Hello everyone! :)
This is my first post here and I am from Spain.
I have been trying to set up the Beamfinder but I think I have reached a dead end.
First of all, I am using an RTL-SDR R820T2-RTL2832U dongle that is working perfectly. I have tuned 1090MHz in SDR# with quite good results (I do not want to buy a better antenna or equipment until confirming that PlanePlotter works correctly).
I have tried RTL1090 and Dump1090 (which I am using now) and I get an average of about 14 airplanes (I think it is a good number to start). In both programs, I can see Mode-S traffics and Mode A/C traffics.
In PlanePlotter, I see all traffics in the airplane list and plotted on the map the ones that are transmitting their position.
I am using PlanePlotter version 6.4.5.1. It is the paid and registered version, not the demo.
The problem starts when I try to set up the Beamfinder. The radar options are non-selectable.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/259jybo.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/6pxdzt.png)
The Radar Identifier Window works well, but the "Mode-S pulse rates window" and "Mode-A/C pulse rates window" are showing a very faint signal.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/fymj61.png)
(http://i64.tinypic.com/opuz2p.png)
And this is what I am getting on Dump1090 (not much traffic at these hours):
(http://i68.tinypic.com/j5we42.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/2qvytrn.png)
(http://i65.tinypic.com/ngtzs3.png)
On "dump1090.bat" I have tried:
dump1090.exe --interactive --net --net-ro-size 500 --net-ro-rate 5 --net-buffer 5 --net-beast --mlat --gain 49.8 --modeac --raw --interactive
pause
And
dump1090.exe --interactive --net --net-ro-size 500 --net-ro-rate 5 --net-buffer 5 --net-beast --mlat --gain -10 --enable-agc --modeac --raw --interactive
pause
I have also tried with and without the "--raw" with no changes.
And this is the point where I am now. I cannot select de Beamfinder functions and the pulse rates are very faint.
Does anyone have any idea of how to sort this out? Can be a problem with the configuration, the ports or something like this?
I am using all this as part of a research project, so I really need to make it work.
Thanks in advance and sorry for my English.
Greetings!
Hi SkyHawk and welcome to the Forum from an expat living in Spain.
I'm not sure what's going on with PlanePlotter in not allowing you to log radar pings, I have a sneaky feeling that an R820T dongle is incapable of giving PlanePlotter what it needs in order to do the correct calculations. But I'll leave a proper answer to those on the Forum much more knowledgeable than I.
I have Beamfinder working on my PlanePlotter setup, but I use a Beast to feed PlanePlotter rather than a Dongle. If you're looking to get decent MLAT in Spain the only easy option is using FlightAware's software, Dump1090-FA, together with your Dongle.
Forget PlanePlotter, a decent MLAT network ain't gonna happen anytime soon :)
However, if it helps I've attached my radar.txt file to this message. It works pretty well for me for the purposes of Beamfinding.
[Attachment deleted by Admin to save file space]
Hi Bethsalem and thank you very much for your fast reply.
Initially, I do not think that the problem is in the dongle, because I have configured PlanePlotter to use with the Beast (just to try) and radar options are still non-selectable. But, who knows?... :o
And Dump1090 is showing the traffics.
My intentions are to set it up on a computer with no Internet access so, I think that Beamfinder is the only way for me to see the positionless traffics. MLAT requires Internet?
I was thinking of buying the FlightAware Pro Stick with the filter and the antenna; but I do not want to buy it until I get more info about the origin of the problem (too much money to waste it).
Would you be so kind to show me a screenshot of your PlanePlotter configuration? I will check if i have something wrong.
And finally, thank you very very much for the radar.txt file. You have avoided me a lot of work.
Welcome.
Do you have a "radar.txt" file.
See PP Help, Beamfinder - Tutorial, extracts below:
How to use the Beamfinder feature
Prerequisites
You must be using a Mode-S receiver giving full raw data (currently SBS1e/SBS1er, PGR, AVR/Beast, microADSB, SSRx). Unfortunately, the ANRB receiver does not deliver the interrogator identifier, which is required for this method to work.
Your area must be covered by one or more Mode-S radar sites with rotating beams, that use an interrogator code that is locally unique. Note that in some areas, multiple sites re-use the same interrogator code and this prevents the method being used for that particular radar identifier.
You must provide PlanePlotter with a list of the unique identifier and its associated the geographical coordinates and the rotation rate for each radar head that you want to use. The data must be provided in a text file listing the information in a prescribed format. See the "Tools" section below for information on how to obtain this information.
Operation
If you enable the IID option in the labels section of the Options..Chart..Options dialog, PlanePlotter will add the radar head identifier to the label of each aircraft displayed on the chart or outline. This will enable you to tell if your receiver is delivering the required information, and if there are radar sites in the area that are using identifiers.
Tools
To enable PlanePlotter to display the beams, it is your responsibility to provide a data file called "radar.txt" asppropriate for your area and to place it in the PlanePlotter application directory. The file can contain data in both the Beamfinder format and the Beamfinder Plus format.
Hello Anmer. Thank you for your answer.
Yes, I have the radar.txt file (now I am using the one that Bethsalem has provided).
About the tutorial, let's go step by step.
-Prerequisites
1)About the receiver, is it possible that the dongle does not work? I have seen this on another web:
http://planeplotter.pbworks.com/w/page/49167261/Beamfinder (http://planeplotter.pbworks.com/w/page/49167261/Beamfinder)
QuoteFor Beamfinder Plus, you need a receiver also capable of capturing the mode A/C transponder pings. Currently only The Mode-S Beast and Kinetic SBS-3 allow this, although the RTL receiver dongle and the dump1090 software allow this, and the RTL1090 software can be used as well.
2)I am more or less in the same area that Bethsalem so, if it works for him, I think that the radar sites are not a problem (there are various airports near my location).
3) Yes, I have provided the radar.txt file.
-Operation
I have enabled the IID option and I can see the radar head identifier for each aircraft on the chart.
-Tools
I have put the radar.txt file on the PlanePlotter directory. The one provided by Bethsalem that you can find attached to his previous message.
I have done all of this and the result is the same as before. The Beamfinder does not work and the radar options are non-selectable.
I have also calibrated the map and set my location properly. But I do not know if I have configured something wrong on PlanePlotter options (the port for raw data...)
(http://i67.tinypic.com/259jybo.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/6pxdzt.png)
Any ideas?
Thank you in advance for all your help.
This is possibly not the issue, as I don't use a dongle with PP, just with a RPi and FlightAware Pro stick.
A couple of questions, I assume you are using the Dongle on a PC (as opposed to a RPi etc) if so, what do you have set under Options>>Mode-S receiver>>RTL Dongle PC Dump 1090>>Setup TCP Cient? The default is 127.0.0.1:30005 which should provide the information needed by PP for Beamfinder. If the Dongle is not attached to the PC running PP you need to change the IP address to the one of the machine with the dongle attached.
I attach a copy of what I think you should have set in your PP I/O screen. Second attachment is Options>>Sharing>>Set-up, noting beamfinder fixes is now a selectable option.
Hopefully one of these will sort out Beamfinder.
Tim
EDIT: second attachment is probably irrelevant as you have said you will run without internet and that relates to downloading from the server / other users, so you can disregard that bit.
[Attachment deleted by Admin to save file space]
Hi Triple7 and thank you for answering.
I want to change to the FlightAware Pro Stick, but before buying anything I prefer to sort this out.
Yes, I have the Dongle plugged directly to the USB port of the computer where I am running the PlanePlotter. In fact, I can see the traffics on the Aircraft List and plotted on the chart the ones that are transmitting their position.
I have set all options just as you have them. And no changes. In fact, I do not really know if Beamfinder works or not, because the radar functions are directly non-selectable. It does not allow me to log the "Radar Pulse Interval Pings".
I have tested on other computer with different Windows version, but I get the same result.
This is my configuration:
(http://i65.tinypic.com/vgh6wj.png)
(http://i64.tinypic.com/2mikgj.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/2i03erq.png)
(http://i67.tinypic.com/259jybo.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/6pxdzt.png)
I think I will send an email to PlanePlotter support explaining them the problem.
I have selected the Beast as the Mode-S receiver and in I/O Options to see if something changes, but everything remains the same.
Could you confirm me if PlanePlotter Process (green dot) must be running in order to select the Radar Log options?
I'm sure you need to have PP processing i.e. green dot pressed so it displays a black square in order to log the radar pulses. I just tried it with PP stopped and I didn't log anything.
Tim
Yes, Tim, I think you've identified the root of the problem. PP needs to be working in order to log radar pings.
SkyHawk, you might find this animation helpful in setting up Beamfinder
http://planeplotter.pbworks.com/w/file/54114339/Beamfinder-setup-JohnLocker.gif
I have tried both with PP running and not running (black square or green dot) and nothing changes.
I only asked to see if with the program alone (without the dongle) the radar options are selectable.
I had already seen the animation. I have spent days reading the tutorials and trying different things before asking.
Here you can see that PP is running:
(http://i65.tinypic.com/i3hs2h.png)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/a15kj8.png)
I have been trying all the afternoon with dump1090 and RTL1090, different ports, configurations... but all remains the same.
I also saw on the aircraft list an helicopter flying at 700 feet not transmitting position.
I do not know why the PP does not allow me to log the radar pulses.
I really do not know what more I can try.
Thanks to all of you for trying to help me. I can assure you that I read all of your answers and apply them.
Well, I have reinstalled both PlanePlotter and dump1090.
After running for 2 hours, the "Log Mode-A Radar Pulse" has become selectable.
And I have been able to start analyzing for the radar site. I do not want to celebrate too soon, but for the moment I am very happy with the result.
Just one question. I have seen people using the port 30005 on dump1090 and others using the 30002. What is the difference?
I will leave this here for today and will continue testing tomorrow.
Many thanks to all of you.
Regards!
After using PP for one day I have made some progress.
I am able to log the radars' data and analyze it to locate the radar sites.
I have also built-up the radar.txt file and used the Beamfinder to successfully locate airplanes transmitting their position, like Ryanairs, Vuelings... (just to check that Beamfinder is working properly).
But, the problem that I am facing now is:
I have a light plane using Mode-S and transmitting only his ICAO Number, CallSign, Registration, Altitude and Squawk; but not position.
Is it possible to attempt to locate this aircraft with Beamfinder?
I have selected it from the aircraft list (with F12 activated) but nothing happens.
I have also seen that while other aircraft are showing their IID (II-4, SI-21...) on the chart, this is not doing it. In fact, I do not know if the IID is not being shown because the plane is not plotted on the chart or because the plane is not giving this information.
Is it possible to locate this aircraft?
Please, help me just one more time. I feel like I am getting really closer to make all of this work.
Many thanks in advance for all of you.
Regards!
Of course you can, but you may know how Beamfinder works:
To locate a positionless aircraft you need a radar head interrogating that aircraft. But that's not enough, you need at least some other traffic being interrogated by the same radar head. With the known radar and second aircraft positions, radar rotation speed and signals arrival time difference, PlanePlotter can calculate a "radar beam" pointing in the positionless aircraft direction.
But this is still not enough. You need at least two intersecting "radar beams" defining a point in the map.
And no, not enough yet. PlaePlotter needs at least one full minute of intersecting "radar beams" to create a fix for the positionless aircraft to show it on the map.
In other words: sometimes you will get a fix, sometimes don't. Light aircrafts have an added difficulty regarding the lesser number of radar heads interrogating them due to their low flight level.