hi all i have successfully got ACARS up and running using ACARSD and my Uniden Scanner 72XLT and a 3.5mm audio cable tuned into 131.50

i have left the computer on overnight and the scanner and using planeplotter i only received 12 position reports which i can see on the map (SE Australia)

does anyone know if this is the normal recordings (13) for 10 hrs operation on ACARS does this mean not many ac give position reports,

the ones that did were SQ 235 and EK433 and one or two Qantas and Jstar ac near Brisbane, where i live

thanks for your help.

ps i am using a scanducky internal aerial on my scanner.

G'day mate and welcome You have the freq as 131.500. Make sure you have it as 131.550. That offset could have been causing the problem. If you have it on 131.550 and it was a typo that can be normal. An aircraft needs to provide a position report in the acars field to enable the aircraft to show on the map. Obviously the less interference you have near your scanner the better. Have your line in on around the 4th line in sound settings and have your squelch open (so you constantly hear hissing from the scanner). Have your scanner volume set about 1/4-1/2 of the way up. Let me know how you go. You should start getting some good messages.

Darren thanks for your reply

yes it was a typo, i did have it set at 131.55 on my scanner. I work in the city and can even pick up clearance delivery! Tower too! here in brisbane.

Anyways i have done all what you mentioned in your reply and however i still only received 13 position reports, could it be that my antenna isnt strong enought or that i need to have an external antenna?

thx

An external antenna will definitely help, yes. 13 position reports since when? I get a few per hour usually just to give you an idea. The trick really is to play around with the sound until you are decoding messages 100% without error but as I mentioned above, an antenna on the roof will help. I use the DSE 'Scantenna'. Let me know as you progress. I will be interested to know how you go.

yes that 13 reportings was overnight perhaps 10 hours.

oh i didnt realise how important getting the sound was, i did have squech all the way down but had my sound on medium settings.

here is a snapshot of my data collected, tell me if this looks right to you, i have had one position report pretty much as i put on the scanner.

here

http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acarsfn7.jpg

ps why does it always say 33,333 feet and it does not give the course of speed?

I have not played around with the Plane Plotter ACARS function much. I did it once then stopped as I need the scanner audio in for other stuff. Try a program called WACARS. You may have some more luck there. If you were in Sydney I could come around and try and help you out.

ok thanks i will play around with it, i will keep it going over night and report tomorrow.

That's great. Keep us posted

ok i left it on over night again i only got about 12 position reports, i dont think its worth to tune to ACARS with a set up like this, much better to listen to the frequencies and know whats going on.
with the map here http://www.egph.co.uk/sbs.htm

its near perfect!

No problem. As I said, you will find an external antenna will help 100%. That, and playing around with the sound settings. ACARS is quite dependent on these two things. Have fun!