Sky Observer for Desktop

Desktop ADS-B Receiver

Introduction

Sky Observer for Desktop is a desktop ADS-B receiver, decoder and tracker software.

SkyObserver Main Window

Sky Observer can receive and process ADS-B & Mode-S messages from commercial or homemade ADS-B/Mode-S receiver hardware, extract flight information and make tracking. It can also output flight information in standard ASTERIX category 21 format.

Sky Observer can change your PC to an ADS-B Ground Station System.

ADS-B Message

Sky Observer is capable to process the following types of ADS-B messages.

ADS-B Message Type DO-260 DO-260A DO-260B
Airborne Position Message YES YES YES
Surface Position Message — — —
Aircraft Identity and Category Message YES YES YES
Airborne Velocity Message (Ground) YES YES YES
Airborne Velocity Message (Air) — — —
Aircraft Status Message (Emergency) YES YES YES
Aircraft Status Message N/A N/A —
Target State and Status Message N/A YES YES
Aircraft Operational Status Message (Airborne) N/A YES YES
Aircraft Operational Status Message (Surface) N/A YES YES

Mode-S Message

Sky Observer is capable to process the following types of Mode-S messages.

Downlink Format Fields Status
DF-0 VS, AC, AP YES
DF-4 FS, DR, UM, AC, AP YES
DF-5 FS, DR, UM, ID, AP YES
DF-11 CA, AA, PI YES
DF-16 VS, AC, MV, AP YES
DF-17 CA, AA, ME, PI YES
DF-18 CF, AA, ME, PI YES
DF-19 AF, AA, ME, PI YES
DF-20 AC, MB, AP YES
DF-21 ID, MB, AP YES

SkyObserver Mode-S Message View

Receiver Hardware

Sky Observer is designed to work with any receiver hardware which can send received Mode-S messages to Sky Observer by LAN or other interfaces.

Currently we are developing and testing it with Radar Cape

Radar Cape

and HULC-M.

HULC-M

We appreciate if any one can support us to interface with other receiver devices!

ASTERIX Output

Sky Observer is able to output received ADS-B tracks in Eurocontrol ASTERIX format.

The supported categories and versions are:

  • Target reports in CAT021 version 0.26
  • Target reports in CAT021 version 2.4

SkyObserver ASTERIX Message View