Club Sailplane Real-Time Tracking: PowerFlarm, ADSB-IN, ADAB-OUT or other?

On Monday, 4 February 2019 03:08:45 UTC+13, Jeff wrote:
Our club is considering equipping our ships, and the ground-based operations folks, with a real-time tracking technology, so that we on the ground will be aware of club sailplanes locations and status, in order that we can better anticipate and prepare for arrivals, and schedule launches. This could be particularly useful in the case where multiple student pilots are in the air and soaring locally. We soar from a location in a valley surrounded by mountains. Line of sight Radio communication is fine for sailplanes operating within the valley, but radio communications from locations outside of the valley are limited.

What tracking technology might be preferred in this case? We are concerned that any technology that requires radio communication from outside the valley, might not work well. Would that be the case for ADSB-IN equipped sailplanes? ADSB-OUT equipped sailplanes? PowerFlarm equipped sailplanes? Other options, DeLorme, SPOT?


In mountainous areas radio comms are a problem. Transponder based tracking and ADSB need line of sight, just like your radio. Flarm based tracking uses low power radio, so lots of ground stations to work around mountains. Same for cell phone based tracking. Only going to work in an area with good cell coverage.

Spot and/or Delorme based tracking will work great, but will cost money. Not just initial purchase, but the service charges. Make sure every-one understands they will have a bill to pay regularly and that the system will stop if it doesn't get paid.

Phil Plane
User of Spot for tracking since the Spot 1 came out. Currently wishing for a new Delorme mini.

The terrain situation around Moriarty works in our favor.Â* We have an
ADS-B antenna on top of Sandia Mountain which is about 25 miles west of
our airport and a bit over 5,000' higher.Â* And the ADS-B coverage map is
pretty complete already.Â* I was told that my Flarm was picked up in the
valley before installing the ADS-B.

On 2/3/2019 11:33 AM, wrote:
On Monday, 4 February 2019 03:08:45 UTC+13, Jeff wrote:
Our club is considering equipping our ships, and the ground-based operations folks, with a real-time tracking technology, so that we on the ground will be aware of club sailplanes locations and status, in order that we can better anticipate and prepare for arrivals, and schedule launches. This could be particularly useful in the case where multiple student pilots are in the air and soaring locally. We soar from a location in a valley surrounded by mountains. Line of sight Radio communication is fine for sailplanes operating within the valley, but radio communications from locations outside of the valley are limited.

What tracking technology might be preferred in this case? We are concerned that any technology that requires radio communication from outside the valley, might not work well. Would that be the case for ADSB-IN equipped sailplanes? ADSB-OUT equipped sailplanes? PowerFlarm equipped sailplanes? Other options, DeLorme, SPOT?

In mountainous areas radio comms are a problem. Transponder based tracking and ADSB need line of sight, just like your radio. Flarm based tracking uses low power radio, so lots of ground stations to work around mountains. Same for cell phone based tracking. Only going to work in an area with good cell coverage.

Spot and/or Delorme based tracking will work great, but will cost money. Not just initial purchase, but the service charges. Make sure every-one understands they will have a bill to pay regularly and that the system will stop if it doesn't get paid.

Phil Plane
User of Spot for tracking since the Spot 1 came out. Currently wishing for a new Delorme mini.

--
Dan, 5J

Thanks all!

Jeff-
The OGN and FlightAware receivers are hosted by folks who have 120v outlets and reasonably reliable Internet access. We will be placing several more at other public airports around New Mexico, as well as Public Safety Offices (Police, Fire, etc.) in towns that do not have airport facilities.

Depending on the population around your soaring valley, you might consider approaching either homeowners or Public Safety officials with a proposal to provide the equipment if they will host the equipment. It is a minimal use of power and Internet bandwidth. We have had success with the State Police, as it greatly enhances Search And Rescue capability, for which they are the coordinating entity. You will also need Internet access where you want to view the tracking data.