dump1030: open-source plug-and-play demodulator/decoder for 1030MHz uplink

TL;DR

dump1030 is an open-source, cross-platform decoder for 1030MHz uplink signals, filling a gap in available air traffic surveillance tools by adapting existing 1090MHz technology.

Contribution

It introduces dump1030, the first open-source, plug-and-play decoder for 1030MHz uplink Mode A/C/S signals, based on adapting a state-of-the-art 1090MHz design.

Findings

Achieves high detection accuracy in lab tests

Demonstrates practical use cases in research and industry

Provides a cross-platform, open-source implementation

Abstract

Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Secondary Surveillance Radars (SSR), and Mode S are key air surveillance technologies representing a critical component of next-generation air transportation systems. However, compared to 1090MHz demodulators and decoders, which have plenty of implementations, the 1030MHz uplink receivers are, in general, scarcely, if at all, represented. In this paper, we present the development and evaluation of dump1030 - cross-platform plug-and-play open-source implementation for decoding 1030MHz uplink Mode A/C/S interrogations. We demonstrate and detail an agile development process of building dump1030 by adapting a state-of-the-art dump1090 design and implementation. In our repeated experiments, dump1030 achieves a high detection accuracy of 1030MHz interrogation signals based on lab evaluation using synthetically-generated interrogation signals. We also discuss a handful of practical use cases where dump1030 can find immediate application and implementation, both in research and industrial settings.