On Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 11:37:29 PM UTC-8, Andy Blackburn wrote:
On Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 1:51:24 PM UTC-8, Darryl Ramm wrote:
/snip/

If I heard it correctly from Andrzej there will be at least one glider at the Nationals at Nephi with ADS-B Out - which should light up a 15 mi circle around his glider showing any glider carrying a transponder (and required by FAR to have it on). The resolution of SSR for transponder targets is a few tens to a few hundred feet (the angular resolution goes down with range from the radar).

The client service volume or "hockey puck" for TIS-B and ADS-R services is 15 nm radius and +/- 3,500' around the client aircraft. Still may be plenty entertaining with a few ADS-B Out equipped gliders amongst the contest fleet.

TIS-B relies on the ADS-B ground coverage and SSR coverage so in places won't work at low altitudes.

Yo get TIS-B for transponder equipped aircraft and only those not equipped with ADS-B Out (but obviously you get those with ADS-B direct or ADS-R which is even more accurate/better coverage) and you don't see ICAO codes for Mode A/C transponder equipped aircraft or those with UAT Out in anonymous mode.... so you won't necessarily be able to tell which glider/contest ID etc..

We have had serious safety issues in certain airspace and responsible pilots in those areas have equipped their gliders with transponders and a few with 1090ES Out as well. They don't get to decide to use those transponders or not in a contest if so equipped.

And I will not be surprised if mandatory transponder and ADS-B Out (or TABS) carriage is required for gliders in future, then it is even easier. With long range and no reliance on ground coverage.

The client/receiver side... Glider and body cavity searches for USB sticks....don't think that is going to work.

Yep the genie is out the bottle. Actually maybe several of them out of several bottles.