The 1090 Megahertz Riddle: A Guide to Decoding Mode S and ADS-B Signals

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34641/mg.11

Source files/code: https://mode-s.org/

Synopsis:

In the last twenty years, aircraft surveillance has moved from controller-based interrogation to automatic broadcast. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is one of the most common methods for aircraft to report their state information like identity, position, and speed. Like other Mode S communications, ADS-B makes use of the 1090 megahertz transponder to transmit data. The protocol for ADS-B is open, and low-cost receivers can easily be used to intercept its signals. Many recent air transportation studies have benefited from this open data source. However, the current literature does not offer a systematic exploration of Mode S and ADS-B data, nor does it explain the decoding process.

This book tackles this missing area in the literature. It offers researchers, engineers, and enthusiasts a clear guide to understanding and making use of open ADS-B and Mode S data. The first part of this book presents the knowledge required to get started with decoding these signals. It includes background information on primary radar, secondary radar, Mode A/C, Mode S, and ADS-B, as well as the hardware and software setups necessary to gather radio signals. After that, the 17 core chapters of the book investigate the details of all types of ADS-B signals and commonly used Mode S signals. Throughout these chapters, examples and sample Python code are used extensively to explain and demonstrate the decoding process. Finally, the last chapter of the book offers a summary and a brief overview of research topics that go beyond the decoding of these signals.

(books is open/freely available for download)

It appears that was clipped when I submitted. I will email the mods and request they correct the title. Thank you.

I'll save someone the googling since I just did. You need some hardware to hack: I think this is what you need: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/

> aircraft surveillance has moved from controller-based interrogation to automatic broadcast

I'd take issue with the phrasing "moved from" and would rather use "supplemented by". Controller-based interrogation is still widely used.

Also very interesting is the data which can be extracted from ADS-B.

There have been several attempts from meterologists to extract wind data from through the actual and target direction values.

Other sites use it to locate GPS-jammed areas because ADS-B can indicate when the reception fails (but still is able to transmit its position due to inertial fallback mechanisms).