using PlanePlotter, a neighbour mentioned it to me and I took the plunge. Like quite a few people, after using PP for a while I decided to get my own receiver so I found an SBS-1 on eBay and it went from there.

The SBS-1er was next followed by Tom's old PGR (that didn't work out so well when used locally at airports - so it went to another owner) a second SBS-1er for mobile use - pre-owned. I actually sold my SBS-1 for more than I paid for the second 1er - good deal that 

I use it for generally observing what's going overhead from home and (obviously) for seeing what's happening at airports.

The display generates quite a bit of interest when friends drop by or are invited for dinner etc.

Tim

[Smudger98]

Plane spotter since junior school... so 15 years then..!!   
SBS1 classic tuned for what I need in the civil traffic sector - BS reporter set to show what I still need and with various button and screens set permanently.

Im lucky enuff to live in a fairly high traffic area so the machine is really for local use - found out about this black art from an old chap working one at LHR with a red Micra and that was me hooked..  Just had to get one and spent far to many hours getting it set up the way I wanted it, but I dont care it works a treat.

Now working in conjunction with FR24 & MLAT filter set that just about seals the deal and covers all I need..

When mobile and out and about it still does cause an excellent talking point and unlike some who keep it covered and shy away from showing the kit.. its more like all are welcome to view my car boot set up - but my use comes 1st..

VR addict from Surrey..

[Roadrunner]

Been an aviation enthusiast since a school trip to Heathrow in 1958 (still have log) and dabbling with VHF radio band 88-108 throwback of aviation frequencies in 60's. Park air 10SS and other early VHF radio scanners including Signal R53X series. Retired end 2006 and at same time acquired SBS1. Am now using an SBS3 with an Aurora Eurotech and Radarbox under bench plus a 1090 puck to take away with me.


With me it has always been about finding details of aircraft that I can also see out my window. Living on approach to Luton 26 means I know whether it is worth going out with bino's if something new is on approach. Wife calls it my life support system but I woud not be without it.


Having said all above, if I was starting from scratch today I would probably opt for one of the App devices such as PPM, FR24 or planfinder and spend all the money saved by not buying the latest devices on exotic holidays to new places.

[Anmer]

found out about this black art from an old chap working one at LHR with a red Micra and that was me hooked..  Just had to get one and spent far to many hours getting it set up the way I wanted it, but I dont care it works a treat.

Yes, Micras have a good reputation, any colour, not just red.