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Author Topic: Sorcerer decoding of HFDL  (Read 10580 times)

Offline dumbo

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Sorcerer decoding of HFDL
« on: February 18, 2015, 0847 UTC »
Am I the only one who thinks sorcerer ARINC/HFDL decoding is exactly like PC-HFDL decoding?
And is there anyone with information on setting up the missing two tables for Sorcerer ARINC/HFDL decoder? The web accessible N0SYA PDF sorcerer document doesn't have much detail on this.
Thanks

Offline WilliamTR

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Re: Sorcerer decoding of HFDL
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2016, 2118 UTC »
There is an article at the following website that explains how to
edit the registry to include the ground stations for HFDL
AIRINC 635 decoder under PSK in sorcerer-v1.0.1.exe downloaded from
http://www.radioaficion.com/HamNews/archivo/vagabundos-deldial/5814-sorcerer-decoder.html
http://hikeofyourlife.blogspot.com/2015/02/how-to-display-correct-hfdl-ground.html

I downloaded the pchfdl.dat that is found at
http://www.ominous-valve.com/pchfdl.dat
which is a link listed on
http://mt-utility.blogspot.com/2007/03/updating-pc-hfdl-for-new-system-tables.html
Putting the file in the same directory with sorcerer-v1.0.1.exe
and renaming it to hfdl.dat worked.
However, using downloads of other versions of the pchfdl.dat file did not work.

This was received on 11387 USB on 03/04/2016
Preamble 300  bps 1.8 sec Interleaver FREQ ERR -5.566004 Hz Errors 5
 20:23:30 UTC RIVERHEAD - NEW YORK  DB = 49  SV = 0  GS UP LIGHT  OFFSET 1
RIVERHEAD - NEW YORK UTC LOCKED Active freqs    21931 KHz    11387 KHz
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA UTC LOCKED Active freqs     8834 KHz     4681 KHz
BARROW - ALASKA UTC LOCKED Active freqs    10093 KHz     5544 KHz

Offline Josh

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Re: Sorcerer decoding of HFDL
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2016, 2316 UTC »
I'm not sure, but don't the apps update the hfdl.dat after they receive x number of messages, as the aircraft themselves do? Something like 6 "SYSTEM TABLE" preambles from a ground station is required before they build a new table. Just a guess.
We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.

Offline WilliamTR

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Re: Sorcerer decoding of HFDL
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2016, 0056 UTC »
Here is an analysis of the contents of the pchfdl.dat file.
Using HxD Hexeditor version 1.7.7.0 freeware https://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/
the first 16 bytes of the pchfdl.dat file for system table 49 are
05 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 31 00 00 00 0F 00 00 00
 31 hexadecimal = 49 decimal

This is followed by the information for ground station 1
01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A5 96 0A 00 AE B4 01 00
08 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 AF 4E 01 04 00 00 00
18 6C 11 01 0C 00 00 00 60 93 CA 00 08 00 00 00
18 D6 AC 00 04 00 00 00 E8 D2 99 00 04 00 00 00
18 37 88 00 0C 00 00 00 18 15 64 00 08 00 00 00
A0 0B 54 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

The 01 is for ground station 1
The bytes A5 96 0A are LSB.MSB for the ground station longitude.
The bytes AE B4 01 are LSB.MSB for the ground station latitude.
 These are 20-bit signed integers using two's complement notation
 with 180 degrees equal to 7FFFF (524287 01111111111111111111)
 and with North and East as positive numbers.
 If bit 20 is a 1 then the number is negative
 and in two's complement notation.
 0A96A5 = 693925 = 10101001011010100101
 Two's complement  01010110100101011011 = -05695B = -354651
 -354651 * 180/524287 = -121.76    121 45' 34"  W = -121.76 degrees
 01B4AE = 111790 = 00011011010010101110
 111790 * 180/524287 = 38.38    38 22' 48" N = 38.38 degrees
The 08 denotes 8 frequencies.
The bytes B0 AF 4E 01 04 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 04 for Slot 4
 014EAFB0 = 21934000
The bytes 18 6C 11 01 0C are LSB..MSB for frequency and 0C for Slot 12
 01116C18 = 17919000
The bytes 60 93 CA 00 08 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 08 for Slot 8
 00CA9360 = 13276000
The bytes 18 D6 AC 00 04 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 04 for Slot 4
 00ACD618 = 11327000
The bytes E8 D2 99 00 04 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 04 for Slot 4
 0099D2E8 = 10081000
The bytes 18 37 88 00 0C are LSB..MSB for frequency and 0C for Slot 12
 00883718 = 8927000
The bytes 18 15 64 00 08 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 08 for Slot 8
 00641518 = 6559000
The bytes A0 0B 54 00 04 are LSB..MSB for frequency and 04 for Slot 4
 00540BA0 = 5508000

Ground Station ID 1 SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA
Longitude 121 45 34  W  Latitude 38 22 48  N
Number of frequencies 8
Frequency 21934000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 17919000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 13276000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 11327000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 10081000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4
Frequency 8927000 Hz Master Frame Slot 12
Frequency 6559000 Hz Master Frame Slot 8
Frequency 5508000 Hz Master Frame Slot 4

Some additional detailed technical information for the HF data link (HFDL) system
 can be found at the following website.
http://www.icao.int/safety/acp/inactive%20working%20groups%20library/amcp%205/item-1c.pdf

Two's Complement to Decimal converter can be found at
http://www.exploringbinary.com/twos-complement-converter/
http://www.convertforfree.com/twos-complement-calculator/
http://www.hobbyprojects.com/calculators/binary_decimal_hex_converter.html

Offline Josh

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Re: Sorcerer decoding of HFDL
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2016, 1924 UTC »
Will have to delete the .dat and let it run hfdl for a few hours and see if it rebuilds the file with the current db.
We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.