AirNav Comstation Teardown

[Anmer]

Thanks Tim.

[junglejet]

Gregory,

can you post a closer-in photo of the RF part of the upper PCB, too, please?

This is the area just behind the SMA connector.

It seems there are no SAW filters in this area and the whole setup reminds me of this small silver box that was on the market for some time, but disappeared 3 years ago or so, which name I forgot (but Anmer will remember)

Andy

[Anmer]

It seems there are no SAW filters in this area and the whole setup reminds me of this small silver box that was on the market for some time, but disappeared 3 years ago or so, which name I forgot (but Anmer will remember)

Hi Andy

Do you mean the PlaneGadget?

http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,320.msg1823.html#msg1823

[tarbat]

i've connected up the USB and installed some serial drivers, i can connect to the box but it just repeats its product name and serial number.

Might be worth trying the Radarbox software, and see if it detects the CommStation.

http://www.airnavsystems.com/Radarbox/support.html

[tarbat]

The absence of an HDMI interface and SD card slot could prove a bit of a challenge to diagnose issues and upgrade firmware/software.

Previous Airnav hardware - ShipTrax - updated firmware via. the USB/serial interface.

[Anmer]

Previous Airnav hardware - ShipTrax - updated firmware via. the USB/serial interface.

And we all know how well that sold!

But seriously, is installing the software on a board component a good idea?

[tarbat]

But seriously, is installing the software on a board component a good idea?

It probably is if the vendor is more interested in keeping the firmware secure.

[Anmer]

It probably is if the vendor is more interested in keeping the firmware secure.

Depends on the component's reliability.  Time will tell, assuming the CommStation gets installed in sufficient numbers to measure field performance.

Interesting that Pi and Beaglebone alternatives use SD cards.

[GregoryGHarding]

i've connected up the USB and installed some serial drivers, i can connect to the box but it just repeats its product name and serial number.

Might be worth trying the Radarbox software, and see if it detects the CommStation.

http://www.airnavsystems.com/Radarbox/support.html

That was the obvious route, I never write that in my original posting because I thought that was the given

[GregoryGHarding]

Gregory,

can you post a closer-in photo of the RF part of the upper PCB, too, please?

This is the area just behind the SMA connector.

It seems there are no SAW filters in this area and the whole setup reminds me of this small silver box that was on the market for some time, but disappeared 3 years ago or so, which name I forgot (but Anmer will remember)

Andy

It's back together now. But give me a few hours and il see what I can do

[junglejet]

Exactly, Mike.
Mmm, seems I am getting old ... 

It seems there are no SAW filters in this area and the whole setup reminds me of this small silver box that was on the market for some time, but disappeared 3 years ago or so, which name I forgot (but Anmer will remember)

Hi Andy

Do you mean the PlaneGadget?

http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,320.msg1823.html#msg1823

[GregoryGHarding]

But seriously, is installing the software on a board component a good idea?

It probably is if the vendor is more interested in keeping the firmware secure.

They seem to be all about security. This is the first company I've encountered  that asks you to host equipment for them using your resources and doesn't even let you access the raw feed. I was directed to radarbox24.com after emailing them telling them I cannot access data via regular ports or serial.

[Anmer]

They seem to be all about security. This is the first company I've encountered  that asks you to host equipment for them using your resources and doesn't even let you access the raw feed. I was directed to radarbox24.com after emailing them telling them I cannot access data via regular ports or serial.

In the 8 years I've had dealings with AirNav Systems (aka Andre Brandao), "paranoid" is the word that first springs to mind.

If Brandao had spent more time on understanding business and what makes for success instead of telling everyone that he's the biggest and best, claims that were easily shot down, he wouldn't have been surpassed by the likes of Kinetic, Flightradar24 and FlightAware.

Hosts invest time, electricity, bandwidth and cash (erecting the obligatory external antenna) and justifiably expect something in return.  AirNav always wants everything for nothing and even helps itself to RadarBox owners bandwidth without their expressed permission.

One to avoid.

[Anmer]

Mmm, seems I am getting old ... 

You sure are, along with everyone else here. 

[GregoryGHarding]

They seem to be all about security. This is the first company I've encountered  that asks you to host equipment for them using your resources and doesn't even let you access the raw feed. I was directed to radarbox24.com after emailing them telling them I cannot access data via regular ports or serial.

In the 8 years I've had dealings with AirNav Systems (aka Andre Brandao), "paranoid" is the word that first springs to mind.

If Brandao had spent more time on understanding business and what makes for success instead of telling everyone that he's the biggest and best, claims that were easily shot down, he wouldn't have been surpassed by the likes of Kinetic, Flightradar24 and FlightAware.

Hosts invest time, electricity, bandwidth and cash (erecting the obligatory external antenna) and justifiably expect something in return.  AirNav always wants everything for nothing and even helps itself to RadarBox owners bandwidth without their expressed permission.

One to avoid.

This benefit to me is the antenna, I have parts in post to build my own splitter,then gonna run the rbcs, and a few dongles for modes, acars etc