Logging overflights

[DrAlan]

For some reason recently I wanted to build a log of all flights passing close to my house. You can't get this info from the database because that only logs the start and finish lat/long, so I decided I had to monitor the socket output.

I've built a little bit of VB in Excel to listen to the socket and track the range of aircraft, and log them if they come within a certain distance.

If anyone is interested I'll upload the file (it is clunky but works - only wish I know "proper" pc programming to make a real third party app!).

Cheers

Alan

PS this could also be adapted to monitor the lowest altitude achieved, greatest range at given altitudes, lowest elevation angle, range as a percentage of radar horizon (i.e. degree of blocking against azimuth) etc.

[Roadrunner]

Sounds very interesting, if it doesn't need a degree in PC knowledge then I would be interested, I also like to know those within a couple of mile radius of my house for when I am out walking the dog. I have been recording the sessions but that takes forever to play back.

Mike

[DrAlan]

Thanks for the interest Roadrunner. I've uploaded the excel file to

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robinsonfizz/misc/

Filename is Overflight logger v1 for forum.xls

You also need a bit of software to allow Excel to receive data from the socket, which is here

http://www.ostrosoft.com/oswinsck.asp#inst

(download and run oswinsck.exe once)

Then put the excel file anywhere convenient, open it up and put in your lat & long, then press "start".

It runs a bit awkwardly (you can't easily minimise and maximise the window for example) - I need tips on how to improve the VB to allow spreadsheet browsing at the same time. However it does do what it says on the tin.

Cheers

Alan

[Roadrunner]

Alan,

Thanks for that - I will give it a try during the next few days and will let you know how I get on.

Mike

[DrAlan]

I've just uploaded "Overflight logger v1.1 for forum.xls"

- Units now nautical miles
- Contains extra worksheet that accumulates the following by bearing
- Best range
- Best % of radar horizon
- Lowest altitude
- Lowest elevation

% Radar horizon is done for each message and should give a good indication of antenna / antenna location performance that is relatively independant of traffic patterns. The point being that an aircraft at a given altitude *should* be visible a certain distance away, and recording how close to this ideal we get is a good measure irrespective of how far away or how high the individual data point is.

Cheers

Alan

[DrAlan]

This has been evolving a bit quickly over the last few days.

I've taken to keeping only the latest version in the folder to avoid confusion.

The later versions are hopefully more user friendly and easier to live with. They at least now allow you to browse around the workbook & maximise/minimise the windows while the macro is running. You can also sit on the "Performance" worksheet and watch the graphs evolve.......

Filename: Overflt Logger vx.y for forum.xls

Cheers

Alan

[Mark Coles]

Hi Alan,

nice feature, have been trying to get it to work, but no luck. Ran oswinsck.exe, all OK, opened up spread sheet, changed lat/long and hit Start, left it for a while until 5 min socket delay kicks in, but nothing shows, and can't really tell from selecting Start if in fact it has. Also tried saving sheet but then when re-opening, it generates a Microsoft error box. Any help appreciated

Mark

[nic]

Hi Alan

all works fine apart from when the first aircraft hits the log list i get a debug error??

Mark did you enable macro's

Regards

Nic

[Roadrunner]

Hi there,

I have also been having problems - with me it wont let me enable macros

Also can you confirm is there a specific order to download and run each of the files.

Does Basestation need to be shut while downloading and then open before the Excel sheet is opened?

Told you I don't know much about computors !

Mike

[DrAlan]

Nic & Mark - Thankyou for your interest and comments.

Nic: Ooops! This should be fixed now in version 1.5.

Mark:

First of all please check you have the latest version. You will need macros switched on (i.e. macro security off) as Nic says.

I have sometimes found that data doesn't seem to arrive and have had to close and re-open the spreadsheet. You don't need to wait for 5 mins unless you have only just started basestation - data should flow straight away. What should happen when you press "start" is that the statusbar at bottom left changes from "Ready" to "Connecting" then "Connected" and then "Received xxxxx characters" where xxxxx gets updated every couple of seconds and should be in the range of thousands.

Let me know how you get on.

Alan

[DrAlan]

Mike -

with me it wont let me enable macros

Stumped here - what version of excel are you using? Normally Tools -> Macros -> Security and tick "low" and OK. (Medium would probably work too).

Also can you confirm is there a specific order to download and run each of the files.

Provided you have run the Oswinsk.exe once, then you are all set up. Then open up my Excel file and it should work.

Does Basestation need to be shut while downloading and then open before the Excel sheet is opened?

No - you can leave Basestation running.

Told you I don't know much about computors !

Hopefully I've helped a bit

Cheers

Alan

[Mark Coles]

Hi Alan,

nope, still no luck, got v1.5, macros on low, already data on graphs in Performance, and reset doesn't work, and what Status bar?

sorry to be a pain, really like the idea of this and want to get it to work

Mark

[nic]

Hi Chaps

Alan its better now with 1.5

Mike which version of office are you running ?
when you click to open alans file do you get a prompt to enable macros?

if you do then click enable

if not then click tools/macros/security make sure its set to medium (works fine for me)

post how you get on

have you any anti spyware/malware software running as this may be stopping the macros also

regards
nic

[DrAlan]

Alan its better now with 1.5
nic

Excellent.

[Roadrunner]

Alan,

Will give it a go in the morning

Mike