Plane Finder

[Bob]

Has anyone else been playing with this?

I quite like looking out of the window and knowing where they're from etc...

Bob

[Steve]

Bob,

I looked at it in the past. Just tried it again. There seem to be two versions now, one called HD. I like to search and load apps direct from Apple. The free HD version seemed quite well hidden on there.

I love the idea but the two airports I would want to see planes from are Elstree and Northolt. It seems to show nothing near these airports and I think it perhaps only shows data for some selected planes and airports.

For example a commercial plane went past my window while the HD version showed nothing in the air here.

If you hear of a version showing flights for Northolt please shout!

The way it gets the data seems to perhaps be something anyone could do, not sure what the kit for that costs though.

Steve

[Bob]

I did see one executive jet flight for Northolt on there, so I guess it has to do with how the radar data is made available.

I've certainly not seen any military planes on it.

As for Elstree, do they have many commercial flights from there? I thought it was mainly private???

Bob

[Steve]

Bob,

I don't think it uses radar.

I have a feeling it just uses the signals most planes send out, they probably explain on their Web site.

I don't know what flies out of Elstree but it might identify itself in the same way as other traffic.

Commercial and military stuff at Northolt seems to do most things in the same way.

Steve

[Roger]

The PlaneFinder site seems to say

"Plane Finder works by picking up ADS-B plane feeds used by commercial and private planes to transmit their name, position, callsign, status and lots more.
Our servers add additional information such as departure airport, destination and photos for presentation on planefinder.net and in our Plane Finder apps.

The ADS-B data comes to us either from our own receivers or from people with receivers who share their data with us over the internet. If you are a virtual radar hobbyist we’ll be delighted to receive your data for use within the app."

[Steve]

Roger,

...on seeing your message naming the technology I looked up one of the gizmos needed... Info here: http://www.amazon.com/GNS-5890-ADS-B.../dp/B006VI3WAK

Steve

[Roger]

Hmm. I had not heard about 'Virtual radar hobbyist' before. We lives and learns!