ACARS Message Origin Codes

[n5pwp]

Anybody happen t have a list of what these ACARS codes translate to? I have been Googling like crazy trying to find something that would tell me what the Message Origin codes relate to.
Thanks

 

[thebaldgeek]

Need a little more to go on.
VDL or ACARS or HF-DL or Satcom?
They seem like airport codes, so not that interesting.
Also where are you located, that will help narrow things down a lot.
Have you you got the full message? The type and structure of the message helps a lot with context.

 

[n5pwp]

Well, of course it would, Ben. sorry. I came to the Satcom section thinking that would kind of narrow it down. ;-)
It is taken from Inmarsat. It was decoded from 1545.0500 GES 05 (Laurentides, Ca.).
I'm in Texas.

Here's the message for the first one:
00:18:21 18-11-21 UTC AES:C2B3EB GES:05 2 .77703A ! H1 A

- #MD/AA YWGE2YA.AT1.77703A2281235E2B5E4CE9D268458E17C380E4CD

FANS-1/A CPDLC Message:
CPDLC Uplink Message:
Header:
Msg ID: 5
Timestamp: 00:18:13
Message data:
MONITOR [icaounitname] [frequency]
Facility Name: WINNIPEG
Facility function: center
VHF: 132.900 MHz

Could YWGE2YA be Winnipeg? OK, that one was too easy. How bout this one?

00:27:47 18-11-21 UTC AES:C2B3EB GES:05 2 .77703A ! A4 E

/MLBSDCR.FS1/FSM
CYTR,0026,
METAR: CYTR 180000Z 17007G15KT 3SM -RA BR OVC021 11/09 A2986 RMK SC8 VIS VRB 2 1/4-4 SLP113

TAF: CYTR 172330Z 1800/1824 16008KT P6SM -RA SCT008 OVC020 TEMPO
1800/1802 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC020 FM180200 19010KT P6SM -RA
OVC010 TEMPO 1802/1804 2SM -RA BR OVC006 FM180400 20012KT
P6SM -RA SCT008 OVC020 TEMPO 1804/1816 3SM -RA BR BKN008
OVC020 BECMG 1810/1812 29010KT FM181600 26012G22KT P6SM
SCT020 OVC070 TEMPO 1816/1822 BKN020 OVC070 FM182200
25012G22KT P6SM FEW020 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS
180300-181100Z. NXT FCST BY 180600ZEDD5

I know when they tell you in plain English its easy. I was wondering about the ones that they aren't so clear about.

Thanks for helping, Ben.
Mike

 

[morfis]

Anybody happen t have a list of what these ACARS codes translate to? I have been Googling like crazy trying to find something that would tell me what the Message Origin codes relate to.
Thanks
View attachment 112402

Think of them the same way as you'd think of the ICAO 24 bit aircraft address - a unique facility reference for routing of messages.
Technically they are Aeronautical Radio Incorporated Data Network Service facility addresses and in this case for Flight Information/Oceanic Control Areas.

First part will be the main facility ICAO label - centre, airport or similar and hence why thebaldgeek thinks they look like airports (though 'unintertesting'?)

Short list found online but if you search the NATS/Eurocontrol library you'll find a lot of documents on them and their function.

 

[thebaldgeek]

@morfis has the answer.
I found both of those messages in my logs, so was able to see a few messages either side and it helps fill in the blanks - context is helpful since I log C-Band messages as well as the L-Band ones here, so you can more clearly see the two way conversation that is taking place.

The first message is the ground telling the crew via CPDLC what frequency to contact Winnipeg on.
Google CPDLC and you can see photos of the center console that these messages are displayed on.
I have a few site users that look for these messages in the area they live in so they know what frequency to listen on for possible voice coms from the aircraft. (Texas to Canada might be a bit of a stretch in your case <grin>)

The second is simply the weather at their destination airport as requested from the crew.
There are METAR and TAF decoders on the web so you can copy paste them out of that message into them and see the weather at airport 'CYTR' (Trenton Airport - Toronto).

To answer your original question of finding resources on the web, along with the really nice doc supplied by @morfis I have spent many many hours going over this doc here to decode these messages, write code (Node-RED) in order to try and link/present the information in a human digestible manor.

https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/4134.pdf

 

[n5pwp]

Short list found online but if you search the NATS/Eurocontrol library you'll find a lot of documents on them and their function.

Thanks, Morfis
Of course this leads to more Googling to find out what the other codes mean. The chase is on. I will definitely look for those documents. The list you provided I've already found codes that are not in it. So it should be interesting to fill in the missing ones.
Mike

 

[n5pwp]

@morfis has the answer.
I found both of those messages in my logs, so was able to see a few messages either side and it helps fill in the blanks - context is helpful since I log C-Band messages as well as the L-Band ones here, so you can more clearly see the two way conversation that is taking place.

Unfortunately I don't have C-Band capabilities setup. I do still have a C/Ku band dish/LNB set up from my TVRO days that could probably be re-purposed to aero.

To answer your original question of finding resources on the web, along with the really nice doc supplied by @morfis I have spent many many hours going over this doc here to decode these messages, write code (Node-RED) in order to try and link/present the information in a human digestible manor.

https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/4134.pdf

Thanks for that. Looks pretty dense with info. I will probably spend many hours perusing it.
Mike

 

[morfis]

Don't discount ARINC/SITA/INMARSAT/Airline Co websites as they all contain a wealth of detailed documentation from specs to operating procedures (including specific console operation, crew cheat sheets etc.).
Gander Center/Shanwick Center/NATS....the list goes on and on.............................. There is more information out there than you could hope to ever read....the trouble these days is there is so much carp on the internet it hides the good stuff!

 

[n5pwp]

There is more information out there than you could hope to ever read....the trouble these days is there is so much carp on the internet it hides the good stuff!

That's why I come here and ask you guys.
Of course after I do my due diligence and at least try to find the answer for my self. Sometimes its a matter of using the proper search terms on Google.
Mike

 

[thebaldgeek]

Unfortunately I don't have C-Band capabilities setup.

C-Band is the trickiest for sure.
Its one reason why I put as much data on my website as possible so those with the interest can see the data.
The site search will let you filter by satellite (or data source), so you can trim thing down to the same satellite as your L-Band setup (if you like).

 

[n5pwp]

Its one reason why I put as much data on my website as possible so those with the interest can see the data.

I've quickly browsed your site before but should probably spend some quality time there to check it out. I'm at that entry stage to the hobby at this point. I don't know what all is available to even look for some stuff. since I started decoding aero data I have wanted to get something in one place where Icould see primarily all the planes in the sky over me. I've just gotten into sat reception for it. Probably won't get a lot unless it is foreign A/C coming from Europe or Asia and landing at my local airport. Heck, I'm still receiving Inmarsat on a patch antenna on a tripod in my office. I have supplies coming so I can try to get it outside for better and more decodes.
Thanks.
Mike

 

[thebaldgeek]

Broadly speaking, the aircraft (flight crew or automatic, I'm not sure which) switch off their ADSC over land (satellite data is expensive I'm guessing) and switch on their ADSB.
So unless you are near the coast of Texas, you are not going to see any ADSC aircraft in the sky over your house.
And yes, a patch antenna indoors must be limiting you a lot. Your going to love getting it outside and the only patch antenna I can recommend is the RTLSDR v2.

Since you mention you are starting out - and take this with a grain of salt - if I was starting out today, I would build a Raspberry Pi4 with the ADSB and VDL ACARS (so two dongles and two antennas) running into ACARShub. What this does is the usual ADSB feeders to the usual websites, but it then matches up ADSB position information with ACARS messages and presents it all on an interactive map. Its really slick and amazing work.
I have mashed up some Node-RED code to take Satcom ACARS and ADSC information and feed it into my ACARShub.
You can see it here: Live Map (thebaldgeek.net)

 

[n5pwp]

Broadly speaking, the aircraft (flight crew or automatic, I'm not sure which) switch off their ADSC over land (satellite data is expensive I'm guessing) and switch on their ADSB.
So unless you are near the coast of Texas, you are not going to see any ADSC aircraft in the sky over your house.

I am aware that the ADS-C data is off over land. As a matter of fact I'm located 2 mi. north of KIAH. so I see foreign flights go in/out everyday. Of course not with the ADS-C data. Oly ACARS/ADS-B & VDL2.

And yes, a patch antenna indoors must be limiting you a lot. Your going to love getting it outside and the only patch antenna I can recommend is the RTLSDR v2.

We're in tune. I was a little late earlier in the year when they had manufacturing issues and were out of stock. But, they're back now and I ordered one right away. Although it is in a "less than favorable location" I've still been impressed with how my RSPDuo & RTL-SDR antenna have worked. I get get EBNo anywhere from 6 -15 db. But, I'd still like t check out the 8.4k and 10.5k streams.

Since you mention you are starting out - and take this with a grain of salt - if I was starting out today, I would build a Raspberry Pi4 with the ADSB and VDL ACARS (so two dongles and two antennas) running into ACARShub.

That sounds like just what I'm looking for. I have ADSBHub queued up in a browser tab and will be checking it. I have a spare Pi 3B+ sitting here looking for asomething to do. You think all of that would run on a 3B+ or would I 'need' to add a Pi4?

I have mashed up some Node-RED code to take Satcom ACARS and ADSC information and feed it into my ACARShub.
You can see it here: Live Map (thebaldgeek.net)

I checked out your map and it looks like no ADS-C frames for me coming from flights over the Gulf.

Thanks for the info.
Mike

 

[thebaldgeek]

You think all of that would run on a 3B+ or would I 'need' to add a Pi4?

Pi3 would be fine. I just mention the 4 to future proof yourself a bit <grin>
Lots of people run ACARShub on the 3 with no problems that I have heard of.
Just be sure and get a good quality (ie, 'high endurance') microSD card for it.

Also I really like the PDP productions ACARS antenna (and their ADSB antennas). Be aware, at 136Mhz, its pretty long!

 

[n5pwp]

Pi3 would be fine. I just mention the 4 to future proof yourself a bit <grin>

Good to know... though I have been looking for an excuse to get a Pi4. A friend of mine is a NUC fan so maybe go that way.

Also I really like the PDP productions ACARS antenna (and their ADSB antennas). Be aware, at 136Mhz, its pretty long!

I already am using a discone for VHF/UHF now. Though it is not resonant for ADS-B. I'm close enough to the airport that it doesn't matter a lot. Plus the low noise amp in the RSPDuo significantly increased my range, even from inside my attic!
Thanks, Ben. You've been very inspiring in this.
Mike