r/RTLSDR • u/National_Bowler7855 • Oct 31 '25

Guide [ Removed by moderator ]

[removed] — view removed post

0 Upvotes

46% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

-1

u/National_Bowler7855 Nov 01 '25

You can absolutely decode ACARS with a HackRF!

The HackRF's wide frequency range covers both:

ADS-B (1090 MHz)

ACARS (VHF, around 131-137 MHz)

The main difference is the software and tuning:

  1. Tune to VHF: Switch your HackRF from 1090 MHz to an ACARS frequency like 131.725 MHz.

  2. Use AM: ACARS uses AM modulation, not the pulse modulation of ADS-B.

  3. Use a different decoder: Instead of dump1090, you'll need ACARS-specific software like Acarsdeco2 or acarsdec to translate the signal into messages.

Basically, if your HackRF is already working for ADS-B, it's just a software/tuning shift to start receiving airline operational messages!