The configuration page is used to configure your PilotAware device for your individual requirements. PilotAware is possibly the most comprehensive Electronic Device available and can see more aircraft types than any othere device. This is done by collecting data from multiple sources. To achieve this, your PilotAware device must be set up correctly by inserting information unique to your aircraft by choosing options from drop down menus.
⚠️Changing the settings within this webpage will not update your PilotAware.⚠️
Hex-ID;
All registered aircraft have a unique ICAO number. This can be found from the CAA website G-INFO Insert your unique ICAO code in this first box. With your ICAO Code installed PilotAware will ignore your 1090MHz transponder transmissions, if you have one. The ICAO Code is a 6 digit Hex code which contains 0-9, A- F. No other letters are permitted. Please make sure you insert the ICAO code carefully and correctly. By default, a unique 6 digit HEX code is generated commencing with F. This is only used for aircraft without an ICAO code such as paragliders or hang gliders.
The HEX-ID must be correct.
An example of a Hex-ID is; 405B19.
Please note that in a Hex code there is no O (Osca) it is 0 (Zero).
Flight-ID;
This is how your flight identification will be displayed on navigational software along with your position. Usually this is the aircraft registration G-ABCD.
Group-ID;
This field allows you to be associated with a group of aircraft on a fly out or a club event. All aircraft with the same Group-ID, will appear as #Group-ID#. This is set to PAW-Group by default.
Aircraft Type;
Insert your Aircraft Type so that it can be shown on the Electronic Flight Bag or navigational software if it has the capability so to do. PilotAware does not control what the icons on 3rd party devices look like.
The Aircraft Types can be found below and in the dropdown menu.
- Powered
- Microlight
- Glider
- Motor Glider
- Paraglider
- Balloon
- Jet Aircraft
- Drone
- Helicopter
- Base Station (RX)
- Base Station (TX/RX)
- Base Station (RX) is used when a Rosetta unit is used as a base station. This does not transmit any information. Base Station (RX) will not trigger responses from ATOM ground stations.
Aircraft Transmit speed
This provides the ground speed at which the PilotAware unit will start to transmit its position. Transmitting on the ground whilst stationary, can be an annoyance to other pilots in the circuit who may find voice and visual alerts distracting. Pilots of helicopters or ridge soaring gliders hang gliders and para gliders should be aware that this is a GPS speed not an airspeed. Therefore, rotorcraft hovering or 'gale hanging’ when soaring may be recorded as a 0MPH groundspeed and inhibit the PilotAware's transmission. The speed selected will also be used to calculate whether the aircraft is on the ground or in the air as reported on the home page.
Display Traffic Info;
This provides the the option of how traffic is identified on your navigational software. Either showing the REG-ID or the Flight-ID or alternating between the two.
Display Ground Stations;
This allows the user to enable or disable the display of ground stations. When ‘Display Ground Stations’ is disabled they will not be shown on Electronic Flight Bags, Navigational Aids or the PilotAware RADAR screen. The display of Ground stations will also be disabled if they are out of the range of filters that have been set on your Electronic Flight Bags, Navigational Aids or the PilotAware RADAR screen.
License Key;
This is your unique 16-digit license key which is specific to the MAC Address you have registered. Please note that these are HEX characters that is 0-9 plus ABCDEF.
Be careful not to mix up ‘B’ and ‘8’, 0 (zero) and O (Osca).
Mode-C/S Select;
This enables the PilotAware Mode C/S functionality. To ensure that you fully understand how PilotAware detects and displays Mode-C/S Bearingless targets, read and understand the description of how Modec/S works in the Traffic Types section before enabling.
The options available for selection are;
Disabled: Used for Mode C and Mode S detection if you have NO transponder fitted
Mode-S. Used to detect Mode–S traffic
Mode-CS. Used for Mode C and Mode S detection if you have NO transponder fitted
Mode-CS+Filter . Used as above if you have a transponder fitted.
⚠️ Mode C/S Select is disabled by default. ⚠️
⚠️ Unfortunately, not all navigation applications or glass cockpits support the visualisation of Mode-C/S data. Please consult the manual or support team of your navigation application for more information. How they are displayed is out of PilotAware's control.⚠️
Mode-C/S Horizontal Sensitivity;
This gives you the option to set the Mode C/S horizontal sensitivity. This is at what signal strength of a Mode-C/S transmission, is detection initially triggered. The options available are;
Ultra-Short Range: This will give you the lowest sensitivity and is intended to minimize alerts when operating in high Mode C/S traffic environments such as transiting through or close to major airports, or when you are fully familiar with how the detection of Mode-C/S works.
Short Range: This is a low alert setting for GA use in busier environments.
Medium Range: This is useful for medium to low levels of Mode-C/S traffic.
Long Range: This setting will bring in alerts from a greater distance including high flying commercial aircraft using higher powered transponders. This is recommended for testing purposes only.
Most users choose medium range to start with until they get used to the system and then reduce to short or ultra-short when they are more confident.
Mode-C/S Vertical Display Range;
This gives you the option to set the vertical threshold for Mode C/S alerts or disable as required. The options available are.
- +/- 500 ft (Default)
- +/- 1000ft
- +/- 2000ft
- +/- 4000ft
- +/- 50000ft.
As an example, +/-500ft will only warn you of Mode C/S transmitting aircraft within +/-500ft of your current altitude. This filter affects navigation apps, glass cockpits and voice alerts.
+/- 50,000ft should only be used for testing purposes.
Most users choose +/2000 ft. to start with until they get used to the system then reduce the separation.
Mode-S/3D;
This enables the use of MLAT data received from ATOM ground stations or SkyGRID relay, to augment the latitude and longitude of Mode-S targets detected directly from Rosetta. Before enabling Mode-S/3D, it is a mandatory requirement that you have read, understood and agree with the limitations outlined outlined in the Mode-S/3D documentation available in the PilotAware Knowledgebase.
Mode-S/3D is disabled by default.
Positional Contacts Settings;
Select Audio Warning Zones
PilotAware detects more aircraft types than any other conspicuity device so this may trigger a lot of audio warnings. This configuration allows you to select the distance at which audio alerts are first triggered. 10Kms, 5Kms, 3Kms or never.
Horizontal Display Range;
This is used only when connecting to navigational equipment that has no ability to filter traffic horizontally. This filters the messages that are sent from PilotAware before they are sent to the RS232 wired device. Select Display All if you HAVE NOT Connected to a Glass cockpit via an RS232 cable.
⚠️ This filter will actively ignore traffic data. Please bear this in mind when flying with visual traffic displays and navigation apps.⚠️
Vertical Display range;
This is used only when connecting to navigational equipment that has no ability to filter traffic vertically. This filters the messages that are sent from PilotAware before they are sent to the wired device. Select Display All if you HAVE NOT Connected to a Glass cockpit via an RS232 cable.
⚠️ This filter can actively ignore traffic data. Also, navigation applications like SkyDemon have a secondary height filter that ignores traffic sent by the PilotAware. Please customise this in the SkyDemon app.⚠️
Device Connect Setting;
This defines the interface protocol that is used to connect to your chosen navigation device or Electronic Flight Bag. There are four settings available.
All Choose this is you are in doubt.
PilotAware (UDP). Choose this when connecting to Sky Demon or EasyVFR
GDL 90(UDP). Choose this when GDL 90 is required
Flarm (TCP). Choose this when a Flarm input is required
Bluetooth Audio (Rosetta only);
Rosetta units have in-built Bluetooth (BT) which has now been enabled. This allows the audio to be output to your Bluetooth enabled devices. Not all devices have been tested so this should be regarded as a best effort connection.
USB Settings;
Unused USB ports can be used to send and receive data from external devices.
Examples are;
GPS out to a Mode-S ES transponder to enable ADS-B out.
Traffic data out to a glass cockpit display such as Dynon Skyview etc.
Connection to a FLARM device to receive and transmit direct FLARM messages.
Ports should be left at the default settings, however the baud rate can be set individually for each port if required.
Port 1
Top left USB port (with the Ethernet port to the left). Configurable for various outputs. For advanced users only.
Port 2
Bottom left USB port (with the Ethernet port to the left). Configurable for various outputs. For advanced users only
Port 3
Top right USB port (with the Ethernet port to the left). Configurable for various outputs. For advanced users only
Port 4
Bottom right USB port (with the Ethernet port to the left). Configurable for various outputs. For advanced users only
Save;
Use this button to save the configuration changes you have selected. Wait until the page refreshes, or manually refresh the page, to ensure that this has been accepted and stored in your Rosetta. If this is not done changes will not be saved.
Profiles;
This allows multiple profiles (Hex-ID and Flight-ID) to be automatically saved as they are entered. This is useful when PilotAware is used in several different aircraft such as club and hire aircraft. The options are
Restore;
Restore a stored Profile for use in the next flight.
Delete;
Delete a previously stored profile no longer needed.
If you do not have the correct ICAO code inserted then the aircraft that you are flying in may be shown twice on ATC screens and you will get false close traffic reports on your tablet.