Radarcape:About the Radarcape

About the Radarcape

After the big success of the Mode-S Beast we saw that there is a big demand for a more sophisticated unit with a special focus on

• remote operation
• standalone data processing
• network feeding
• low power consumption
• easier maintenance and SW update

and not at least

• enhanced multilateration

Application Features

The idea that can realize this is a combination of the Mode-S Beast together with a embedded Linux board which are now available for a reasonable price and with community support.

For example

• Software and Firmware update may now happen with a simple click on a menu item in the internally provides web server.
• The networking can support all kind of protocols you know. Currently there is only TCP support, but based on the Linux systems others are no problem
• There no longer are DIP switches, instead the configuration can be changed just using an web browser.

and more...

Not at least the Radarcape incorporates some improvements we've leared from the Mode-S Beast, further enhancing range and frame rate.

Multilateration

For enhanced multilateration, the Radarcape is equipped with a GPS synchronized clock with an accuracy in the nanosecond level. This is completly processed in the FPGA without any influence through the Linux system.

Currently the Radarcape does not provide Multilateration by itself but requires second level software. However, an internal solution is under development and might be presented soon.

Network Feeding

There are sharing networks for aircraft data. Flightradar24 [1] is using a branded version of the Radarcape as device that provides data into their servers. The Radarcape as delivered from us also contains a way how to share data with Flightradar24, either anonymously or with a sharing key provided from them.

Easy Usage

With its small size and the low power consumption the Radarcape is ideal for running all time without a PC behind and collecting data. The application SW on the Radarcape will output collected data in several ways, like

• raw data formats for second level software on PCs
• HTML tables for personal viewing or computer postprocessing
• KML files for mapping software, such as Google Earth

Properitary Software running on the Radarcape

The Radarcape will be open for your private enhancements and SW installations on the Linux part. We will provide all information required for such tasks and even ways how to write software under Linux, like interface descriptions, and even some installation guides for compilers and tools.