Airborne Speed Trap Countermeasures - Revisited

[Shled]

Very generous offer. Is it a confirmed date (in 2 days!)
Looking forward with interest...

[switch626]

Very generous offer. Is it a confirmed date (in 2 days!)
Looking forward with interest...

Yes, this is gonna happen, barring any unforeseen issues like weather.

Since I'm writing about this now, I will also add that I have had the TPAS installed in my car for a little while now and have good confidence in this approach to airborne speed traps. When this thing warns me that there is an airplane nearby, there always is.

It has three modes: TCA, Enroute and standby.

• Standby - Don't report anything (sitting on the runway)
• TCA - More accurate. Gives readings in 0.1 NM increments. Range limited to less than 4 NM. Audio alerts at 1 NM.
• Enroute - Far less accurate. Gives distances in 1 NM increments. Audiio alert at 2 NM. Range up to 15 NM.

This TPAS does not give altitude of target aircraft. It is more like using a Spybuster as far as I can tell.

I will typically keep it in TCA mode, but switch to Enroute if no targets are in range of TCA. When I acquire a target in Enroute mode, and it gets within 4 NM, I switch back to TCA mode for accuracy.

Weaknesses

• Because I never know altitude, I can't tell if I'm tracking a Cessna or a 747. This increases false alerts since airliners do not run speed traps. Virtually useless in close proximity of an airport.
• Bridges, hills and terrain can block transponder signals. This hides aircraft that I would rather know about.
• Since I cannot interrogate a transponder, It is possible to miss an alert when not under controlled airspace and no other aorplanes (with transponders) are around.

One of the things I worry most about is failing to notice markings in the road. It is all too easy to miss them, and they are what determines whether an alert means something or should be ignored. I am truly trying to train myself to spot and take note whenever these markings are present.

In practice, the only thing I consider an alert is an airplane aloft withing 1 Nautical Mile of me in the presence of VASCAR markings. And yes I still keep the CB on too

[The Invisible Vervet]

Are you just hoping to encounter a low-flying, small, non-commercial aircraft just to ensure that your TPAS works or what?

If that's all you're after, go prowl around the Tamiami Airport area. I know it's a little bit of a hike for you, but there are always small aircraft coming and going at all hours. I'm pretty sure that the plane used in the Bird Road toll lives there as well for whatever that's worth--I've seen it seeming to head over there right as the wolfpack is writing up their last tickets and dispersing.

[Shled]

Yes, this is gonna happen, barring any unforeseen issues like weather.

Good luck today!
Pics 'n video would be great

[Shled]

The unit I ordered is pretty old, and is out of productions. This is making it a little difficult to find a proper manual

Here is a link to your manual in case you haven't located one.

www.surecheck.net/library/TPAS_2-2_Full.pdf

[swarga]

If you want to go full-bore and overcome the limitations of the TPAS device, you can run an ACARS decoder program on a laptop or a Car PC and get data on all aircraft within range (not just the closest one), including their ID numbers - the latter would be especially helpful in deciding whether a contact is a harmless 747 or a local sheriff's deputy with a stopwatch.

[brasstownbald]

Not sure if any of these still work or not......

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
Common Highway Patrol Frequencies

Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
154.92000 Air-to-Car/Emergency FM Law Talk
154.68000 Dispatch FM Law Dispatch
154.69500 Dispatch FM Law Dispatch
154.65500 Florida Highway Patrol FM Law Talk
155.49000 Florida Highway Patrol FM Law Talk
154.90500 Mobile 1 FM Law Talk
154.93500 Mobile 2 FM Law Talk
155.37000 Statewide Net FM Law Talk

[Shled]

It occurs to me that maybe a good scanner (i.e. Uniden BCD396xt or similar) could be programmed to receive transponders output? Might just be a data stream but could enough to provide alerts with no further expense (for those who already have one).

I don't know what don't know about this.
Prolly a stupid thought.
Heading for more coffee.

[brasstownbald]

I have a BC246T .

1090 Mhz is the transponder response frequency.

But the signal can be received for 100 miles airborne. On the ground....not sure...nowhere NEAR that far though for sure.

As far as I know...ALL aircraft operating in controlled airspace are required to use their transponder. It would be just like our government to allow Police aircraft to turn if off (thereby endangering civilian aircraft) in the name of revenue disguised as "Public safety"

Just checked.....BC246T will not cover 1090

[brasstownbald]

Would there be any way to adapt a Marine fish locator radar set to scan for aircraft ?

One other thing.....

So FHP communications are encrypted.....that means you won't be able to hear what they are saying....but don't they still use a frequency you could monitor and just hear noise? Hearing "noise" might indicate some nearby communications activity. If there is a specific frequency for air to ground FHP communications you still might be able to monitor for "NOISE" activity even if you were not able to hear what they were saying. If there's noise, there's bears?

Just a thought?

Anyone heard of AirNav Real time radar tracking system.
http://www.airnavsystems.com/radarbox/

Looks like people are already using this in their cars for many years to track aircraft while on the road.
Pricey though...ugh.