OnAirDecode SBAS with an SDR
SBAS: the correction messages of the geostationary augmentation satellites.
- In the mode list
- WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, 1575 MHz
What SBAS is
SBAS L1 augmentation satellites (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, SDCM, BDSBAS) on 1575.42 MHz: found and tracked without a GPS lock first, every message decoded with its CRC (PRN mask, fast corrections and UDRE, ionospheric grid, GEO navigation message, time offset, almanac). Receive only: the corrections are shown, not applied. Needs an active antenna.
Frequencies and settings
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 WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, 1575 MHz.
What OnAir shows
SBAS L1 augmentation satellites (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, SDCM, BDSBAS) on 1575.42 MHz: found and tracked without a GPS lock first, every message decoded with its CRC (PRN mask, fast corrections and UDRE, ionospheric grid, GEO navigation message, time offset, almanac). Receive only: the corrections are shown, not applied. Needs an active antenna.
Limits and what it was checked with
Checked with generated signals and impairments; recordings of real signals welcome.
Which radio you need
This mode sits at a high frequency, so check that your radio tunes it: a HackRF covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz, and RTL-SDR stops near 1.7 GHz. Some modes at these frequencies also need a fast radio (10 to 20 Msps) or a dish and an LNB.
Receiving and the law
Questions about SBAS
Can I decode SBAS with an RTL-SDR?
Probably not: an RTL-SDR tunes up to about 1.7 GHz. A HackRF (1 MHz to 6 GHz) or another wideband radio is the usual choice for this frequency range.
Is it legal to receive SBAS?
Receiving satellite downlinks is generally legal. Encrypted or spread content is not decoded, and voice codecs that are patented are not shipped with OnAir.
Can I try SBAS 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.