Silicon Chip just ran an article on the
ADS-Bw system that's been fully implemented in Australia since 2009 and is being progressively implemented around the planet. It ties in with an article they did on
AISw 4 years ago so I thought others might be interested in forfeiting a few hours on these
If you want the issues for the full articles, they're available for a fee from Silicon Chip:
August 2009 and
August 2013 - the two links will take you to the relevant issues, you can view the first couple of pages of the article for no fee which will give you idea of what AIS and ADS-B are about.
The August 2013 issue also includes information on setting up your own ADS-B receiver using a common USB DVB-T receiver.
Anyway, on to the time wasters:
Marine TrafficHover over the vessel and you'll see its name, speed, and course.
Click on it and you may get more info:
Air Traffic - Flightradar24Hover over an aircraft and you get its identification:
Click on it and a slide out panel opens:
Tracking ships and aircraft - something interestingIf you click on the 3D button under the aircraft info, you'll get a cockpit view if you have the Google Earth plugin installed, (which I don't).
The Premium service of FlightRadar24 will allow you to point your smartphone camera at a overflying plane and have it identified.
Have some fun:
Tracking ships and aircraft - something interestingAddendum: Forgot to mention, not only can you track aircraft but if you go to
Live ATC, (the site was down when I tried), you can apparently listen to Air Traffic Control give directions for any aircraft you may be watching, (you need to find the correct ATC area).
