What is ADS-B?
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is a technology used in aviation to broadcast an aircraft’s location, speed, and other data to air traffic controllers and nearby aircraft. It enhances safety and efficiency by providing real-time tracking, enabling more precise navigation, and improving situational awareness for both pilots and ground control.
Enthusiasts can easily set up their own ADS-B receivers using affordable hardware such as an SDR (Software Defined Radio) and an antenna. By feeding the collected data into various flight tracking systems, users contribute to the broader aviation network, helping improve real-time global coverage and supporting the tracking needs of both commercial and private flights.
My ADS-B Equipment:
The software is currently running on a virtual machine (VM) with Debian Bookworm as the operating system, hosted on a Proxmox VE server at my house. This setup feeds ADS-B data to FlightAware, Flightradar24, PlaneFinder, and ADS-B Exchange.
ADS-B 1090 MHz (Worldwide standard):
- Airspy R2 SDR Receiver
- MEAN WELL RD-35A AC to DC Power Supply (to power Bias-T Injector)
- Bias-T Power Over Coax Injector
- ~30′ LMR-400UF
- RTL-SDR BLOG 1090 MHz ADS-B LNA
- Sysmocom cavity filter
- ADS-B Vertical Outdoor Base Antenna (Standard 1090 MHz ES)
UAT 978 MHz (UAT- Universal Access Transcriver, U.S. Only):
- FlightAware Pro Stick USB (orange) SDR Receiver
- ~30′ LMR-400UF
- FlightAware bandpass filter (light blue)
- 978 MHz Antenna
Other Links:
A good friend, Patrick, AD5MT, lives a few miles away from me and has an ADS-B receiver. Below is a link to his page with his feed and statistics.