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[Eric1600]

Ino, what kind of receiver are you using for the ADS-B? What type of range do you think you'll get?

[Obie]

http://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/h...tats-17115

This is a ground station in Hilo.It does not show helicopters because at this time they are not required to have transponders that transmit ADS-B out.It's not a legal requirement until 2020.

[Ino]

Hi Eric this is the receiver;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D1ZAP3C?tag=fligh01-20

Here's the shopping list;
http://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/build

I upgraded and bought the indoor/outdoor antenna for $45.00;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WZL...fligh01-20

I have about $200 invested and the one thing that's not on the list was the special cable;
CA240-PE-NMSMAP-025F
Product: CA240 Antenna Cable, N Plug-Male to SMA Plug-Male, 25 Feet (7.62 m)
Quantity: 1
Item price: USD $26.11
$14.00 shipping-I ordered it on 10-15-16
http://www.air802.com/

They tell me that it will have a 245 nautical mile range- The national park is very interested in my project. To pick up the helis over my house the antenna needs line of sight that's why the ones at the airport only pick up higher ones- that will change with my station.

Hi Obie, I asked Flightawares to do a custom survey for me- they quoted a $250 price. Before I bought they said there was so much data that the price would be $761 for data on the 254 helicopters that flew over my house on 12-26-15. The data is there I just don't want to have to pay that price for one day's worth of data.

They are actively expanding their coverage- they need more line of sight antennas for better coverage so they provide a free account as long as I share my data.

[MarkP]

OK so it is ADS-B. None of the aircraft I fly have that and it is not required until 2020. I don't know about the tour helicopters but if someone like me were buzzing your house you wouldn't be picking them up.

[leilanidude]

254 helicopters that flew over my house on 12-26-15

--
You got bogus data from someone. It just isn't possible.

With about 8-9 hours of daylight flight time (the tours don't fly at night) you are trying to claim that a minimum of 126 flights happened? (assuming every single one flew directly over your house to and from the destination)

126 flights (minimum) divided by 8 flights per helicopter, would mean that 16+ individual helicopters had to be available to make all those fights! Knowing that the Waikoloa flights average over 1 hour each, makes this even more unbelievable. That kind of number would mean not a single fight could have even gone up the coast towards Hamakua and the waterfalls either. There simply are not that many tour helicopters on the island.

Each tour from Hilo is about 45 minutes long. It takes a few minutes to load/unload passengers and then there is refueling times every 3 to 5 flights (need a pilot here to verify this). So realistically, each helicopter can make under optimal conditions, about 8 flights a day.

The Kona and Waikoloa flights average around 1hr 45 mins. At best, each of those helicopters could make 5-6 flights to the volcano each day.

Blue Hawaiian - 6 usually on island with some tours 1 hr 45 mins long
Paradise Helicopters - 3 (they list 3 pilots as well)
Sunshine Helicopters - 2 or 3? Most flights from Kona and listed as 1hr 45 mins long to the volcano.

Anyone know of any other companies offering flights and how many helicopters they have? I am guessing that there are one or two small companies with one helicopter each.

[Eric1600]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ino

They tell me that it will have a 245 nautical mile range- The national park is very interested in my project. To pick up the helis over my house the antenna needs line of sight that's why the ones at the airport only pick up higher ones- that will change with my station.

---

It's 1.09 GHz, so it's not actually line-of-sight limited as that will penetrate tree tops, etc. This is especially true if you can mount your antenna as high as possible and hopefully you got the filter too to reduce other interference. Hopefully you get a wider range than line of sight. The best system is if you can put the Antenna, Filter and a pre-amplifer all near the antenna and then run the rest down to your receiver.

What did the National Park Service tell you about their interest in the helicopters?

[Ino]

Hi Lelanidude- I'm done arguing about the data- that's why I'm installing my own station at my expense. it will be available to the public-imagine that!

Hi Eric I didn't buy the filter because they told me I live in a rural area so they didn't think there would be much interference. My house sits up high and has a commanding view with not many trees. I'm only interested with what flies over my house.

It amazes me that the national park does not monitor their own airspace. This could be an inexpensive way for them to do so. They have indicated to me that they do not like the helicopters and have received many complaints about them.

[Obie]

"Currently, the FAA
does not plan on mandating ADS-B out equipage until around 2020, and then
only in class A, B, and C airspace. In Hawaii, only Oahu and Maui have class B or
class C airspaces, thus many air tour operators would not be required to equip
with ADS-B out under the existing plan"

More here :

https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/...sequence=1

[MarkP]

It's pretty much a given that any aircraft in Hawaii other than the most basic puddle-jumpers would equip themselves with whatever it took to fly into Honolulu and Kahului. I can't imagine turbine helicopters of the caliber that are used for the tours not being equipped to do that.

[TomK]

I have my views about tour helicopters, but keeping that aside for the moment, there are some technical things being mentioned here with which I'm not familiar. I do have a bit of a clue about class airspace 1, 2 or 3, but some of his thread has become quite specialised.

Primary and secondary radar I understand, as well as what a transponder does. But I don't know what ADS-B is. I know people have posted links, but I think a summary from someone who knows what they're talking about would be useful. It's what I try and do if I post something about astronomy if I get questioned, so am hoping someone can return the favour.

Thanks!