Availability

The Mode-S Beast is available as a SMD pre-equipped PCB for completion through the user. The board will come tested and with all parts that are needed for getting it into work.

At this early point I want to put a warning!!!

This project needs the user to have some minimum, basic PC knowledge:

• Connecting a USB device to the PC
• Downloading and installing the FTDI FT232R driver from the web
• Identifiying which COM port became created by the new device in Device Manager
• Downloading Planeplotter from the web and doing some minor configuration steps in in it (here described in detail)

Some more knowledge is needed for the purpose of:

• Adding of the Lantronix Xport Ethernet or the BTM-222 bluetooth interfaces

This is not a plug-and-play set-up like for example the Kinetics SBS-1 family.
I would comapre it to be a little bit more difficulty than installing a printer.
You've been warned!

The ready unit that you get when applying the kit into the the foreseen box

This is a 2CH Mode-S Beast with the additional miniADSB receiver installed (the ready made ones that come with the Beast are equipped with a right angle flange connector, back wall comes predrilled)

The Mode-S Beast with Lantronix Xport Ethernet Extension

Pictures below show the Mode-S Beast with 2 antenna possiblity and Lantronix Xport Ethernet interface (very high resolution when clicking on the pictures):

Front Panel

From left to right: SMA connector for internal receiver green and red LED of internal receiver channel green and red LED of 2nd receiver channel blue LED for overall frame reception yellow LED showing USB RS232 transfer green LED for power on USB connector

Rear View

From left to right: BNC connector of extra miniADSB receiver Ethernet connector +5V external power supply for USB less operation

Inside View

The Mode-S Beast as a 4CH option with Lantronix Xport Ethernet

For a very, very special application I made a 4 channel receiver. It requires soldering the 2nd AD converter manually, also Mode-A/C cannot be supported with this unit. 4CH will become a common option only with hardware version V2.0, roughly available about end of 2011.

Front Panel

From left to right: SMA connector for internal receiver +5V external power supply red activity LED for each channel blue LED for overall frame reception yellow LED showing USB RS232 transfer green LED for power on USB connector

Rear View

From left to right: 3 miniADSB receivers in straight version Lantronix Xport ethernet interface with cable to the Mode-S Beast main PCB