VRS running on Linux

[IanH]

I noticed in the VRS forum that one of the members has managed to get VRS running on a Linux server.

I downloaded the files and after adding a few items to resolve error messages manged to get it working. It is not (yet?) as full featured as the Windows version. For me the main omission is the tie-up between ADSB code and registration.

Nevertheless a good starting point. Hopefully development will continue.

Ian

[IanH]

Update on VRS running on Linux. The Virtual Radar Server has now been compile to run under Mono on Linux.

I followed the instructions here: http://www.virtualradarserver.co.uk/Mono.aspx to install on Debian 6.04. Note it doesn't need a webserver installed - the program deals with web access.

Copied across basestation.sqb and operator flags from my SBS-1e installation so that it runs standalone without need to access these files on a different box.

Also installed the database writer plugin so that it updates the basestation.sqb file.

Set up the options, pointed a web browser at the URL and success. Ther may be subtle 9or not so subtle) differences from the Windows .NET version but this does what I want on a small server.

Set port forwarding in my firewall to allow internet access to the correct port and tested it. Seems to work so signed up for a No-Ip account and leaving it running for now to check stability.

If the system is up it should be here:

http://virtualradar.servehttp.com/VirtualRadar/GoogleMap.htm

Ian

[Anmer]

Seems to be working just fine.

[IanH]

Up and down like a tart's knickers today while I rearrange some hardware. Intend to have a few more public facing servers so want to get them behind a firewall DMZ.

Now possible since I upgraded to BT Infinity since upload speeds have increased although not as much as indicated.

Ian

[dongle]

Hi Ian,

Months down the line, this is the way I started on ADS-B decoding. I know nothing about Linux, and only went this way to allow me to use the TV dongle. As you know well, the only current way to use these items for ADS-B decoding is to use GNU-Radio under Linux.

By the way - I noticed you said elsewhere that your dongle didn't work that well. Mine wasn't fantastic at first when using a half baked antenna made of coat hangar wire in a down stairs room, but it didn't half pick up when I made a better aerial and put it above the roof ridge.

Then I noticed that you can use a gain parameter in the command line you type when you kick of uhd_modes.py.

My original command line was this:

uhd_modes.py -d -P         (notice the UPPER CASE 'P' there).

That sets the gain at a default value of '32' (probably 32db).

I can get mine to the dongles max gain by adding the following to the end of the command line:

-g 43

That sets the gain of the dongle at 42db. 10 db is a huge extra gain and got me about another fifty miles. A ropey pre-amp added another fifty to make a quite acceptable range. As I said elsewhere - the pre-amp knocked off the local airport take offs, but I wasn't interested in them so not a loss for me.

[IanH]

Nice find - tried that gain parameter and can see an easyJet over Manchester at FL360. Twice the range firm previous attempts and also seeing more contacts. Remember this is from a downstairs window with limited views. So need to try higher up with a better antenna! But I don't think I'm selling my SBS-1e just yet. 

You are bringing some good information to this forum - thank you.

Ian

[dongle]

LOL - I also got good information here so it's only fair.

Because your dongle is perhaps a different one to mine, or some other reader may have a different one, dongles from different manufacturers can be set at different gain values. Mine happens to have a max setting of '42'. This might mean 42db, but that's a guess. Anyway, other dongles can have more or less gain. It just depends. I found mine by trial and error, entering different values after the '-g' value. The format is -g<space>number. So in my case it is -g 43. However, I later discovered that if you run the 'rtl_test -t' command in the terminal, it will not only tell you what frequencies it covers, but what gain values are allowed. Some of them go up way above the 42 value that mine does. I type '-g 43' in mine because if I type -g 42 - the maximum value, it sets the thing at 41 which is 1db less than the value I entered.