AussieScanners.com.au

I believe that its name

Anyone monitor it???

I used to, not anymore though.
-Alex

AIRMAN wrote:I haven't got the decoder but U can check if U R getting activity in your area by going to 131.550 and opening the squelch gate on your scanner. If U hear lots of data burst noises, then U can get a decoder. The next step is to work out WTF all the codes mean.

I get a data burst about every 30 seconds.

Stretch wrote:I get a data burst about every 30 seconds.

You can't rely on that as an indicator. If there is a lot of aircraft traffic, you might get it more often than that. If there is no aircraft traffic, you won't get anything.

You have PDW, and it is supposed to be able to decode ACARS, so you are all set to go.

--
Comint

Comint wrote:You have PDW, and it is supposed to be able to decode ACARS, so you are all set to go.

Well I've stuck the program on see and I'll see what comes up.

AIRMAN wrote:Any Australian supplier where can one download or buy a PDW that decodes ACARS please

Its free, here is the link

http://www.gsm-antennes.nl/PDW/pdw.php?lang=eng

enjoy, myself I haven't tried it for ACARS, but its good for Pocsag decoding

Let us know how you go

I've monitored it on and off down here at Coolangatta Airport (using PDW). Nothing exciting really. Just general messages to and from the ground. Although, in saying that, I know that various companies use it to relay information about problems with aircraft or hi-jackings, so I guess it's got some potential for excitment! Not enough for me to monitor it regularly though!

I've been using it with my scanners for years in Melbourne. I have used a program called Wacars (long gone) and now use Airnav's ACARS Suite.

Not really worth the trouble and I don't use it much anymore. You get the odd message worth reading, but mostly it will send you to sleep with engine data and position reports being the main content.

ScannerEars

Yeah, ACARS is a bit like reading a phone book. Occasionally you will see something that grabs your interest, otherwise
it's all just numbers and letters.

Scannersplitterguy wrote:Yeah, ACARS is a bit like reading a phone book. Occasionally you will see something that grabs your interest, otherwise
it's all just numbers and letters.

Yeh, and about as interesting as a phone book too!

You know you can use it to track planes
But I guess you can use Plane Plotter for that too
WACARS had the map screen in the program and you could see plane movements on it
it used to be used by control as well But these days it's mostly just for company use
there were few old DOS ACARS decoders 20 years ago when ACARS was very busy

Kevaclone wrote:You know you can use it to track planes
But I guess you can use Plane Plotter for that too
WACARS had the map screen in the program and you could see plane movements on it
it used to be used by control as well But these days it's mostly just for company use
there were few old DOS ACARS decoders 20 years ago when ACARS was very busy

I have PlanePlotter and Airnav RadarBox. To be honest, after about 5 minutes, the novelty wore off and I now find
it all a bit boring.

RadarBox would be a heap more entertaining if GA and Military used ADSB. But all you get to see are the same boring airline flights.

ScannerEars