Why do you share?

[Chris-G0WTZ]

If I am in the wrong area please re locate the post.

I am trying to find out why people share and as this forum has a lot of exposure to sharing I thought it a good place to ask.

Basically if you share what do the networks give you?
If you share what do you expect to get back?

It is a simple question and I see folk buying a complete set up just to share. I may be missing something but apart from the MLAT Radar and the Network Mike runs I have seen nothing that gives you anything back of significance.

I am asking for good reason so please can you help me with a bit of research

Thanks

[Anmer]

Good question Chris (and we haven't discussed this amongst ourselves).

Back in the days, Kinetic said it would host a sharing service - MMS.  It didn't come about but I remember getting very excited when Paul Brown (Halcones) and I started sharing our data via the Jetvision MMS "hack".  The shared data appeared in BaseStation.  There were no website sharing services in those days.  But MMS was very resource hungry and both Paul and I were experiencing desktop crashes every few minutes.  Back to the drawing board.

I then discovered (how, I have no recollection) a young Polish programmer called Piotr who could display shared data on his closed user website.  I persuaded him to enable sharing in BaseStation where I had full control over the look and feel of the map and aircraft database.  The result was SBS1 Client which I started hosting on my desktop.  But it needed a central server and Piotr got in touch with Micke at FR24 who agreed to host the service in exchange for the data being used by FR24.

Things have moved on since then but I still administer SBS1 Client and share "my" data with FR24 and FlightAware in return for free Premium and Enterprise accounts.

I also share with MLAT Wales to help its members plot MLAT over, yes,  you guessed right, Wales (and beyond).

So why do I share, apart for the free Premium and Enterprise accounts?

Initially I wanted to see where the aircraft flew outside of my local coverage.  The commercial websites now offer that and in far greater coverage than I can get from SBS1 Client.

And some sharing options gives me MLAT plots for free.  I'm not a great fan of PlanePlotter for many reasons so having FR24 MLAT is a plus but too many aircraft are shown as "Blocked", not displayed or merely shown with the aircraft type code.  But FlightAware presents all local MLAT data in the DUMP1090 map, albeit with no aircraft personalisation.

I also like the free Premium and Enterprise accounts which have lots of useful features for the aviation enthusiast.  I would like to see the FlightAware MLAT plots in my BaseStation display which, I think, I can do using ModeSMixer.  But I need some quality time to explore the many options on offer and write a User Manual!

I think the combination of a cheap DVB-T receiver and Raspberry Pi is enabling more sharers to come online and run their feeds, unattended, 24x7 without interfering with their desktop or laptop activities.  Virtual Radar Server has done much to enhance this hardware combination togther with Sergsero's ModeSMixer.

To summarise, I like to share to see beyond my local coverage where I can get advance notice of a new aircraft coming my way.  I have excellent coverage over 300 NM but not so good to the west where the land rises.  I've also seen many BaseStation displays where the map is showing just 10 aircraft because the antenna isn't or can't be installed outside or the cost is too prohibitive.  If my sharing adds value, I'm happy to help those less fortunate.

For the record, I'm sharing to FR24 using a Radarcape, to FlightAware via PiAware (DVB-T/Pi combo) and MLAT Wales via BaseStation.

Hope that helps Chris and encourages more contributions to the post?

[IanH]

Why do I share?

MLAT is the obvious answer and within weeks of buying a ("previously owned") SBS-1e, I had paid my money to get PP registered. While using RadarVirtuel (remember that?), I had figured out that not everything flying over was showing  . And here where overflights are everything, that mattered.

So with a set up that provides what I need, why do I contribute to other sharing sites?

Why not? My data is available so if it adds data to an area where the number of contributors is poor, that's good. But of course I also want to get something out of it occasionally.

The premium account on FR24 allowed me to have MLAT data during a trip to the USA. Also it allowed me to check a few things on my return - the playback facility is available for a longer durationwith a Premium account.

I've shared my data with  FlightAware on a couple of occasions  but didn't find it added anything to my existing resources. Still haven't figured out the advantage of an Enterprise account!

But I've just started to share via Piaware having read about it on here. This, as Mike says, presents all local MLAT data in the Dump1090 map. The "albeit with no aircraft personalisation" proviso is a major problem for me. I don't want hex codes, I want the ability to see registrations. Flightaware don't seem to be bothered so I'm looking at posts on this board about using ModeS/Deco/ModeSMixer so that I can get the data with registration tie-up. This would be an alternative to PlanePlotter coverage. If that isn't possible, the Raspberry Pi will be "repurposed" elsewhere.

Finally I contribute to http://www.mlat-radar.net/radar/ . Again it's an alternative source of MLAT to PP. Sometimes one site will have better MLAT coverage than another so it gives options  .

To summarise, why do I share? Because it's easy to give something back - on unlimited broadband the upload/download doesn't hit my usage. But also because they give me some benefits too when I occasionally need them.

[Tristar500]

Chris,
I share with Planeplotter, which I consider to be an essential add-on to BaseStation, for access to the MLAT facility allowing me to 'see' those aircraft that do not plot.
For use when out & about, but principally when at work, I have FR24 on my 'phone & it seemed wrong to 'use' this data without putting something back in so I (occasionally !) share with that network. Although this gives me access to the Premium account I very rarely use that facility.
My system runs & shares for about 22 hours a day but I rarely spend more than about an hour a day at the screen, perhaps running about 6 MLATs a week & dipping into FR24 2-3 times a day. I have no reservations about sharing though, even if I don't make full use of it, there are others in the networks who can benefit and, if none of us shared there would be no chance of identifying that military helo' that just flew over or whipping out my 'phone to see what that strange A333 was that's just flown over me on the MAN 23R approach !     

Ian   

[Dave_EGDR]

I'll keep my reply simple.

I share my SBS3 output with PlanePlotter and view PlanePlotter network over that of BaseStation, because it gives me MLat.  With my interest in mainly military this is the only "real" option for me.

I run my system 24/7 so give as much as I can, and for that I get access to the PP network Mlat.  I expect to have (which I do) access to the MLat network 24/7.

What I'd love...
BaseStation (software) updated to display mlat and network (ie combine BS & PP) as I like BS for some feature but have to us PP for mlat.

[Roadrunner]

I share my SBS3 output mainly with Planeplotter, plus Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware. I agree with Dave that I personally would like to be able to combine MLAT ouput with what is shown on the BaseStation screens but try and keep an eye on both. I like sharing my data as I know that a few friends of mine can't afford their own devices to provide their own data and I see no reason why I should not do so for them to view.

[Radio2.0]

If you share what do you expect to get back?

all Data what the other Guy receive.
I have some "contracts" with other Local sharer the allow me to rebroadcast there feed to get an huge coverage.

Virtual Radar Server has done much to enhance this hardware combination togther with Sergsero's ModeSMixer.

Yes VRS ist a great Projekt! 1000x better than Planeplotter. 
hmm i prefair only Modesdeco2.

To summarise, I like to share to see beyond my local coverage

With me to?

The premium account on FR24 allowed me to have MLAT data during a trip to the USA.

Why not sharing from an Aircraft via onboard Wifi?

So everyone here I am search for other People who want share there Data with me.
A Germany Guy show my Aircraft on his Server: http://planes.webernetz.net/virtualradar/desktop.html#
Just klick on "Wien". 

[Anmer]

I was reading an article in the November issue of Radio User that recommends that we should only share our receiver data with enthusiast sites such as PlanePlotter and Virtual Radar Server.  It goes so far as to suggest that "all Mode-S Virtual Radar enthusiasts who have a decoder should stop supplying their data to commercial concerns"

The article was written by Pat Carty and I'm surprised the editor didn't moderate Pat's recommendation.

So why did Pat go out on a limb?  He appeared to be addressing concerns from "business aviation leaders" about privacy and security concerns arising from the FAA's 2020 ADS-B mandate.  Pat thinks that sharing data with PlanePlotter will address these concerns whereas sharing with "commercial concerns" does not.

But I think Pat's got that all wrong.

First of all, the "commercial concerns", such as FR24, FlightAware, Plane Finder and AirNav, respect the FAA BARR list and either block or withhold aircraft identification.  Secondly, they apply similar restrictions to many military and government operated aircraft and will do the same in response to a request from an aircraft operator.  Does PlanePlotter and the Virtual Radar Server groups offer the same safeguards?  I think not.

The PlanePlotter community perpetuates the myth that it's a closed user group that's not freely available to the general public.  Whilst I agree it's not "freely available", (there's a licence fee to pay) anyone can use PlanePLotter without being subject to any security vetting.  And one of PlanePlotter's USPs is not blocking aircraft, including MLAT and Beamfinder plots.

So contrary to Pat Carty's recommendation, if aircraft operators don't want their aircraft movements to be visible, sharing data to "commercial concerns" is the better option.

Afterall, most of these "concerns" work closely with and supply services to aircraft operators, FBOs, airports and global aviation authorities, unlike PlanePlotter and Virtual Radar Server groups.

[OtNE]

First of all, the "commercial concerns", such as FR24, FlightAware, Plane Finder and AirNav, all respect the FAA BARR list and either block or withhold aircraft identification.

Do they really "respect" this or it just the trade off for getting the FAA delayed traffic feed ?

I'm not sure why the rest of the world has to respect US corporate secrecy.....

[Anmer]

Do they really "respect" this or it just the trade off for getting the FAA delayed traffic feed ?

I'm not sure why the rest of the world has to respect US corporate secrecy.....

In my experience they do respect the BARR list and all other requests not to identify specific aircraft movements.  And, to the best of my knowledge, the FAA feed is a chargeable interface.

It's got nothing to do with US corporate secrecy. Requests are submitted from individuals, operators and government departments located in other countries.

The point of my post is question Pat Carty's recommendation for the reasons I've explained.

[Radio2.0]

I feel a little bit sad. I search other hole internet to find some people who want to share but quite nothing...
why..... 

[IanH]

Who is Pat Carty to be handing out this "advice"? Never heard of him.

I'll decide who I share my data with.

I'm intrigued by the "privacy and safety concerns". Many of the US bizjets are registered to trusts or banks (eg Wells Fargo Bank) so I suspect the owner is not easily identified. So what is this privacy concern? The NBAA refers to "The need to protect the privacy of one's real-time movements". It's an aircraft transmitting the data not the passenger(s).

[Anmer]

Who is Pat Carty to be handing out this "advice"?

I think this may be him:

https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/pat-carty/50/857/a73

http://www.patcarty.com/

Has a link to PlanePlotter which may explain why most of his article was about the latest PP release.