Radarspotting

Mode-S Receivers => Other Mode-S Receivers => Topic started by: Anmer on December 01, 2014, 03:50:17 PM

Title: FlightAware's FlightFeeder v5
Post by: Anmer on December 01, 2014, 03:50:17 PM
The FlightAware Receiver

(http://radarspotting.com/images/FA%20Receiver.jpg)

Founded in 2005, FlightAware is a well-established provider of flight tracking services for aviation professionals, enthusiasts and travellers, covering both private and commercial traffic.

Traditionally, FlightAware has obtained data feeds from government sources, airlines and commercial data feeders.  More recently it has supplemented this with realtime data from a growing network of Mode-S receivers including volunteers with their own receivers and those hosting FlightAware's FlightFeeder.

In response to "customer" demand, FlightAware has recently announced that FlightFeeder will be available to purchase from January 2015.

I haven't tested this receiver and the following specification has been provided by FlightAware.  The Radarspotting forum is offering a FlightFeeder as 1st Prize in this year's Christmas Competition (http://radarspotting.com/forum/index.php/topic,4704.msg21979.html#msg21979) and it will be great to get feedback from the winner in due course.

FlightFeeder v5 is the latest version which will be used to extend FlightAware's ADS-B (http://uk.flightaware.com/adsb/) flight tracking global coverage.

With a dedicated 1090 MHz radio, FlightAware claims that the receiver offers comparable performance to more expensive units available from elsewhere.

Included is a built-in webserver on port 8080 providing a real-time map and aircraft table.  Industry "standard" data is available on ports 30002 and 30003 as well as Flightaware ADS-B TSV data on port 10001.  The TSV data offers tab-separated key value pair output that's easy for programmers to connect and parse the format.  Ideal for those wanting to innovate without wasting time decoding the other formats.

FlightFeeder v5 can run in local mode allowing other applications, such as VRS, PlanePlotter and even BaseStation, to use the port 30002 and 30003 data across a LAN connection.

The built-in FlightAware feed requires an Internet connection as does the webserver.  The feed is on by default and feeders receive a free Enterprise account worth US $89.95 per month.

The Enterprise account includes 8 months of historical flight data, unlimited flight alerts, ad free maps and much much more.  Check out the Enterprise account features here (http://uk.flightaware.com/commercial/premium/).  Feeders can also view and compare their performance statistics (http://uk.flightaware.com/adsb/stats/) on the FlightAware website.

Available from January 2015, FlightFeeder v5 will be priced at around US $600 with the standard magmount internal antenna.  Included in the package is a DC power supply and Ethernet cable. 

There will be an option to purchase an external antenna, coax cable, mounting bracket and lightning arrestor.

If anyone has experience of the earlier FlightFeeder receivers or sharing their own data with FlightAware, it would be good to hear from you.
Title: Re: FlightAware's FlightFeeder v5
Post by: N69120 on January 24, 2015, 10:51:34 AM
Having won the competition  over Christmas, which was a tightly run race, the package arrived yesterday. I will hopefully get it all figured out and running tomorrow.

Thanks again to Mike and Radarspotting.com.