Map of ATOM stations

[tnowak]

Is there a map available showing the location of the ATOM ground stations?
Just checking my transponder and trying to understand what I am seeing with VECTOR.
Thanks

Tony

[exfirepro]

Hi Tony,

Thee isn't a simple readily available map of ATOM sites, but if you let me know what area you usually fly in, I can print an post a screenshot of that area for you.

Best Regards

Peter

[steveu]

Is there a map available showing the location of the ATOM ground stations?

Have a look here, it is not an official map but you will get an idea:

https://playback.pilotaware.com/playback/groundstations/?

Filter your Vector by date and view the flight for the same period here by setting the right ICAO code, date, time and type of EC.

[tnowak]

Thanks,
The Popham area and south towards IOW and along the coast ( east and west).
Tony

[steveu]

Thanks,
The Popham area and south towards IOW and along the coast ( east and west).
Tony

You simply need to use your mouse or finger (on mobile/tablet) to move the map to the desired area... and you can zoom with the scroll wheel or click the joystick symbol bottom right...

Marked up in attachment with Popham.

[tnowak]

Thanks!

[tnowak]

Does the playback.pilotaware map show the status of operational ATOM ground stations?
Seems to be quite a few in my area that are not detecting my transponder at all (other ground stations are)
Or is there another resource that shows the ATOM station status?
Thanks
Tony

[exfirepro]

Hi Tony,

There is no 'publicly available' site to see current status of ATOM sites.

Playing your track back  via the groundstation playback tool, however, shows the ATOM stations which have reported your flight (during the flight) by the green connecting lines between your aircraft andd each individual reporting station. If you have the flight tracks (downloaded from Classic or Rosetta), you can also view these via https://playback.pilotaware.com/playback/

In addition, you can also view site status 'live' via display screens at many airfield sites - such as the one in the clubroom/cafe at Popham, or by installing and running your own ATOM site (which gives you access to your own display as a station maintainer).

As a system Admin, I have access to all ATOM sites, and have attached a screenshot taken a few minutes ago from the site at Solent (which shows a few sites (including Popham) currently down for less than 3 days (yellow markers). If down for more than 3 days, these markers change to red and eventually disappear iof the site is not reinstated. The system automatically advises station maintainers if and when their site(s) go down for any extended period, but we have minimal influence as to how long it takes for the site to be reinstated.

Hope this helps

Best Regards
Peter

[PaulSS]

Shame the best site has a rude American Airlines aircraft flying over it. Green blob though 

[tnowak]

Thanks for the info and screenshot.
During a recent flight to the IOW quite a few stations picked me up, but for some reason, my transponder transmissions weren't picked up by  PWSpitfire (Goodwood), PWEGHN and PWIOWPARA.

According to the screenshot of operational stations you took, they should be working, unless I am mis-reading the colour dot status?
Perhaps they were down on the day or not up 24/7?

By the way, the website playback.pilotaware.com is a very good resource for checking transmissions. Well done the designer!
Tony

[steveu]

my transponder transmissions weren't picked up by  PWSpitfire (Goodwood), PWEGHN and PWIOWPARA.

Could be the lack of line of sight?

PWIOWPARA is being fixed at the moment.

[PaulSS]

They'll also only pick up Mode S returns if the transponder is being interrogated, or else there will be no returns to pick up. I expect Solent would have been interrogating but not guaranteed.

[grahambaker]

They'll also only pick up Mode S returns if the transponder is being interrogated, or else there will be no returns to pick up. I expect Solent would have been interrogating but not guaranteed.

Even in the middle of nowhere on the ground you can see my transponder responding with the little antenna symbol merrily bllnking away; I've always assumed that's because its being interrogated by the multitudes of airliners' TCAS way above me.

[PaulSS]

Interesting point but I don't THINK the TCAS kit has a transmitter/interrogator. The transponder is responding to interrogations from SSR and is broadcasting the information back to the SSR. I think TCAS sees this information, as opposed to a response from its own transmission.

I could very well be wrong and would like to hear the truth from someone who does KNOW. The SSR antennas are huge and I don't think they've miniaturised them for TCAS.

It would be interesting to see if the symbol was blinking away if you were on the ground in a valley where no Radar wiggles can see you.

[grahambaker]

From the Bristol Ground School website:

https://www.bristol.gs/what-is-tcas/#:~:text=TCAS%20works%20by%20interrogating%20transponders%20on%20nearby%20aircraft%20and%20calculating%20their%20positions%20relative%20to%20the%20host%20aircraft.