Let's Decode ACARS

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Published on September 13, 2022 1:13:51 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzxaBY6_zcI

Duration: 1:38:07

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Planes send out automated radio messages and we are hams... therefore we must.

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👉 ADSB Exchange: https://www.adsbexchange.com/

I used the orange 978 Dongle for this, but you could use any RTL-SDR or otherwise SDR Dongle. The ACARS messages are in the 131MHz frequency range.

👉 How to get it installed:

Install pre-requisites:
sudo apt install git cmake librtlsdr-dev

👉 Download and install LibACARS:

cd
git clone https://github.com/szpajder/libacars.git
cd libacars
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make
sudo make install
ldconfig

👉 Download and install ACARSDec:

cd
git clone https://github.com/wiedehopf/acarsdec.git
cd acarsdec
mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -Drtl=ON
make
sudo make install

Connect your SDR, Antenna and Run ACARSDec:

👉 acarsdec -p -8 -o 2 -r 0 131.550 131.525 131.725 131.825

Wait a few minutes to for planes to fly overhead and transmit some data to you. You should see some on your screen.

For better results, #hamharder - better antenna, better antenna install, move closer to an airport, etc. Have fun!