Air Band Using Digital Modulation ??

[CW1NY3478]

Anyone hear anything on the vdl mode 3 digital modulation for all aircrafts including commercial airlines.

if this moves ahead it will bring a end to all commercial aircraft monitoring. seen a article about it and they said it was a secure mode tdma for voice vdl mode 3.

any ideas when it will happen???

 

[kicktd]

the 7E7 (IE Boeing Dreamliner) supports Digital Voice and Data. Now as to it being the "End of aircraft monitoring" I highly doubt it. The costs alone per air carrier to upgrade all their radios would be pretty tremendous.

 

[CW1NY3478]

slow transition

they say little by little it will be a slow upgrade

 

[Newark777]

Couldn't you just buy a radio designed for a plane and put it in your house if you wanted to monitor the airband, if and when this ever occurs?

 

[CW1NY3478]

?????????????

Good question. anyone have a idea as to buying a radio with digital mode and installing it in the house????

 

[kicktd]

I'm sure you could, but it would have to be adopted to work inside the house and you'd have to be careful not to transmit. Plus you'd only be able to listen to one frequency at a time.

Which brings another issue, what do you do with General Aviation pilots who don't upgrade or can't afford one of these new digital radios?

 

[Don_Burke]

I would expect all of the safety of life communications to stay AM.

 

[mfn002]

I'm sure you could, but it would have to be adopted to work inside the house and you'd have to be careful not to transmit.

It's easy. Just don't hook up a microphone. That's what I did to my CB to make it monitor not transmit. Most General Aviation aircraft use a DC system at either 14 volts or 28 volts. Commercial aircraft, on the other hand, use an entirely different system. They use an AC voltage ranging from 5 volts up to 115 volts at 300 or 400 hertz. So, you'd probably want to get a GA radio, as opposed to an airliner one (you can, but you'd need what is known as a "static inverter"). If you're interested in a standard VHF aircraft radio, go to eBay or www.dawsonaircraft.com.

 

[DPD1]

Mode 3 doesn't seem to have much of a chance at happening, and that's the one that would potentially allow digital voice. The other two modes would be text type messaging for basic reporting of common things. It would potentially cut down voice comms in center ATC and maybe company comms, but not do away with voice. And I doubt that form of messaging would be used close to the field, as it would take too long to enter and acknowledge messages in that environment. Military probably isn't going to bother with it. There will always be some sort of voice mode in use. The worst might be that it's unencrypted digital someday, but that's a ways off.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Custom Scanner, Aviation, MURS, GMRS, Marine & Ham Antennas -

 

[Lexxx]

This data link stuff is coming, but it may be some time before it has a deep impact on those listening to scanners.

The basic concept is that a controllers computer on the ground sizes up conflictions, pilot requests, separation standards etc., and communicates directly to a computer in the aircraft. If the pilot likes the received clearance he hits 'Enter'.

It does away with voice entirely, at least that's the theory. The ground computer knows the aircraft type of course and therefore operating characteristics, and issues clearances accordingly.

Don't hold your breath, or worry about this happening too soon. your childrens scanning habits may be affected, but not yours.

Lexx
www.ykf.ca