Acars
- Thread starter N2KMB
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
I know, Yoko, I know - it's been a tough road, but folks are slowly becoming aware of just how much stuff is there...for example...
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/ACARS
73s Mike
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/ACARS
73s Mike
Newark777
Member
One thing I noticed on the Wiki is that it says not to use the squelch. I've actually had quite a bit of success while using the squelch to scan the various ACARS frequencies (500+ hits a day), and in the process using a pretty poor cord. I wonder how much more I could get if I got my act together, haha. 
Some scanners are pretty quick on the squelch, while others like the Pro-97 just absolutely suck, even when the squelch is as far left without actually being "off" as possible. For me I have 2 frequencies I want to monitor (169.800 (CO, AA, NW) and 169.850 (DL, JB, General Aviation, Shuttle America, etc.) ) but don't have 2 scanners so I tried the squelch method with my Pro-97, didn't work out too good lol.
Newark777 said:One thing I noticed on the Wiki is that it says not to use the squelch. I've actually had quite a bit of success while using the squelch to scan the various ACARS frequencies (500+ hits a day), and in the process using a pretty poor cord. I wonder how much more I could get if I got my act together, haha.
Certain radios work extremely well scanning multiple ACARS freqs...others aren't so good.
In practice most of the ones that I'd describe as good are ones that aren't common in the USA - Win108, Yupiteru VT125, VT225, MVT7100
The most effective way to use them if scanning the ACARS freqs is to fill a whole memory bank with the freqs, alternately putting the freqs in stepped freq order, and adjust the squelch whilst listening. Then swap to audio to the decoder when you have the squelch adjusted correctly.
The best decoder for doing this was the Lowe Airmaster but that will not work under windoze XP and is no longer being developed (the author passed away).
For the record, AEA/Timewave ACARS software used a simplified version of the Lowe interface and a modified copy of Airmaster V1 software.
ka3jjz said:
Which isn't really a great deal of help.
far more use for those new to ACARS decoding is:
http://www.acarsonline.co.uk/index.php
IsCaEs said:
If the Pro-82 can monitor the frequencies used by ACARS (ie civil airband) then yes.
All that is required to monitor ACARS:
Radio that can monitor civil airband with a standard audio output
PC with a soundcard (there is possibly some MAC software but I've never looked at it) running an ACARS decoder (plenty to choose from depending on budget and requirements)
Audio connection between PC and radio
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
There are hardware decoders, as shown on the Wiki, but the most popular ones are software - ACARSD is pretty much the acknowledged champ. I wonder if that's what people mean when they mention 'ACARS Decoder'. ACARSD's link is also on the Wiki.
Re keeping the squelch open - maybe it would be a good idea to list those scanners that can work with the squelch closed. Keeping it open on a single channel is certainly the best way to get started - once you have all your settings down, then you can try scanning. I'll add the list of scanners above to the Wiki with a comment about the squelch - are there others that are similarly successful with the squelch closed?
73s Mike
Re keeping the squelch open - maybe it would be a good idea to list those scanners that can work with the squelch closed. Keeping it open on a single channel is certainly the best way to get started - once you have all your settings down, then you can try scanning. I'll add the list of scanners above to the Wiki with a comment about the squelch - are there others that are similarly successful with the squelch closed?
73s Mike
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
morfis said:
I'll add the site - altho it also says that the site is up for sale - it probably hasn't been updated in a while.
There is a dedicated Wiki for ACARS listed on our Wiki, altho it's password protected (no, I don't know why). If anyone wants to add content to our Wiki ACARS article, don't be shy about it. 'Nuff said!
73s Mike
ka3jjz said:
It seems strange to me that ACARS is suddenly getting so much more popular. Most of the people who were at the leading edge seemed to drift away (mark aveys site was built mainly from another site which in turn was inspired by an earlier one!).
Certain people are still involved (you'll know exactly who from the very early days of the first mailing list devoted to ACARS Mike...what i don't recall is if you were in the original group of people prior to the mailing list!).
Site is for sale...I wonder if that means the URL or the content? The content can hardly be copyright.
The origianl acars.net domain name is still registered...ARINC have never offerred me a fortune to add it to their own collection unfortunately!
IsCaEs said:
here ya go. Make sure they are in the AM band
adkad
Member
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That trick about keeping the squelch on is great. I never tried it before but it works very well with the aor 5000-I will try it with the pro 2096 as well just to see if that works too. I have tried almost all the acars software decoders I know but never any hardware ones, which range from $99-$1300.00. Acarsd is certainly one of the best, if not the best. Airnav is second in my view but I don't like the fact that it doesn't record USA flight information as does Acarsd, which looks them up and adds them to your database automatically. Airnav does not. Skysweeper I didn't like at all nor winradio software. Why spend money if you can get the best for free? My only complaint with Acarsd is their database which is not so easy to use as I would like so I combine it with airnav suite. They are getting to release a new version which I hear has a better database.
Acars has always been popular in Europe but seems to be growing in the States now as well. It's fun and pretty cheap and combines well with radio monitoring and tracking. Adkad
Acars has always been popular in Europe but seems to be growing in the States now as well. It's fun and pretty cheap and combines well with radio monitoring and tracking. Adkad
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