is an exceptional tool for aviation enthusiasts and researchers. By using the verified installation steps and commands provided, Windows users can easily turn an affordable RTL-SDR dongle into a powerful ACARS decoding station.
Replace the IP address and port with the actual location of your VRS server. This fetches photos of the aircraft corresponding to the received ACARS messages.
acarsdeco2 is a powerful, lightweight, and command-line based software application designed to decode ACARS messages using an RTL-SDR dongle (typically featuring the RTL2832 chipset). Developed by an author known as "sergsero," the program stands out due to its ability to decode up to three ACARS channels simultaneously, as long as their frequencies fit within the 2.4MHz bandwidth of a standard SDR dongle. Unlike many other ACARS decoding tools that require a virtual audio cable to route signals from an SDR program, acarsdeco2 is an all-in-one solution that directly controls the RTL-SDR hardware, simplifying the setup process. The built-in web server provides a simple, real-time view of messages, and its output can be seamlessly integrated with other aviation mapping software like PlanePlotter and Virtual Radar Server (VRS). acarsdeco2 windows verified
You will see a live table of intercepted messages, including aircraft registration, flight numbers, and message content.
Eliminates the need for virtual audio cables or complex audio routing. is an exceptional tool for aviation enthusiasts and
: Features a clean, built-in HTTP server ( http://127.0.0.1:8080 ) to visualize real-time messages.
: Ensure your RTL-SDR is using the WinUSB driver. This fetches photos of the aircraft corresponding to
| Feature | Parameter | What It Does | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | --gain | Adjusts the sensitivity of the SDR dongle. You can set a fixed value (e.g., 49.6 ) or use --agc for automatic control. | | Frequency Correction | --freq-correction | Corrects for the dongle's internal oscillator drift (in parts per million, PPM). This is absolutely critical ; without proper correction, you won't decode anything. | | Set Frequencies | --freq | Specifies which ACARS frequencies to listen to. You can use this flag multiple times (up to 3) to monitor different channels (e.g., --freq 131550000 --freq 131725000 ). | | Web Interface | --http-port | Launches a built-in web server, letting you view decoded messages in a clean interface in any browser (default port is 8080). It's much easier to read than the command line scroll. | | Databases for Airlines | --frdb , --db | Points to .sqb database files containing airline and flight route info. This allows the web interface to display airline names and logos alongside the raw messages. | | Logging | --logfile | Saves all the decoded messages to a text file for later review or analysis. |
The program does not need to be "installed" in the traditional sense. Simply create a new folder (e.g., C:\acarsdeco2 ) and unzip the entire contents of the .zip file into it.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix | |--------|-------------|-----| | rtlsdr: device not found | Wrong driver | Re‑run Zadig → install WinUSB for the RTL‑SDR | | libusb: other error | Driver conflict | Remove other SDR software drivers | | Crashes immediately | Missing VC++ runtime | Install VC++ redist | | No output / silent | Wrong gain or no signal | Try --gain 0 (auto) or increase to 30–40 dB | | High CPU usage | Multi‑channel heavy load | Reduce sample rate: --samplerate 1.2e6 |