openATC does rely on volunteers contributing data from their ADS-B receivers. So far, coverage appears to have been fairly consistent, but many more contributors are needed. If you care to make a difference, and live in an area where sparse or no data is on openATC, here's how you can contribute:
1. You require a ADSL/cable internet connection that is always on and can manage about 250 MB a month in outbound traffic (that amounts to about 100 bytes per second on average... not much at all!)
2. Purchase a ADS-B (SBS-1) receiver from Kinetic Avionics. Costs about £500 all inclusive.
3. Download their beta version of Basestation, the software that's used to interface their receiver (link in their forums under Beta category)
4. Download the openATC feeder (link under "share your data" on the openatc site) and install on same computer as basestation.
5. fire it all up and keep it running 24/7!
I think Eurocontrol is giving a great example on how the euro bureaucracy really works: It sucks up all the money and leaves you with little in return, apart from laws and regulations. Thus, amateurs to the rescue!
Cheers
Last edited by ZeeDoktor; 4th Oct 2006 at 09:45.