CQTH (.org) OPEN PROJECT

cqth · Site Admin Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

BACKGROUND - (From [url]http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/posfix/Posfix%2024%20Help.htm#JACARS[/url]
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I have always been a fan of WACARS but was frustrated at seeing many WACARS messages that included obvious position coordinates but which didn't plot on my WACARS map.

WACARS is such a good programme, it is a shame for it to fall short of its potential in this way. It would have been nice to incorporate more position plotting in the programme itself, but despite many efforts I just could not contact Mike Roberts.

So I looked at alternatives.

I originally used a Lowe Airmaster 2000 rather than the soundcard as the front end to WACARS (I now use SkySpy). So I looked firstly at adapting it to reformat the output data before being sent to WACARS. But, for various reasons, this was not possible. So I hit on the idea of creating an intermediary programme.....POSFIX.

POSFIX is a simple programme designed to get a bit more enjoyment out of ACARS scanning and WACARS in particular. POSFIX picks up its data via DDE from Airmaster2000,SkySpy,AirNav ACARS Decoder, Zcars and PC-HFDL, just as WACARS does. It then reformats the data before re-outputting it, again by DDE, to WACARS or AirNav.

When POSFIX receives a message containing position information in a WACARS unfriendly format it beeps, the text box turns blue or green and the message is reformatted. All other messages are passed on unchanged. I have added a few information boxes which also respond to 'hits'. Later I added the ability for Posfix to plot positions on its own maps too. Since then more and more features have been added.

I must apologies if Posfix seems UK orientated. That's because I live here and it's UK skies that I monitor. That's why the Maps are UK and Atlantic. I know other European countries experience similar traffic so you will be able to adapt Posfix easily to your local conditions. Hopefully, those farther afield will also enjoy it. With the advent of Internet-based decoders like ACARSD Client and JACARS you can experience a much heavier stream of messages and monitor traffic all over the world.

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