+xIs there a particular one that you would recommend? I live just down the round from FlightStore so that’d be the most convenient location to by supplies from. Thanks once again.
It's a minefield trying to recommend which traffic sensing box to buy; religious wars worse than that of Android v Apple are regularly fought on forums over that subject.
In my opinion, the first priority must be to make youself conspicuous as possible, which really means squitting ADSB-out. If you have a transponder already squitting ADSB, then you can then focus on a traffic receiver. If you don't, then the cheapest option is a SkyEcho2 which will:
- Squit ADSB-out, thereby making you as conspicious as possible to the greatest number of people, to a standard which is international and the CAA's preferred option,
- Receive ADSB-in signals and allow them to be presented as traffic on SkyDemon,
- With the purchase of an additional subscription through SkyDemon, receive FLARM signals (predominantly gliders) and display those on SD also,
- provide a GNSS position to SD with good integrity level.
If you already emit ADSB-out, then you could still buy a SkyEcho and use it in receive mode only. It's advantages are that it is small and light, comes as a single box with no external antennae, and an integral internal rechargeable battery (although it can be powered from a USB socket) It's disadvantages are that its performance depends very much on positioning within the aircraft; it needs a good view of the sky for GNSS reception, whilst also needing good forward and side visibility for traffic sensing. It comes with a sucker mount, but depending on your aircraft may need some experimentation, possibly with supplementary mounts, to maximise its performance. Further information
here.
Alternatively, you could consider a PilotAware. This Raspberry Pi based box will not emit ADSB-out, but does transmit its own protocol, and therefore can only be detected directly by other PilotAware users. However, that protocol is also used to receive information on other traffic broadcast by PilotAware's own network of ground stations (ATOM-GRID). Advantages are that it is cheaper, can be more flexible in location within the aircraft as both the antennae and the GNSS module can be mounted away from the box and connected via cables to it, it will allow you to display the greatest number of different types of traffic, and can support connection of external antennae but its disadvantages are that the packaging is larger, a bit more fragile, and needs a supplementary power source i.e. a battery pack, USB connection or hard-wiring. It will detect directly:
- ADSB
- Mode S and Mode C (only as a 'bearingless target' i.e. it can warn you but can't tell you where the target is) but see below.
- Other PilotAware devices
It will also receive transmisisons from an in-range ATOM-GRID station and allow targets to be displayed positionally for:
- FLARM
- Mode S and Mode C
It will of course also supply a GNSS position to SkyDemon. More information
here.