Real-time virtual radar
Okay,
rightly or wrongly people listen in to the frequencies we use, and I'm aware of the debates about the legality of this.
What do people think to the below, which was just in an email I receive from Transair? Surely this is a bit extreme for spotters, and must surely have some implications security wise? It's available to anyone, and for £499.99:
The SBS-1 is a Mode-S/ADS-B receiver that allows users to detect and track transmitting aircraft at ranges of up to 250 miles.Combining state-of-the-art electronics and new technological advances has enabled Kinetic Avionic Products Limited to produce the revolutionary SBS-1. For the first time aircraft enthusiasts worldwide are able to directly monitor the skies in an unprecedented fashion. Additionally, the SBS-1 provides small and medium sized airfields with many of the safety and operational benefits previously only available to large international airports - at a fraction of current radar costs. Coupled with a Mode-S/ADS-B transponder the SBS-1 becomes an invaluable tool in flight training operations.
Key Product Features:
Track Mode-S/ADS-B equipped aircraft in real time*
An invaluable tool for aircraft enthusiasts
Enhances operational efficiency at airfields
Easy to install, portable and lightweight
Real-Time aircraft position and identity data Connect to laptop/desktop PC via USB or Ethernet Powerful SBS-1 Basestation software included
Package includes all necessary components to connect to your PC
The SBS-1 ships with the SBS-1 Basestation application providing an on-screen virtual radar display. This powerful application provides functionality including the identification of aircraft by callsign, altitude, speed and other parameters where such information is transmitted. SBS-1 Basestation provides the ability to assign notes with history to each aircraft as well as image data. The note files are stored in a standard XML format to facilitate easy information interchange with colleagues and friends.
Mode S is a Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) technique with a selective interrogation of aircraft with its unique 24-bit worldwide address. This enables a unique identification of aircraft removing the risk of confusion due to overlapping signals.
Mode S operates in the same Radio Frequency (1030-1090 MHz) band as conventional SSR systems.
Mode-S employs airborne transponders to provide altitude and identification data, with ADS-B broadcasts are available to pilots and air traffic controllers The position and identification data supplied by Mode S/ADS-B broadcasts are available to pilots and air traffic controllers.
Mode S/ADS-B data updates rapidly, is very accurate and provides pilots and air traffic controllers with common air situational awareness for enhanced safety, capacity and efficiency. Further, It can provide a cost-effective solution for surveillance coverage in non-radar airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires aircraft to be Mode S equipped for flights operating as General Air Traffic (GAT) in designated UK airspace from March 2005 and for all categories of flights in all other airspace from March 2008.