Version 48
Ground Station ID 1
SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 121 45 34 W Latitude 38 22 48 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 21934000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 11327000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 10081000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6559000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5508000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 2
MOLOKAI - HAWAII
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 157 10 46 W Latitude 21 10 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 12
Frequency 21937000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 13324000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 13312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 11348000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 11312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 10027000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 8936000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 8912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 6565000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 5514000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Ground Station ID 3
REYKJAVIK - ICELAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 21 50 59 W Latitude 64 4 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 17985000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 15025000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 11184000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 8977000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 6712000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 5720000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 3900000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Ground Station ID 4
RIVERHEAD - NEW YORK
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 72 38 22 W Latitude 40 52 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21931000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 11387000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 6661000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 5652000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Ground Station ID 5
AUCKLAND - NEW ZEALAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 174 48 35 E Latitude 37 1 10 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 17916000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13351000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 10084000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8921000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6535000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5583000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 6
HAT YAI - THAILAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 100 23 24 E Latitude 6 56 23 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21949000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 17928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 13270000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10066000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8825000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6535000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5655000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 7
SHANNON - IRELAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 8 55 46 W Latitude 52 43 48 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 11384000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10081000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8942000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 8843000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6532000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 5547000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 3455000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 2998000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Ground Station ID 8
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 28 12 35 E Latitude 26 7 46 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 5
Frequency 21949000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 13321000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8834000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 4681000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 3016000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Ground Station ID 9
BARROW - ALASKA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 156 46 46 W Latitude 71 18 0 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 19
Frequency 21937000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 21928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 17934000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 11354000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10093000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10027000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8936000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 6646000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 5544000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5538000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5529000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 4687000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 4654000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 3497000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 3007000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 2992000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 2944000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 11
PANAMA - PANAMA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 79 32 59 W Latitude 8 58 12 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 17901000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 13264000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10063000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8894000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6589000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5589000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 14
KRASNOYARSK - RUSSIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 92 18 0 E Latitude 56 6 0 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21990000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13321000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 10087000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8886000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6596000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5622000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 13
SANTA CRUZ - BOLIVIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 63 7 46 W Latitude 17 40 11 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21997000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 17916000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 13315000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 11318000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 8957000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 6628000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 4660000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Ground Station ID 16
AGANA - GUAM
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 144 48 0 E Latitude 13 28 11 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 11306000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 6652000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 5451000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Ground Station ID 15
AL MUHARRAQ - BAHRAIN
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 50 39 0 E Latitude 26 16 12 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 21982000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17967000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13354000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 10075000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8885000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 5544000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Ground Station ID 17
CANARIAS - SPAIN
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 15 23 23 W Latitude 27 56 59 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 21955000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13303000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 11348000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8948000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6529000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Showing posts with label HFDL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HFDL. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
HFDL System Table Update Pattern Emerges
Thanks to Ken on the HFDL mailing list for this intelligence:
You too, huh?2011/10/11(TUE) --> Pacific DB36(024h): GS ID 1 SAN FRANCISCO(DIXON) DB37(025h): GS ID 2 MOLOKAI DB38(026h): GS ID 5 AUCKLAND DB39(027h): GS ID16 AGANA 2011/10/18(TUE) --> North Atlantic(southern) DB40(028h): GS ID 4 RIVERHEAD DB41(029h): GS ID17 CANARIAS(GRAN CANARIA) 2011/10/25(TUE) --> South America DB42(02Ah): GS ID11 ALBROOK(PANAMA-CITY) DB43(02Bh): GS ID13 SANTA CRUZ 2011/11/01(TUE) --> Asia, Africa DB44(02Ch): GS ID 6 HAT YAI DB45(02Dh): GS ID 8 JOHANNESBURG <-- no change DB46(02Eh): GS ID14 KRASNOYARSK DB47(02Fh): GS ID15 AL MUHARRAQ The next changes may be: (only my personal speculation!!!) 2011/11/08(TUE) --> North Atlantic(northern), Arctic DB48(030h): GS ID 3 REYKJAVIK DB49(031h): GS ID 7 SHANNON DB50(032h): GS ID 9 BARROW I hope the next would be the last.
HFDL System Table #48/ 30 Now Current
Yesterday, a discussion on the HFDL Yahoo group produced the intelligence that the frequencies were being changed in bunches. As a result, it was predicted that ARINC would soon change the system table again.
They did.
You know the drill. Fire up PC-HFDL right now, put it on a loud ground station, and leave it there until the system table is sent to an aircraft. It is done so in a special message type, and in 5 or 6 data packets. It is essential to receive all of these. After this happens, PC-HFDL will magically turn the numbers in the squitters back into frequencies.
The alternative is to get the new PCHFDL.DAT file online. An earlier post tells how to do this. Of course, since #47 has now gone the way of several others in the past weeks, that file has been removed from this column's web site. #48 will be posted whenever I get one that works.
They did.
You know the drill. Fire up PC-HFDL right now, put it on a loud ground station, and leave it there until the system table is sent to an aircraft. It is done so in a special message type, and in 5 or 6 data packets. It is essential to receive all of these. After this happens, PC-HFDL will magically turn the numbers in the squitters back into frequencies.
The alternative is to get the new PCHFDL.DAT file online. An earlier post tells how to do this. Of course, since #47 has now gone the way of several others in the past weeks, that file has been removed from this column's web site. #48 will be posted whenever I get one that works.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
HFDL System Table #47/ 2F
Here is the latest HFDL system table, as sent about 15 minutes ago by San Francisco:
Version 47
Ground Station ID 1
SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 121 45 34 W Latitude 38 22 48 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 21934000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 11327000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 10081000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6559000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5508000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 2
MOLOKAI - HAWAII
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 157 10 46 W Latitude 21 10 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 12
Frequency 21937000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 13324000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 13312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 11348000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 11312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 10027000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 8936000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 8912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 6565000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 5514000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Ground Station ID 3
REYKJAVIK - ICELAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 21 50 59 W Latitude 64 4 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 17985000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 15025000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 11184000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 8977000 Hz Master Frame Slot 0
Frequency 6712000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 5720000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 3900000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 3116000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Ground Station ID 4
RIVERHEAD - NEW YORK
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 72 38 22 W Latitude 40 52 47 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21931000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 11387000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 6661000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 5652000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Ground Station ID 5
AUCKLAND - NEW ZEALAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 174 48 35 E Latitude 37 1 10 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 17916000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13351000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 10084000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8921000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6535000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5583000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 6
HAT YAI - THAILAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 100 23 24 E Latitude 6 56 23 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21949000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 17928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 13270000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10066000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8825000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6535000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5655000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 7
SHANNON - IRELAND
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 8 55 46 W Latitude 52 43 48 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 11384000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10081000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8942000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 8843000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6532000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 5547000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 3455000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 2998000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Ground Station ID 8
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 28 12 35 E Latitude 26 7 46 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 5
Frequency 21949000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 13321000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8834000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 4681000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 3016000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Ground Station ID 9
BARROW - ALASKA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 156 46 46 W Latitude 71 18 0 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 19
Frequency 21937000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 21928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 17934000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 11354000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10093000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10027000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 8936000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 6646000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 5544000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5538000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5529000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 4687000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 4654000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 3497000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 3007000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 2992000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 2944000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 11
PANAMA - PANAMA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 79 32 59 W Latitude 8 58 12 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 17901000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 13264000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 10063000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Frequency 8894000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Frequency 6589000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
Frequency 5589000 Hz Master Frame Slot 10
Ground Station ID 13
SANTA CRUZ - BOLIVIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 63 7 46 W Latitude 17 40 11 S
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21997000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 17916000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 13315000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 11318000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Frequency 8957000 Hz Master Frame Slot 11
Frequency 6628000 Hz Master Frame Slot 7
Frequency 4660000 Hz Master Frame Slot 3
Ground Station ID 14
KRASNOYARSK - RUSSIA
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 92 18 0 E Latitude 56 6 0 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21990000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17912000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13321000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 10087000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8886000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6596000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5622000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Ground Station ID 15
AL MUHARRAQ - BAHRAIN
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 50 39 0 E Latitude 26 16 12 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 21982000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17967000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13354000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 10075000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8885000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 5544000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Ground Station ID 16
AGANA - GUAM
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 144 48 0 E Latitude 13 28 11 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 7
Frequency 21928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Frequency 13312000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 11306000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 5
Frequency 6652000 Hz Master Frame Slot 1
Frequency 5451000 Hz Master Frame Slot 9
Ground Station ID 17
CANARIAS - SPAIN
UTC UNLOCKED
Longitude 15 23 23 W Latitude 27 56 59 N
Squitter Version 0
Number of frequencies 6
Frequency 21955000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17928000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13303000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 11348000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8948000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6529000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
HFDL System Table Now at #47!
Yes, that's right. Before I was able to post the new PCHFDL.DAT file for ARINC HFDL System Table #43, they put out another one... and another one... and another one... (total is five in about a week).
Obviously, there has not been an opportunity to catch up, and so the file will not be uploaded until this settles down. Meanwhile, leave PC-HFDL going on a strong ground station all day, until it sends the table out to somebody. The program will then update itself, and frequencies will replace the numbers.
Also, the changes in all five tables have been very minor. One can still use old lists and spreadsheets to look up freqs manually. A hassle, yes, but it works. Keep in mind that freqs are numbered from the highest down. Yes, that's right. San Francisco is using 21943 (F-1) right now. Gotta love solar peaks.
Obviously, there has not been an opportunity to catch up, and so the file will not be uploaded until this settles down. Meanwhile, leave PC-HFDL going on a strong ground station all day, until it sends the table out to somebody. The program will then update itself, and frequencies will replace the numbers.
Also, the changes in all five tables have been very minor. One can still use old lists and spreadsheets to look up freqs manually. A hassle, yes, but it works. Keep in mind that freqs are numbered from the highest down. Yes, that's right. San Francisco is using 21943 (F-1) right now. Gotta love solar peaks.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
HFDL System Table #43 / 0x002B Is Now Current!
After a long interval with no changes, Aeronautical Radio, Inc (ARINC) has revised the system table used in its High-Frequency Data Link (HFDL) network.
Two updates, numbers 42 and 43, were issued in the space of about one day. Number 43 (2B in hex) is still current at this time.
The system table is a lookup database of all frequencies used by HFDL stations. For our use, it is essential in order to change the numbers passed in HFDL "squitters" to the frequencies in use at a given time. One can look this up manually on a text file or spreadsheet of the system table, but it is far quicker to configure software to do it automatically.
In the case of the most popular program, PC-HFDL, this can be done in two ways. The first is to get lucky, and have PC-HFDL open when the system passes the new frequencies to aircraft. This works for the first few days after a change, before the information finally propagates to all users.
The second, and most practical, procedure is to replace the old pchfdl.dat file in the program's runtime directory. This is done by obtaining the new file from someone who has made the update, usually from web sites or links posted to mailing lists. Then close PC-HFDL if it's open. Find the right directory, rename the existing file to oldpchfdl.dat, and copy in the new one as pchfdl.dat. Then restart PC-HFDL and see if the numbers have changed back to freqs.
The structure of pchfdl.dat is completely bizarre, containing incomprehensible snippets of HFDL decodes. However, it works - most of the time.
The new file will be added to this column's web site as soon as I can obtain and test it. This will probably happen around Thursday. Tomorrow, I'll be on an airplane myself.
Two updates, numbers 42 and 43, were issued in the space of about one day. Number 43 (2B in hex) is still current at this time.
The system table is a lookup database of all frequencies used by HFDL stations. For our use, it is essential in order to change the numbers passed in HFDL "squitters" to the frequencies in use at a given time. One can look this up manually on a text file or spreadsheet of the system table, but it is far quicker to configure software to do it automatically.
In the case of the most popular program, PC-HFDL, this can be done in two ways. The first is to get lucky, and have PC-HFDL open when the system passes the new frequencies to aircraft. This works for the first few days after a change, before the information finally propagates to all users.
The second, and most practical, procedure is to replace the old pchfdl.dat file in the program's runtime directory. This is done by obtaining the new file from someone who has made the update, usually from web sites or links posted to mailing lists. Then close PC-HFDL if it's open. Find the right directory, rename the existing file to oldpchfdl.dat, and copy in the new one as pchfdl.dat. Then restart PC-HFDL and see if the numbers have changed back to freqs.
The structure of pchfdl.dat is completely bizarre, containing incomprehensible snippets of HFDL decodes. However, it works - most of the time.
The new file will be added to this column's web site as soon as I can obtain and test it. This will probably happen around Thursday. Tomorrow, I'll be on an airplane myself.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Northwest/ Delta Oddity Continues On Air
The merger between Northwest and Delta Airlines was completed on January 31, 2010. Delta is the surviving company.
A few days ago, the folding of Northwest's booking system into Delta's was completed.The Northwest web site now goes to Delta's. All NW and NWA flight codes should now be DL and DAL.
What's interesting is that NWxxxx and NWAxxx flight numbers are still appearing on ACARS and HFDL. According to several people familiar with such things, this might be due to people manually entering codes that they are used to. Since ARINC, which operates both systems, tracks flights by registration number, this should not cause problems.
Something similar is happening with Mode-S identifiers.
Northwest's aircraft are being repainted into Delta livery. Most should be done by now. I'm less sure of what will happen to the old registrations ending in NW.
A few days ago, the folding of Northwest's booking system into Delta's was completed.The Northwest web site now goes to Delta's. All NW and NWA flight codes should now be DL and DAL.
What's interesting is that NWxxxx and NWAxxx flight numbers are still appearing on ACARS and HFDL. According to several people familiar with such things, this might be due to people manually entering codes that they are used to. Since ARINC, which operates both systems, tracks flights by registration number, this should not cause problems.
Something similar is happening with Mode-S identifiers.
Northwest's aircraft are being repainted into Delta livery. Most should be done by now. I'm less sure of what will happen to the old registrations ending in NW.
Monday, February 08, 2010
New Pchfdl.dat Is Up
A new version of pchfdl.dat, the ARINC system table #35 (0x0023) file for PC-HFDL, has been tested here and found to work properly. It came from the files section of the HFDL mailing list. I've also made it available here at this column's web site.
Close PC-HFDL if you have it open, go to the configs folder of the program's home directory, and rename the old file to something like oldpchfdl.dat . Download this new file as a binary and place it in the configs folder. Restart PC-HFDL. If the system table shows as #35, you're there.
The pchfdl.txt file that supplies the names of the ground stations to PC-HFDL has also been tweaked a bit to finally reflect the name change to PANAMA. It, too, is available on the web site, and should be added to the configs folder in the same manner described above.
Close PC-HFDL if you have it open, go to the configs folder of the program's home directory, and rename the old file to something like oldpchfdl.dat . Download this new file as a binary and place it in the configs folder. Restart PC-HFDL. If the system table shows as #35, you're there.
The pchfdl.txt file that supplies the names of the ground stations to PC-HFDL has also been tweaked a bit to finally reflect the name change to PANAMA. It, too, is available on the web site, and should be added to the configs folder in the same manner described above.
HFDL System Table #35 Now Current
Actually, it changed last Thursday. Some lucky individuals have probably gotten it off the air. For the rest of us, PCHFDL.DAT is in the files sections of the UDXF and HFDL mailing lists. Also, I'll post it to the column's web site as soon as I get it and check that it works.
It appears that the only changes are for the Panama station:
13264000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
8894000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
It appears that the only changes are for the Panama station:
13264000 Hz Master Frame Slot 2
8894000 Hz Master Frame Slot 6
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
More on HFDL
1. James Gilbert in Florida reports that he has the new PC-HFDL version 2.042 working fine under Vista and on a Winradio virtual sound card. Others report similar success with the program and Vista.
2. The new Panama HFDL station is being copied widely working aircraft on 10063 and 17901 kHz. It fills a gap in Central America. James has it in FL on 17 MHz, and so do I in CA. Along with squitters, I have recently logged new aircraft N317UP, N446UP (both UPS), LX-RCV (Cargolux), N17122, N33132 (both Continental), HP-1521, HP-1534CMP (both Copa), and XA-MXQ (Mexicana).
2. The new Panama HFDL station is being copied widely working aircraft on 10063 and 17901 kHz. It fills a gap in Central America. James has it in FL on 17 MHz, and so do I in CA. Along with squitters, I have recently logged new aircraft N317UP, N446UP (both UPS), LX-RCV (Cargolux), N17122, N33132 (both Continental), HP-1521, HP-1534CMP (both Copa), and XA-MXQ (Mexicana).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
PC-HFDL Version 2.042 Now Available
The new HFDL system table got me interested, so I decided to install the new version of Charles Brain's commercial PC-HFDL program. It's been out for a couple of weeks now. While Charles' old web site is still gone forever, a stub page at his old link will give you a link to the new version, which is PC-HFDL 2.042.
The big news is that PC-HFDL now works under Vista. Most people are probably aware that Vista made large changes in the way the operating system handles the sound card. The code now handles these. I haven't tried it on a Vista machine, but those who have say it works just fine.
It still works fine under XP, though there are a couple of new quirks and weirdnesses that replace the old quirks and weirdnesses with regard to setting up the channels and spectrum display. Since my system is a bit different than most, there's no point in my describing my own strangeness, since your strangeness might vary.
Also, I am told that the program still works better with some sound cards than others. It does great with my old external USB Sound Blaster, and in fact the rate of successful decodes is up noticeably on weak signals. (At this point in the solar non-cycle, that of course is most of them.)
Charles has added the pcfhdl.dat file that we talked about in the previous post to this blog. This means that the program is up to date with system table number 34 (22 hex) right out of the box. You still have to change the entry in pchfdl.txt from Annapolis to Albrook AB in Panama, though. BTW, I have heard this ground station and aircraft exchanging data on 10063 kHz, so it is definitely live.
Given the many variables, I'd back up the files in the PC-HFDL subfolders before doing the update. While you probably won't need to uninstall everything and start over with 2.031, we are dealing with computers here. Nothing is too strange.
The big news is that PC-HFDL now works under Vista. Most people are probably aware that Vista made large changes in the way the operating system handles the sound card. The code now handles these. I haven't tried it on a Vista machine, but those who have say it works just fine.
It still works fine under XP, though there are a couple of new quirks and weirdnesses that replace the old quirks and weirdnesses with regard to setting up the channels and spectrum display. Since my system is a bit different than most, there's no point in my describing my own strangeness, since your strangeness might vary.
Also, I am told that the program still works better with some sound cards than others. It does great with my old external USB Sound Blaster, and in fact the rate of successful decodes is up noticeably on weak signals. (At this point in the solar non-cycle, that of course is most of them.)
Charles has added the pcfhdl.dat file that we talked about in the previous post to this blog. This means that the program is up to date with system table number 34 (22 hex) right out of the box. You still have to change the entry in pchfdl.txt from Annapolis to Albrook AB in Panama, though. BTW, I have heard this ground station and aircraft exchanging data on 10063 kHz, so it is definitely live.
Given the many variables, I'd back up the files in the PC-HFDL subfolders before doing the update. While you probably won't need to uninstall everything and start over with 2.031, we are dealing with computers here. Nothing is too strange.
Monday, February 09, 2009
More On New HFDL System Table #34 (0x0022)
Users of PC-HFDL probably know that when ARINC changes the System Table of frequencies used for this huge system, the mismatch is picked up by the program. You see this when it reverts to using numbers instead of frequencies in kHz. Checking the "System Table" box to open the window won't help, because the program still doesn't have the new information.
PC-HFDL does have the ability to update itself, but you have to be lucky. What happens is that the mismatch is also picked up by the "real" HFDL system, which sends aircraft the new table until everyone has it. Those who are listening at the right time, or the real hard core fans who run PC-HFDL 24/7 are already in business.
Everyone else has to update it by hand. Here's what you do:
1. Find the directory containing PC-HFDL. There should be a subfolder called configs (all lower case). This contains, at a minimum, three files auto-generated by PC-HFDL the first time it runs. These are:
pchfdl.ini (don't worry about this one);
pchfdl.dat (contains a lot of weird text and binary stuff that is apparently a capture of the system table from the air; this is how the program updates itself);
pchfdl.txt (a list of ground stations, with unused slots and 0 padded with UNKNOWN).
2. Ordinarily, only pchfdl.dat would need to be changed. However, this time there's a new ground station. This one replaces the long-gone Annapolis station in slot number 11. It's at or near the old Albrook Air Base near Panama City, which was once used by the US until the canal was given back. Therefore the HFDL community has decided to call it ALBROOK in PC-HFDL.
Therefore, two files must be changed.
3. Back up pchfdl.dat and pchfdl.txt somewhere else, so you have untouched copies if you need to revert.
4. Make sure PC-HFDL is not running, or none of the subsequent steps will work.
5. Download the new pchfdl.dat from somewhere. I got my copy from the excellent HFDL group on Yahoo. This is a great group populated by the real heavy duty HFDL monitors, and it is highly recommended. If you don't want to join, a copy of the file is on the Utility World site. It's the same one in use here, though for various reasons I can't guarantee it will be right for everyone.
6. Go to the PC-HFDL config folder and rename the existing pchfdl.dat. Copy in the new one. Make sure the file doesn't get changed in any way, for it indeed IS a binary and must be treated as such. Most problems in this step come from the file getting changed somehow.
7. Now it's time to fix the ground station list. This is easy. Rename pchfdl.txt and open it an any plain text editor like Notepad. Don't use a formatting editor like MS-WORD that adds stuff, unless you know how to save straight text from the program. Find the line containing ANNAPOLIS - MARYLAND and change it to ALBROOK - PANAMA.
When you're done, the text in the file should look like this:
Save as pchfdl.txt and exit.
8. Fire up PC-HFDL, find some squitters to decode, and you should be back in business.
I have working copies of pchfdl.dat and pchfdl.txt for public download on the Utility World web site. You're welcome to them, though of course I must again note that they have no guarantees due to the jungle that is Windows. They were good files whey I put them up there, but that's where my knowledge of them stops.
I also have version34.txt, which is just a straight capture of the contents of the window that comes up when you check the System Table box. It's a good way to get the new table in its entirety. However, it's not needed for the operation of PC-HFDL.
Have a good flight!
PC-HFDL does have the ability to update itself, but you have to be lucky. What happens is that the mismatch is also picked up by the "real" HFDL system, which sends aircraft the new table until everyone has it. Those who are listening at the right time, or the real hard core fans who run PC-HFDL 24/7 are already in business.
Everyone else has to update it by hand. Here's what you do:
1. Find the directory containing PC-HFDL. There should be a subfolder called configs (all lower case). This contains, at a minimum, three files auto-generated by PC-HFDL the first time it runs. These are:
pchfdl.ini (don't worry about this one);
pchfdl.dat (contains a lot of weird text and binary stuff that is apparently a capture of the system table from the air; this is how the program updates itself);
pchfdl.txt (a list of ground stations, with unused slots and 0 padded with UNKNOWN).
2. Ordinarily, only pchfdl.dat would need to be changed. However, this time there's a new ground station. This one replaces the long-gone Annapolis station in slot number 11. It's at or near the old Albrook Air Base near Panama City, which was once used by the US until the canal was given back. Therefore the HFDL community has decided to call it ALBROOK in PC-HFDL.
Therefore, two files must be changed.
3. Back up pchfdl.dat and pchfdl.txt somewhere else, so you have untouched copies if you need to revert.
4. Make sure PC-HFDL is not running, or none of the subsequent steps will work.
5. Download the new pchfdl.dat from somewhere. I got my copy from the excellent HFDL group on Yahoo. This is a great group populated by the real heavy duty HFDL monitors, and it is highly recommended. If you don't want to join, a copy of the file is on the Utility World site. It's the same one in use here, though for various reasons I can't guarantee it will be right for everyone.
6. Go to the PC-HFDL config folder and rename the existing pchfdl.dat. Copy in the new one. Make sure the file doesn't get changed in any way, for it indeed IS a binary and must be treated as such. Most problems in this step come from the file getting changed somehow.
7. Now it's time to fix the ground station list. This is easy. Rename pchfdl.txt and open it an any plain text editor like Notepad. Don't use a formatting editor like MS-WORD that adds stuff, unless you know how to save straight text from the program. Find the line containing ANNAPOLIS - MARYLAND and change it to ALBROOK - PANAMA.
When you're done, the text in the file should look like this:
UNKNOWN
SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA
MOLOKAI - HAWAII
REYKJAVIK - ICELAND
RIVERHEAD - NEW YORK
AUCKLAND - NEW ZEALAND
HAT YAI - THAILAND
SHANNON - IRELAND
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA
BARROW - ALASKA
UNKNOWN
ALBROOK - PANAMA
ANCHORAGE - ALASKA
SANTA CRUZ - BOLIVIA
KRASNOYARSK - RUSSIA
AL MUHARRAQ - BAHRAIN
AGANA - GUAM
CANARIAS - SPAIN
Save as pchfdl.txt and exit.
8. Fire up PC-HFDL, find some squitters to decode, and you should be back in business.
I have working copies of pchfdl.dat and pchfdl.txt for public download on the Utility World web site. You're welcome to them, though of course I must again note that they have no guarantees due to the jungle that is Windows. They were good files whey I put them up there, but that's where my knowledge of them stops.
I also have version34.txt, which is just a straight capture of the contents of the window that comes up when you check the System Table box. It's a good way to get the new table in its entirety. However, it's not needed for the operation of PC-HFDL.
Have a good flight!
New HFDL System Table 34 (0x22) Is Out
Never fails... you disappear for a few days to eliminate a backlog of projects, and all hell breaks loose.
This time it's a new system table for ARINC's global HFDL system. It has apparently added an altogether new ground station in the open slot 11, and changed quite a few things. More when I get it up and running here.
This time it's a new system table for ARINC's global HFDL system. It has apparently added an altogether new ground station in the open slot 11, and changed quite a few things. More when I get it up and running here.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
No New HFDL Ground Station
I'm receiving New York squitters now, but there is no mention of a new ground station, and others report that it is no longer being sent. Perhaps confusion in the HFDL system, now resolved?
New HFDL Ground Station?
Nothing from ARINC, but several HFDL ground stations are mentioning a new ground station called UNKNOWN in their squitters. Unfortunately, the closest one to The Land That Short Wave Forgot is New York, and there's not propagation from there yet. We'll try to get some more information.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Digital Mode of the Week: HFDL
HFDL stands for High-Frequency Data Link. It is the HF band portion of a comprehensive, global, air-ground, communications system that also uses VHF and satellite. The ACARS ( Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) is another part of all this. Most people associate ACARS with VHF, but the HFDL protocol can carry it as well.
The HFDL standard is ARINC Report 635-3 (HF Data Link Protocols), which can be ordered from the company, Aeronautical Radio Inc, for a price. ARINC is a private company, formerly owned by the airlines, but now contracting with them for communication services.
Like packet radio, HFDL has layers. These are physical, link, and subnetwork. The subnetwork layer isn't important for receiving, since we're just randomly decoding everything on a frequency.
The physical layer is, once again, the actual transmission of data over the radio. HFDL is a single-tone, phase-shift keyed, text-based, error-checking mode with a baseband audio carrier frequency of 1440 Hz. It is tuned in USB, and the 1440 Hz center is critical for decoding. LSB works too, but the dial frequencies won't match the ones in the ARINC database.
Each burst begins with the unmodulated 1440-Hz tone, so that the decoder's automatic frequency control can lock on. This is the scary-sounding "frequency error" that is output by the decoder. Errors within 50 Hz or so can be ignored. This beeping, followed by hiss, is what the mode sounds like.
The symbol speed is fixed at 1800 baud, but the data rate is determined by the exact modulation used. BPSK is 300 bps, QPSK is 600, and 8PSK is 1200 or 1800. 300 is by far the most common, though I've heard it go up to 1200. Tuning error, modulation type, and signal quality are best viewed on a phase constellation display like the one in the PC-HFDL program.
Frequencies are stored in a numbered database, called a system table, which is sent by ARINC to all stations. A few times a year, the table is replaced by a new one with a higher number. The resulting mismatch causes aircraft software to request an update, which we receive too. At least one decoding program (again PC-HFDL) will grab these for its own use, if you're lucky to hear one. Afterward, the frequencies show up in kHz, which is extremely convenient. Otherwise, there are ways to update PC-HFDL manually with system tables found online.
Old databases aren't useless. The frequencies always come from the same pool, and never change that much.
Ground stations pick 2-3 frequencies from the table depending on propagation. This may change every few hours. The frequencies being used by the entire network are sent, two stations at a time, in the "squitter." (Squitter in air comm jargon is an unsolicited information transmission. More on these soon.)
Aircraft can choose frequencies, or even ground stations. If reception exists, they can also switch to satellite or VHF. The comm status is passed to the ground station. All this is automatic, so the crew can just get on with flying the airplane.
Transmission types are uplinks (ground-air), downlinks (air-ground), and the aforementioned squitters. A squitter is always sent every 32 seconds by the ground. It contains various network maintenance data, including all the frequencies (if you wait long enough). It's also a quick propagation check, because you're never more than half a minute from a ground transmission coming from a known location. Of course, aircraft may be heard even if the squitters are inaudible, and vice versa.
HFDL uses a simple form of time-division multiplex. The entire 32-second cycle is divided into 13 numbered slots of 2.5 seconds each. Slot 0 is always the squitter, leaving 1-12 for up- and downlinks. Databursts always occupy all of one slot, though the various overheads of the physical layer reduce the actual transmission of data to 1.8 seconds. Sometimes an uplink with an embedded ACARS message might require a double-length transmission using two slots.
The network assigns the use of these slots, keeping stations from transmitting at once. Assignments are made by ID, a temporary hexadecimal number given each aircraft at logon.
The use of condensed message formats and lookup tables makes HFDL extremely efficient in its use of air time. It's amazing how much can be crammed into a 2-second burst. Most decoders have a "verbose" mode which will output everything. Hundreds of lines with every kind of count and measurement you can think of will scroll madly up your screen, filling your buffer at a merry rate.
Really long ACARS messages, like airport arrival information (ATIS), can be sent in numbered packets (same as on VHF). Otherwise the communication makes use of standard formatted blocks called Protocol Data Units (PDU). This gets geeky in a hurry. Rather than write a 2000-word blog entry, I'll just list them:
SPDU
Squitter Protocol Data Unit
Frequencies and slot assignments, plus network maintenance data
PDU (PREAM)
Preamble Data Unit
Basic negotiation of connection - frequency error, station ID, bit rate, etc
BDU
Basic Data Unit
The smallest data block, from which LPDU are built
LPDU
Link Protocol Data Unit
Larger structure, which in turn makes up the largest ones
MPDU
Media Access Protocol Data Unit
Several LPDU concerning login, aircraft ID, and the ACARS message, if any
HFNPDU
High-Frequency Network Protocol Data Unit
Several LPDU, containing all manner of data, most for network maintenance. The most useful to us is HFNPDU PERFORMANCE, which will usually contain the flight number and GPS position of the aircraft.
Here are the ARINC ground stations. Note that some numbers are skipped:
1 San Francisco, CA
2 Molokai, HI
3 Reykjavik, Iceland
4 New York, NY
5 Auckland, NZ
6 Hat Yai, Thailand
7 Shannon, Ireland
8 Johannesburg, S. Africa
9 Barrow, AK
13 Santa Cruz, Bolivia
14 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
15 Al Muharraq, Bahrain
16 Guam
17 Canarias (Canary Islands)
The HFDL standard is ARINC Report 635-3 (HF Data Link Protocols), which can be ordered from the company, Aeronautical Radio Inc, for a price. ARINC is a private company, formerly owned by the airlines, but now contracting with them for communication services.
Like packet radio, HFDL has layers. These are physical, link, and subnetwork. The subnetwork layer isn't important for receiving, since we're just randomly decoding everything on a frequency.
The physical layer is, once again, the actual transmission of data over the radio. HFDL is a single-tone, phase-shift keyed, text-based, error-checking mode with a baseband audio carrier frequency of 1440 Hz. It is tuned in USB, and the 1440 Hz center is critical for decoding. LSB works too, but the dial frequencies won't match the ones in the ARINC database.
Each burst begins with the unmodulated 1440-Hz tone, so that the decoder's automatic frequency control can lock on. This is the scary-sounding "frequency error" that is output by the decoder. Errors within 50 Hz or so can be ignored. This beeping, followed by hiss, is what the mode sounds like.
The symbol speed is fixed at 1800 baud, but the data rate is determined by the exact modulation used. BPSK is 300 bps, QPSK is 600, and 8PSK is 1200 or 1800. 300 is by far the most common, though I've heard it go up to 1200. Tuning error, modulation type, and signal quality are best viewed on a phase constellation display like the one in the PC-HFDL program.
Frequencies are stored in a numbered database, called a system table, which is sent by ARINC to all stations. A few times a year, the table is replaced by a new one with a higher number. The resulting mismatch causes aircraft software to request an update, which we receive too. At least one decoding program (again PC-HFDL) will grab these for its own use, if you're lucky to hear one. Afterward, the frequencies show up in kHz, which is extremely convenient. Otherwise, there are ways to update PC-HFDL manually with system tables found online.
Old databases aren't useless. The frequencies always come from the same pool, and never change that much.
Ground stations pick 2-3 frequencies from the table depending on propagation. This may change every few hours. The frequencies being used by the entire network are sent, two stations at a time, in the "squitter." (Squitter in air comm jargon is an unsolicited information transmission. More on these soon.)
Aircraft can choose frequencies, or even ground stations. If reception exists, they can also switch to satellite or VHF. The comm status is passed to the ground station. All this is automatic, so the crew can just get on with flying the airplane.
Transmission types are uplinks (ground-air), downlinks (air-ground), and the aforementioned squitters. A squitter is always sent every 32 seconds by the ground. It contains various network maintenance data, including all the frequencies (if you wait long enough). It's also a quick propagation check, because you're never more than half a minute from a ground transmission coming from a known location. Of course, aircraft may be heard even if the squitters are inaudible, and vice versa.
HFDL uses a simple form of time-division multiplex. The entire 32-second cycle is divided into 13 numbered slots of 2.5 seconds each. Slot 0 is always the squitter, leaving 1-12 for up- and downlinks. Databursts always occupy all of one slot, though the various overheads of the physical layer reduce the actual transmission of data to 1.8 seconds. Sometimes an uplink with an embedded ACARS message might require a double-length transmission using two slots.
The network assigns the use of these slots, keeping stations from transmitting at once. Assignments are made by ID, a temporary hexadecimal number given each aircraft at logon.
The use of condensed message formats and lookup tables makes HFDL extremely efficient in its use of air time. It's amazing how much can be crammed into a 2-second burst. Most decoders have a "verbose" mode which will output everything. Hundreds of lines with every kind of count and measurement you can think of will scroll madly up your screen, filling your buffer at a merry rate.
Really long ACARS messages, like airport arrival information (ATIS), can be sent in numbered packets (same as on VHF). Otherwise the communication makes use of standard formatted blocks called Protocol Data Units (PDU). This gets geeky in a hurry. Rather than write a 2000-word blog entry, I'll just list them:
SPDU
Squitter Protocol Data Unit
Frequencies and slot assignments, plus network maintenance data
PDU (PREAM)
Preamble Data Unit
Basic negotiation of connection - frequency error, station ID, bit rate, etc
BDU
Basic Data Unit
The smallest data block, from which LPDU are built
LPDU
Link Protocol Data Unit
Larger structure, which in turn makes up the largest ones
MPDU
Media Access Protocol Data Unit
Several LPDU concerning login, aircraft ID, and the ACARS message, if any
HFNPDU
High-Frequency Network Protocol Data Unit
Several LPDU, containing all manner of data, most for network maintenance. The most useful to us is HFNPDU PERFORMANCE, which will usually contain the flight number and GPS position of the aircraft.
Here are the ARINC ground stations. Note that some numbers are skipped:
1 San Francisco, CA
2 Molokai, HI
3 Reykjavik, Iceland
4 New York, NY
5 Auckland, NZ
6 Hat Yai, Thailand
7 Shannon, Ireland
8 Johannesburg, S. Africa
9 Barrow, AK
13 Santa Cruz, Bolivia
14 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
15 Al Muharraq, Bahrain
16 Guam
17 Canarias (Canary Islands)
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Charles Brain's Web Site Vanishes
Those looking for Charles Brain's web site with the "official" distributions of PC-ALE and PC-HFDL got a rude surprise today when it vanished. Those taking the link got a blank white page with the cryptic, "I am sorry but my website got deleted."
The last "official" stable release of PC-HFDL, version 2.031, is still available on this column's web site. It was put there originally by request of Charles to help with his bandwidth issues, and it is a copy of the official msi file in a zip folder.
Since the beta 2.04 was never "officially" released, I won't put it up unless asked to, even though I have the distribution zip archive, and the program has always worked just fine here.
The latest stable, non-MARS version of PC-ALE is 1.062G. There's a beta of 1.062H available here. This one is really intended for amateur radio use, though I have gotten it to work for utilities simply by changing the frequencies and group names in the QRG file. There has been some grumbling about this program by those who preferred the old, terse, rather inscrutable user interface. However, it's the one in use here.
While checking all this, I notice that the frequency 14109.0 is now the amateur ALE "pilot channel," though 14109.5 will be scanned until July of 2008.
The last "official" stable release of PC-HFDL, version 2.031, is still available on this column's web site. It was put there originally by request of Charles to help with his bandwidth issues, and it is a copy of the official msi file in a zip folder.
Since the beta 2.04 was never "officially" released, I won't put it up unless asked to, even though I have the distribution zip archive, and the program has always worked just fine here.
The latest stable, non-MARS version of PC-ALE is 1.062G. There's a beta of 1.062H available here. This one is really intended for amateur radio use, though I have gotten it to work for utilities simply by changing the frequencies and group names in the QRG file. There has been some grumbling about this program by those who preferred the old, terse, rather inscrutable user interface. However, it's the one in use here.
While checking all this, I notice that the frequency 14109.0 is now the amateur ALE "pilot channel," though 14109.5 will be scanned until July of 2008.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Pacific Air Route Map
This was made by plotting several hundred aircraft position reports with PC-HFDL and Posfix, then layering the resulting maps with Photoshop. The result was a clear indication of the routes taken by airplanes between the US mainland and Hawaii. These were traced over on a new layer. Then the Posfix plots were dropped out, and the original map was combined with the new darkened lines, and saved as a new Posfix map. Subsequent plots have all been right on.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Acarsd Pre-Release 1.7 Now Available for Testing
We finally got to see the new version 1.7 of acarsd, the free ACARS decoding and logging program that also does HFDL via data transfer from PC-HFDL. Beta versions of this new version have been hard to come by, after some users apparently misunderstood the meaning of the term "beta," as in "help us find the bugs."
This download is a "Release Candidate," something more than a beta but still not the official stable release. You can get it here. Right now the newest versions are Public 1.70 Release Candidate 3 30.03.2008 for Windows, and Public 1.70 Release Candidate 2 29.01.2008 for Linux.
I grabbed RC3 and installed it. The "Quick Install," a DOS program, was hard for me to understand, so I did the full install. There is now a setup screen in acarsd that runs the first time, and lets you set a lot of options that used to be deeply buried in the self-documenting acarsd.ini file. The graphic user interface now has its own .ini file, which I haven't looked at yet.
Several nice new features are apparent. The parsing of messages is a little better. What I was really interested in, however, was the expanded use of the ICAO24 airplane address to help identify aircraft making HF position reports. Basically, the idea is that instead of just logging all these planes as .NO-REG, the program uses this hex ID to look up the registration. This is a big improvement for HF users.
Since this is a pre-release, and since the acarsd documentation has never been especially detailed anyway, it took some digging in the .ini file before I found the option that would enable this search. Once I did that, the ICAO lookup worked as advertised.
So far I've had no major problems with version 1.7 RC. In fact, the only issue of substance I can think of is that so far I've been unable to change UP from Bahamasair to United Parcel Service. This issue is caused by the fact that UPS used to use a different IATA prefix.
It took a while to test all this out, since band conditions have been absolutely putrid. When you can't hear San Francisco on 6 or 8 MHz in Los Angeles, you know it's bad.
This download is a "Release Candidate," something more than a beta but still not the official stable release. You can get it here. Right now the newest versions are Public 1.70 Release Candidate 3 30.03.2008 for Windows, and Public 1.70 Release Candidate 2 29.01.2008 for Linux.
I grabbed RC3 and installed it. The "Quick Install," a DOS program, was hard for me to understand, so I did the full install. There is now a setup screen in acarsd that runs the first time, and lets you set a lot of options that used to be deeply buried in the self-documenting acarsd.ini file. The graphic user interface now has its own .ini file, which I haven't looked at yet.
Several nice new features are apparent. The parsing of messages is a little better. What I was really interested in, however, was the expanded use of the ICAO24 airplane address to help identify aircraft making HF position reports. Basically, the idea is that instead of just logging all these planes as .NO-REG, the program uses this hex ID to look up the registration. This is a big improvement for HF users.
Since this is a pre-release, and since the acarsd documentation has never been especially detailed anyway, it took some digging in the .ini file before I found the option that would enable this search. Once I did that, the ICAO lookup worked as advertised.
So far I've had no major problems with version 1.7 RC. In fact, the only issue of substance I can think of is that so far I've been unable to change UP from Bahamasair to United Parcel Service. This issue is caused by the fact that UPS used to use a different IATA prefix.
It took a while to test all this out, since band conditions have been absolutely putrid. When you can't hear San Francisco on 6 or 8 MHz in Los Angeles, you know it's bad.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
New PC-HFDL Data File
The new pchfdl.dat file for HFDL system table #33 has been installed to the config directory of PC-HFDL, and it works. The frequencies now show in kHz again, instead of just the numbers.
The file has been copied to the Utility World web site. As always, shut down PC-HFDL first. Go to the config directory, and rename the existing pchfdl.dat something like oldpchfdl.dat or pchfdl32.dat. Copy the new file to this directory, make sure it is still named pchfdl.dat, then restart PC-HFDL. If you're lucky, the system table will show as #33, and the frequencies will appear in kHz.
This doesn't always work for everybody, but this file as usual is the one on the Yahoo HFDL group, and works for most users there. As always, don't worry that a text listing of the file looks like gibberish, with binary data and fragments of ACARS messages. The system table is in there somewhere.
Once again, I thank this group for getting the data up in such a timely manner. I might get a system table live on the air here in The Land That Short Wave Forgot, and I might not.
The file has been copied to the Utility World web site. As always, shut down PC-HFDL first. Go to the config directory, and rename the existing pchfdl.dat something like oldpchfdl.dat or pchfdl32.dat. Copy the new file to this directory, make sure it is still named pchfdl.dat, then restart PC-HFDL. If you're lucky, the system table will show as #33, and the frequencies will appear in kHz.
This doesn't always work for everybody, but this file as usual is the one on the Yahoo HFDL group, and works for most users there. As always, don't worry that a text listing of the file looks like gibberish, with binary data and fragments of ACARS messages. The system table is in there somewhere.
Once again, I thank this group for getting the data up in such a timely manner. I might get a system table live on the air here in The Land That Short Wave Forgot, and I might not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)