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adsb-tools/protocols/beast.md
Ian Gulliver 0b3deee0ca More info.
2016-02-13 23:12:48 +00:00

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# Beast protocol
## Ports
* 30005: server -> client feed
## Format
All data is escaped: `0x1a` -> `0x1a 0x1a`. Note that synchronization is still
complex, since `0x1a 0x31` may be the start of a frame or mid-data, depending
on what preceded it. To synchronize, you must see, in order:
* != `0x1a`
* `0x1a`
* {`0x31`, `0x32`, `0x33`}
Escaping makes frame length for a given type variable, up to
`2 + (2 * data_length_sum)`
## Frame structure
* `0x1a`
* Frame type (see types below)
* 6 byte MLAT timestamp (see below)
## Frame types
* 0x31: Mode-AC frame
* 1 byte signal level (TODO: units?)
* 2 byte Mode-AC data
* 0x32: Mode-S short frame
* 1 byte signal level (TODO: units?)
* 7 byte Mode-S short data
* 0x33: Mode-S long frame
* 1 byte signal level (TODO: units?)
* 14 byte Mode-S long data
* 0x34: Status data
* *Appears to only be used by Mode-S Beast hardware later versions*
* ?? byte status data
* ?? byte DIP switch configuration
## MLAT timestamp
The MLAT timestamp included in each frame is the value of a 12 MHz counter at
the of packet reception. This counter isn't calibrated to external time, but
receiving software can calculate its offset from other receiving stations
across multiple packets, and then use the differences between station receive
timing to calculate signal source position.
## Implementations
* [Mode-S Beast hardware](http://modesbeast.com/scope.html)
* [FlightAware dump1090 fork](https://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/install)
## References
* [Original description](http://wiki.modesbeast.com/Mode-S_Beast:Data_Output_Formats)