AirNav Comstation Teardown

[GregoryGHarding]

received this from airnav to collect data for them, they provide the equipment free, including proper antenna capable of mode-s/GPS/acars/vhf, however there is no output for end user to collect data. its goes straight to airnav. 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.

i decided id tear it down and show you whats inside because i have not seen nor heard of this box before and some of you will know more about it then i do.

http://imgur.com/a/jDHsl#0

EDIT:
Mainboard pic in album is blurry. heres better

http://i.imgur.com/QoiVD6e.jpg

[Anmer]

Thanks for sharing this.

If I understand correctly, other than hosting the receiver and feeding data to AirNav, you were unable to make use of its received data for your sole use?

Was there just the one antenna or different ones for GPS and VHF/UHF?

[GregoryGHarding]

Thanks for sharing this.

If I understand correctly, other than hosting the receiver and feeding data to AirNav, you were unable to make use of its received data for your sole use?

Was there just the one antenna or different ones for GPS and VHF/UHF?

data is fed directly to airnav. no access for myself. one multi freq antenna

[Anmer]

Thanks.

Did you get offered a free RadarBox24 "premium" account or any other "soft" benefits?

[GregoryGHarding]

here is the antenna

http://i.imgur.com/Dtpo6iH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/85uMfSu.jpg

[GregoryGHarding]

Thanks.

Did you get offered a free RadarBox24 "premium" account or any other "soft" benefits?

"Elite"

[Anmer]

"Elite"

Whereas FR24 provide free Premium apps and website and FlightAware a free Enerprise account, AirNav offers a $2.00 app?

I can't determine whose "single-board" it uses.  Any names on the boards?

And I don't see a card slot?  Is there an SD card?

[GregoryGHarding]

i posted a better mainboard pic, it runs an A20 dualcore processor, thats all i can get out of it. it has pads for a micro sd dc power, and hdmi, but their unsoldered. it lookscompletly custom, as theres silkscreenings on the pcb like "RB-CPU-2.0"

[Anmer]

Thanks.

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

Out of interest how did you become a host?  Did AirNav contact you to offer the kit?

[GregoryGHarding]

Thanks.

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

Out of interest how did you become a host?  Did AirNav contact you to offer the kit?

i applied to host, a few months later they got back to me, there is zero coverate in my location for them other than FAA data

[Anmer]

i applied to host, a few months later they got back to me, there is zero coverate in my location for them other than FAA data

OK.  I hadn't seen AirNav inviting hosts for the new CommStation.

[GregoryGHarding]

i applied to host, a few months later they got back to me, there is zero coverate in my location for them other than FAA data

OK.  I hadn't seen AirNav inviting hosts for the new CommStation.

Have you heard about the commstation before today?

[Anmer]

Have you heard about the commstation before today?

Yes, there was a post on the AirNav forum a week ago which appeared to be a surprise to the forum members.  But nothing else and searches don't come up with anything.

[GregoryGHarding]

Have you heard about the commstation before today?

Can u link me to the thread/post. I can't find it

Yes, there was a post on the AirNav forum a week ago which appeared to be a surprise to the forum members.  But nothing else and searches don't come up with anything.

[Triple7]

http://www.airnavsystems.com/forum/index.php?topic=8420

Tim