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Badge, a Data Project, and the Best ADS-B Antenna for Aviation Enthusiasts

High-Performance Flight Tracking

Our skies and that which occupies them are open for us to explore- just need a touch of knowhow plus a sprinkle of technology- now with data aggregators such as Flight Aware, ADSBLOL, AirFrames plus many more.... you don't even need the tech part- I guess a means to the internet is still required.


Resources like those open up the skies and give us much detail of what is above our heads... is it really a gov'nt spy plane? Who's layin' down all those chem trails?  Not that such topics aren't but on a more serious note... these resources give us the details of the aviation above us... even give us maps of the flights.

Naturally something that sparks my curiosity.

My curiosity in the world of high-performance flight tracking lead me in an unlikely place:  I am attracted to the subject- currently the confrence Def Con is on.... #badgelife... lead me to one of the  hacker conference badge makers.... The Aerospace Village's badge for DEF CON 33 is a marvel—a portable, hackable Linux computer that can receive and display aircraft ADS-B signals on its own. This amazing piece of hardware, available in limited runs, sparked my curiosity and led me down a rabbit hole.

The Aerospace Village DC32 Badge hardware, which is being updated with new software for DC33.

That badge introduced me to Airframes.io, a vital project for any serious aviation hobbyist. It's a community-driven service that aggregates unfiltered aeronautical data, ensuring information remains open and unbiased. While it tracks flights like other sites, Airframes.io specializes in ACARS—the text-based messages aircraft send—providing deeper insights than standard ADS-B tracking alone.

While exploring their website, I discovered the "Son of Boris" Antenna Kit in their online shop, and it immediately caught my attention. This kit is the direct successor to the "Boris the Spider," a legendary DIY antenna that was immensely popular within the aviation enthusiast community before it sold out.

The "Son of Boris" Antenna Kit.

The "Son of Boris" is designed to be the ultimate, cost-effective antenna for an aviation hobbyist. It improves upon the original with more durable, UV-resistant components and stiffer, pre-straightened brass radials for a more robust and effective ground plane. It cleverly uses inexpensive, widely available 75 Ohm satellite TV cable, which keeps costs down without any meaningful impact on performance—a smart engineering choice for any aviation hobbyist's budget.

While I haven't built one myself, the "Son of Boris" has earned rave reviews from the ADSB community for its outstanding performance. It's widely considered one of the most effective and reliable antennas you can get, especially for the price.

The Fine Print

If you're an aviation enthusiast looking to upgrade your ADS-B reception, this is the path I recommend. Check out the incredible work of the Aerospace Village, dive into the data at Airframes.io, and seriously consider building the "Son of Boris" antenna. It’s a fantastic project that connects you to a passionate community and delivers a crystal-clear view of the skies above.

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