Get your answers of ADS-B, AIS and ACARS questions.
ADS-B FAQ
1. How to Select an ADS-B Ground Receiver?
There is no single ADS-B ground receiver that can satisfy all user requirements and application scenarios. If you already have clear technical requirements, selecting the appropriate receiver is usually straightforward. If not, the following considerations can help guide the selection process.
1) Frequency
One question some users ask is:
Do we need an ADS-B receiver that supports both 1090MHz and UAT?
The simple answer is: usually no.
1090MHz is the globally adopted ADS-B frequency standard. UAT (978MHz Universal Access Transceiver) is mainly used by some general aviation aircraft in the United States and is rarely used in other parts of the world.
Therefore, when selecting an ADS-B receiver, users should first determine whether UAT reception is actually required. For example, if the equipment will be used in or exported to the United States, a dual-band 1090MHz/UAT ADS-B receiver may be necessary.
If UAT reception is not specifically required, it is generally recommended to select a standard 1090MHz ADS-B receiver instead of a dual-band model. A dual-band receiver includes additional UAT receiving hardware, which increases system cost. If UAT functionality is not used, this additional cost may not provide practical value.
2) Data Interface
Users should determine how they would like to obtain ADS-B data from the receiver.
Different ADS-B receivers may support different interfaces, including:
The required interface type is an important factor during product selection.
3) Data Format
Users should also determine which ADS-B data format is required.
Common output formats include:
ADS-B Raw Messages
Suitable for users with strong software development capability who prefer to decode ADS-B messages themselves.
Decoded Plain Text Data
Suitable for users who are less familiar with ADS-B protocols and do not want to spend time decoding raw ADS-B messages.
JSON
Also a human-readable format suitable for software integration and users who prefer already-decoded ADS-B data.
ASTERIX Cat021
ASTERIX Cat021 is a professional air traffic management ADS-B data format mainly used in ATC systems. In most cases, non-ATC users do not specifically require ASTERIX Cat021 output.
In addition to selecting the data format itself, users should also verify which ADS-B data items are included in the receiver output to ensure the receiver satisfies their technical requirements.
4) Timestamp Requirements
Users should determine whether timestamp output is required and what timestamp precision is needed.
Different ADS-B receivers may support different timestamp accuracy levels.
5) Performance Requirements
Users should determine the required surveillance range and reception performance.
Examples include:
6) Installation Environment
Users should consider:
A common installation scenario is:
Another common scenario involves outdoor receiver installation.
If the distance between the ADS-B antenna installation point and the indoor receiver installation point is too large, the RF cable connecting the antenna and receiver may become excessively long.
Long RF cables introduce signal attenuation. The longer the cable, the greater the signal loss, which can reduce ADS-B reception performance.
In such cases, it may be preferable to install the ADS-B receiver itself outdoors, close to the antenna, minimizing RF cable length and reducing signal attenuation. The receiver can then connect to the backend system through Ethernet.
However, outdoor installation requires additional consideration of:
For portable applications, users should also consider:
7) Special Functional Requirements
Users should also consider whether any special functions are required.
For example:
Additional special requirements may influence the final product selection.
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AIS FAQ
1. How to Choose the Right AIS Receiver?
No single AIS receiver can satisfy every user requirement or application scenario. If you already have clear technical requirements, you can directly select the appropriate model. If not, we recommend choosing an AIS receiver according to the following steps:
1) Frequency Requirements
The standard AIS operating frequencies are 161.975 MHz (AIS1) and 162.025 MHz (AIS2). These frequencies are used for regular AIS communication between vessels, shore stations, onboard systems, and VTS systems.
In addition, international standards also define two frequencies for Long-Range AIS applications: 156.775 MHz and 156.825 MHz.
Users should first determine which AIS frequencies need to be monitored in their application.
2) Physical Interface
How would you like to obtain data from the AIS receiver?
Different AIS receivers support different physical interfaces, such as:
Serial interfaces:
USB
Ethernet:
3) Data Format
What type of AIS data output do you need? Common AIS receiver output AIS Raw Messages.
We CAN provide human-readable decoded AIS data in JSON format. Suitable for users who are not deeply familiar with AIS protocols and prefer to avoid developing their own AIS decoder.
4) Timestamp Requirements
Do you require timestamps? Common AIS receivers don’t provide timestamps for AIS data. We have AIS receivers that CAN provide timestamps.
5) Performance Requirements
What monitoring range is required?
6) Installation Environment
Where will the AIS receiver be installed?
7) Special Functional Requirements
Do you require any additional features? Signal strength output? IQ output?