ADS-B Receiver
See aircraft around you
What it does
SimpleAirplanes constantly shout out a tiny radio message that says 'here I am! this is my name, this is how high I'm flying, and this is where I am.' They do this so other planes and the airport know where everyone is. This app is like a big ear pointed at the sky that catches those shouts.
Every plane it hears pops onto a list, and you can tap one to see its flight name, height, and speed. The best part: you're only *listening*. You never talk back to the planes, so it's completely safe to just watch them fly over your house.
How it works
SimpleEach plane's message is sent as a super-fast pattern of tiny on/off pulses — 120 of them in a blink. The app catches that pattern, checks a little math code at the end to make sure it didn't get garbled, and then reads out the plane's name, height and place. Two messages together are needed to pin down exactly where the plane is on a map.
How to use it, step by step
Simple- Screw the small antenna onto the top.
- Open the 'ADS-B RX' app.
- Stand near a window or go outside so the antenna can 'see' the sky.
- Wait a few seconds and watch airplanes pop onto the list.
- Tap a plane to see how high and how fast it's going.
- Try holding the device up high — you'll usually catch more planes.
Examples
Near an airport you'll see dozens of aircraft at once with live altitude, speed, and callsigns as they line up to land.
Compare the stock whip against a tuned 1090 MHz collinear and watch your maximum reception range grow dramatically.
Catch a departing jet and watch its altitude tick up thousands of feet per minute right after take-off.
Tips & things to try
- 1090 MHz is very short wavelength — even a small antenna works, but height and clear sky matter more than antenna size.
- Metal roofs and walls block it; a window seat or balcony hugely improves results.
- The ICAO hex code is unique to each airframe — you can look it up to find the exact plane, its type, and photos.
- No position at first? You need both an even and odd CPR frame — just wait a few more seconds.