Specific Location

Folks,

Been feeding Flightaware for over 12 months and am currently getting interested in adsbexchange having experimented with VRS rebroadcast server.

I live in UK but have a friend in US and like to view aircraft around her location, Flightaware's map seems to be delayed so am wondering if the Global Radar View will be better.

Is there an easy way to 'go to' locations? Trying to just swipe across the Atlantic is slow as the map continuously wants to update aircraft traffic.

Geffers

 

That's a really good question. I've been feeding FA for two years and am sorely missing much traffic of interest. Looks like ADSBExchange is a great alternative but a UI where I could actually SEE the traffic would be really nice. (I'm in the mid-west USA.)

 

Ric

Ric, if you go to adsbexchange.com and then global view you get a map of some default location. If you then go to menu, shortcuts, pause - that stops the map updating aircraft. Pan map to your location then menu, shortcuts, resume and you'll get traffic local to your area. Saw a couple of USAF jets over CA yesterday (where my friend lives).

Don't regard ADSBx as an alternative to FA, more a compliment. FA forum is brilliant, FA staff members very helpful. Member facilities great too. Think many FA members feed ADSBx as well and I don't think there are any objections from FA provided you don't refeed FA's MLAT data.

Feeding your data to ADSBx is also quite easy if you are happy to run automatic script files. Easier still if you run Virtual Radar Server.

Geoff

 

TU Geoff. Very helpful. I appreciate that. Took some time to get the little marker across the pond but it worked. (Don't know why I did not see that menu option previously.) I suppose a cookie is set that remembers the config?

I've been successful in creating a feed to ADSBx with my PiAware RX. (Actually, having been successful with the first attempt I'm going to reimage the other two PiAware feeders also.) Should be worthwhile -- both are in areas where there is a lot of military traffic and no ADSBx feeders.

Not sure what Virtual Radar Server is. I've read the info a couple of times but too cryptic for me.

Again -- TU!

Rick

 

A couple more questions, if you don't mind. I just reset my computer and re-entered Firefox. I now find I must drag that pointer across the pond again. England is a long, long way from my location. I doubt I'd do that again. Is there another solution, do you know?

2nd Q (maybe for anyone?): I use Firefox to manage PWs and enter them automatically on web pages. Does not work for ADSBx -- must do it manually every time. Painful. Any solution, I wonder

The frustration is rising ...

 

Rick, as suggested before pause the map, then reduce it in size, pan over then increase in size again then resume. There are three options for setting position from the menu, options, general, current location. If you use set current location it should remain unless you clear browser settings. If the location goes wrong again try this BEFORE resetting location again. Menu- shortcuts- go to current location.

Geoff

 

What is PWs ?

Geoff

 

Virtual Radar Server is used by ADSBx for their display, or I'm pretty sure they do as layout identical.

Virtual Radar Server runs on various operating systems and need not be on the same machine as is running PiAware. It uses your PiAware data to create a web page that views the aircraft in a much more flexible manner than Skyview. Superb for mobile devices which I've found Skyview is NOT.

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff. I meant to say "passwords." [.... just another frustration ...]

 

Ah, of course, didn't dawn on me at the time.

I am careful with any financial page passwords but confess that with sites like ADSBx I tend to have an easy (for me)password so not concerned about auto login.

Geoff

 

Please don't send data via VRS.

If you have a pi feeder feeding other sites - just install the ADSBx script. VRS is a very buggy piece of software but it does get the job done for what ADSBx uses it for, sort of.

If you don't like the UI - feel free build a new one. The data stream is available.

 

Why not just remove VRS instructions from web site? We are all enthusiasts, if you say it is a problem then we won't use it but I saw you say the same on a different thread, I queried it and another admin said if set up correctly it is fine, problem caused when people use incorrect ports.

I'll refrain from using VRS rebroadcast in the future.

Geoff

 

Because people like to use VRS. Problem is many times they don't configure it properly, don't keep the clock on the PC synced, etc ,etc ... if you have a Pi just feed with that .. it just works.

 

All I am suggesting is - if VRS is not a good source then don't give detailed instructions on the web page. If it is an option for specific feeds only then a comment to that effect on the 'feed' link is all that is required.

I just found it odd that I innocently follow instructions on the web page and then am asked to avoid doing so as it corrupts data. We are all enthusiasts and supply data hoping it to be accurate so will not intentionally send unusable data.

Geoff

 

In many case this is the only way someone will share because it is the less techy way and software. So people with interest in aviation but who wants something very easy will falls on VRS. It is also a great piece of software... Honestly if a few things would be changes in it, it would become easier for everyone.

What VRS changes would be useful ? A big bit for managing a VRS instance can be fixed with those 2 points:

• Detect the incoming data format (and have an option to force the feeding instances (If VRS) to use a certain protocol whatever the user configured)
• An easier way to open "custom ports" a bit like routers port opening by range (port X to port Y) instead of one by one.

 

It is also possible to use Beast-Splitter to feed from a radarcape device instead of VRS... Off course there will be no GUI to view data, so one must also run dump1090 if a GUI is wanted...

 

I like VRS, the display is excellent on a mobile device whereas my R-Pi feeding FlightAware is great on a big screen but hopeless on a mobile.

I'm feeding now via script anyway.

Geffers