Populating The Generic Name Field in BaseStation with Route Data

[Andos]

Hi,
     I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem that I am having. 

     Most software likes to use the Popular Name field (Field 18) in BaseStation to display Routes in both the Aircraft List and on the Radar screen but I have a bit of a problem there because my Seen Aircraft database utility (ADUSBS Utility) already uses these respective fields to populate and display my Aircraft Seen/ Required details on both the Radar and Aircraft List.  Because of this, I seem to only be left with the option of using the Generic Name field (Field 13) to populate with my Flight Routes information.  GAS's Active Display uses (Field 18) for its Routes info also so I can't use this software solution.

     The questions I would like to ask are as follows:

1)  Firstly, how do I create an editable table that I can manually input my routes into so that they
     correlate with the Callsign data received by my SBS-1er?   I am not very au fait with SQL but am always
     willing to learn.

2)  How do I then get my Routes info from this editable table to then display on both the Aircraft List in
     the Generic Name column (Field 13) and also in Field 13 on the Radar screen? 

3)  Does anybody know of a utility which could simplify the manual input of these routes into BaseStation?

     I do not wish to use an online route-populating service as this would require me to have an internet
connection which would not be helpful while I'm out and about.


     I have been trying resolve this issue for a very long time now and still feel like I am not getting any closer to a solution.  I realise that having routes display on your BaseStation is not everyone's cup of tea, but after using Active Display a couple of years ago, I come to miss this info very much.


                   Pleeease hellllpp!!

                                Andos.

[Anmer]

Welcome.

Most data field in the BaseStation database (sqb file) can be edited, directly using BaseStation Reporter, the Aircraft Details window or an sql editor.

The fields which can't be edited are those transmitted by the aircraft, such as the ICAO hex code, altitudes, speed, headings etc.

The constraints are going to be the fields that BaseStation allows one to display, either in the aircraft list or aircraft map labels.  And any other third party software that may want to also use those fields.  Some may have conflicting demands or will overwrite your manual edits.

What third party software are you currently using?

The other problem with routes is maintaining a current routes database.

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
               I am currently not using any software to populate my Routes with but I have been compiling them in a Google Sheet for now until I can find a solution.  I am very happy to manual enter the routes myself (-as I find it therapeutic! LOL).

               However, my SBS setup is as follows:

1)  Acer Switch 10E Laptop running Win10 32bit.
2)  Kinetic SBS-1er running BaseStation ver 184.
3)  ADU Software database for my sightings which are then fed to BaseStation via ADU SBS Utiiity latest
     version.  This allows my Required/Seen details and aircraft info to be populated on the fly and written
     directly to .SQB file.

      If you require any other info that I may have missed, please let me know.

                      Brgds,
                                 Andos.

[Anmer]

Are you wanting to show the route in just one field, such as "LHRJFK"?

If you want to use the GenericName field for a route, you can add this to the Aircraft List using acarslogger's "Aircraft List Configurator".  And to the map display using BaseStation->Settings->Display Settings->Scope Fields.  But.......

The data field is attached to an aircraft record.  It's not linked to the callsign.  You need something to associate a route to the transmitted callsign by looking it up in a routes database and then displaying in BaseStation.

Flight Display did this in the way you describe but it's no longer supported. Active Display adopted a similar approach.

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
                I shall answer your questions by section if I may:

Are you wanting to show the route in just one field, such as "LHRJFK"?      Yes.  LHR-JFK


If you want to use the GenericName field for a route, you can add this to the Aircraft List using acarslogger's "Aircraft List Configurator".  And to the map display using BaseStation->Settings->Display Settings->Scope Fields.

I have already created the Generic Name column (Field 13) in the Aircraft List and have configured the Generic Name Radar Field position (Field 13) also

You need something to associate a route to the transmitted callsign by looking it up in a routes database and then displaying in BaseStation.

You are correct. That is what I am hoping to do.  I already have created a Google Sheet of 4000+ routes and I am now trying to find a way for these to associate the transmitted callsign to the route and displaying it in BaseStation exactly as you've described. I am, however, looking to maintain the Routes myself by a method that doesn't involve an online lookup service like the one Active Display uses.



                                                                      Andos.

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
               I could easily convert my Routes into a .xls file and then import it into a .SQL format but after that, I am completely lost.

                                      Andos.

[Anmer]

Thanks.

The missing bit of the jigsaw is an app to read the routes database from the aircraft flightID/callsign part of the transmitted message and then populate the appropriate field in BaseStation for the active flight.

The only apps I know of that did something similar are Flight Display and Active Display, neither of which are currently supported.

Maybe someone clever could come up with an alternative?

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
               the source will only be comprised of two columns- one the Callsign and one for the Routes.


             Please see attached image:

           


                                                       Andos.

[Attachment deleted by Admin to save file space]

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
                yes precisely.  I'm not very articulate (LOL).  Except both Active Display and Flight Display seem to implement online lookup services and I think both use the Popular Name Field ( Field 13).


                  I am hoping that I may resolve this before moving onto the second phase of my venture which will be to use a FlightAware ProStick instead of my SBS-1er to feed my BaseStation.  I have already noticed that other members are undergoing similar projects.  I shall peruse those threads at a later date.  However, first things first eh?

                 Are there any threads on the forum which may tackle this sort of query from maybe an .SQL point of view that you may know of?

                 Somebody mentioned a program, I think it was called SBSPop or Database Pop or something like that on a thread somewhere. I forget where.   Could this be something that might help me?

                                                    Andos.

[Anmer]

Flight Display allowed a choice of field to populate, with one or two - from and to in one or split over two.  The routes database was local and lookup was only for the missing ones.

SBSPopulate (precursor to Active Display) didn't have a routes feature.

Maintaining a routes database is labour intensive and these days most rely on the tracking sites such as FR24, FlightAware, Plane Finder etc. 

[Andos]

Thanks Anmer,
                        I shall have a look at Flight Display.  Can this program run without an internet connection?


                                        Andos.

[Anmer]

Although I did all the testing of Flight Display, that was 9 years ago.  From memory it could run locally.

I have a copy of the last published version of FD but there were incompatibility problems with a later version of BaseStation.  I think it will cause more problems than solutions.

It's a shame as FD was a great add-on for BaseStation.  As is Active Display.

[Andos]

Hi Anmer,
                I am running BaseStation ver 184.  Would it be possible for you send me a copy of the latest Flight Display please so that I may try it out.  I shall let you know how I get on.


                         Many thanks,

                                                 Andos.

[Andos]

Oops!  I forgot to mention that I am running Windows 10 32-bit.

                                                     Andos.

[Anmer]

FD was withdrawn in 2009 when it became incompatible with BaseStation 1.4.