OnAirDecode eLoran / Loran-C (WIP) with an SDR
ELoran / Loran-C: 100 kHz hyperbolic navigation pulses, GRI and station arrival times (work in progress).
- Group
- Aviation
- In the mode list
- Loran-C, 100 kHz
What eLoran / Loran-C (WIP) is
Loran-C at 100 kHz: the group repetition interval, the master and secondary stations with their arrival times relative to the master, level and phase code. Work in progress; the eLoran data channel is not decoded. Receive only, needs a radio or downconverter that tunes to 100 kHz at 250 ksps or more.
Frequencies and settings
Morse code on the HF bands.
OnAir takes any frequency you type; the numbers above are the mode's starting point and the range its table describes. In the app the shortcut label is Loran-C, 100 kHz.
What OnAir shows
Every CW signal in a 14 kHz window at once: speed, SNR and text, callsigns highlighted.
Limits and what it was checked with
Checked with generated signals and impairments; recordings of real signals welcome.
Which radio you need
This is a shortwave mode, so the radio has to tune HF. An SDRplay, Airspy HF+ or an RTL-SDR in direct-sampling mode do that directly; with a HackRF an HF upconverter or a direct-sampling receiver is the usual route. A long wire or loop antenna matters more than the radio.
Receiving and the law
Questions about eLoran / Loran-C (WIP)
Can I decode eLoran / Loran-C (WIP) with an RTL-SDR?
An RTL-SDR can receive HF only in direct-sampling mode, which OnAir offers in its radio settings; results depend on the antenna. SDRplay and Airspy HF+ radios are better suited.
Is it legal to receive eLoran / Loran-C (WIP)?
Receiving aircraft broadcasts is legal in many countries, but some restrict listening to or using what you hear. OnAir is a receiver. Check the rules where you live.
Can I try eLoran / Loran-C (WIP) in OnAir without a radio?
Yes. Most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls before you own a radio.