ACARS DECODER 0.01Alpha-2 for LINUX
===================================

FIRST: My english is not perfect :)

I don't like documentations, so i try to make it short.


The following programs are contained in the package:

acarsclient	   MD5: 3b4cc0d0d524c76dd9b2aa01c7ee7848
acarsdb		   MD5: a1dbfd3b5c9ddb8dd9b0fa7305bf2ca8
acarsd		   MD5: 8bd7970c21a70f21a297b36dadc4baa6

and some text files:
ops.txt		   Airlines   (IATA/ICAO Prefixes)
types.txt	   Aircrafts  (known Regs from www.planespotting.net)
routes.txt	   List with flightnumbers

The functions of the programs in detail:

-[acarsdb]-----------------------------------------------------------------
This program generates binary databases from textfiles for use with acarsd

SYNTAX:
acarsdb -t <type> -f <file> [-s <sep>]
<type>   Update database for option <type>
         type = AIRLINE or TYPE or FLIGHTS
<file>   Read data from this file
         One entry per line with syntax: index<TAB>description
<sep>    Separate entries not with TAB. Use <sep> instead

Before the program start the text files should be converted into the binary 
versions.

Example: ./acarsdb -t AIRLINE -f ops.txt 

-[acarsclient]-------------------------------------------------------------
This program required ncurses 5.x
acarsclient is the client for the acarsd servermode.

THE SERVER MODE IS NOT TESTED AND STILL UNSTABLE!
YOU CAN TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN RISK!

Simple start client: ./acarsclient -h <hostname> (hostname is the server
where acarsd is running in servermode) and then press 'H' for help.

-[acarsd]------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the main program. acarsd required ncurses 5.x

acarsd 0.01alpha-2 (01/04/2003) - (C).2003 by KjM <acars@planespotting.net>
         --==[ This is a alpha version. Bugs are possible ]==--

Possible commands are:
-d device        use device 'device' instead of /dev/dsp
-s               run acarsd as server. Default OFF
-e               start in extended mode. Default OFF
-p port          start server on port 'port'. Default 40000
-i ip            bind server only to ip 'ip'. Default all ip's
-m 1,2           allow modification of database files. Default off
                 1 = only allow to add data
                 2 = allow to modify and add data

At the moment please do not use the servermode because it is not stable!

So, please use only the switches: -d -e 

Required Software:
ncurses 5.x, OSS (Open Sound System) new version (or one version which allow
direct DMA access), libc6

IMPORTANT: At the moment i open the sounddevice for read&write access. 
I hope the next version runs with read access only :) (I like to hear music)

After you start acarsd you'll see the main screen. The footer (6 lines)
contains informations about the software. 
In the first line you see the Volume Level. I have best result when i set
the volume to 5/6

All contacts without parity errors are logged to a textfile (acarsd-YYYYMMDD.log)
which rotate automatically at midnight.

Example from the text logfile:
----------------------------------------------------------[ 01/04/2003 10:08 ]-
ACARS Mode: O  Aircraft Registration:.VP-BAH
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-400
Message Label: 5U Block ID:   Message Number: M65A
Flight Number: SU0281
Operator: Aeroflot
Message Content: -
01 WXRQ   0281/01 UUEE/LIRF .VP-BAH 
/TYP 1/STA LIRF/STA     /STA 

Also all contacts are logged to a binary database (acarsd.db) for use in enhanced
mode and for reports. 
If the software is in beta or release state i will provide the structure of the
binary database and/or a simple C API to access data.
In the binary database all contacts are logged if day, month, year, reg or
flightnumber are different. So 2 or more contacts with the same aircraft under
the same flightnumber are not logged at the same day!

If you run acarsd in extended mode (switch: -e) then you'll see the following:

Example output of extended mode:
----------------------------------------------------------[ 01/04/2003 10:23 ]-
ACARS Mode: E  Aircraft Registration:.D-AIAR
Aircraft Type: Airbus A300
Message Label: 1L Block ID: 7  Message Number: M67A
Flight Number: LH3422
Operator: Lufthansa
Message Content: -
0033021470521+9666

3 contacts with this aircraft. First contact: 31/03/2003 22:52 as flight LH3400

----------------------------
Screen Messages:
----------------------------

Preample '*<SYN><SYN><SOH>' error
	 The default header could not be detected.

If a message has parity errors but it is nearly complete it will be print
to screen but NOT LOGGED!

-[ Bugs, wishes etc. ]-----------
Please send Bugs or wishes to acars@planespotting.net

Ok. wish you HAPPY SCANNING.
