STARS Command Question

[TowerGuy17]

Hello fellow controllers,
I was curious if there was a STARS keyboard command for the follow:

I’d like to show the ADS-B callsigns / registration numbers for all VFR (1200) targets in my area. Currently the only way to see them is if I do a quick look (slew) on them. It will disappear after a few seconds. I’m new to my facility (VFR Tower) and this would be helpful to not only me but some of the veteran controllers. I know I could just initiate control on the target, but that will just irritate my Tracon personnel in the long run. I really wanted to see if I could just make visible the data blocks in another way.

Thanks in advance
TowerGuy17

 

[Atcbrownie]

Hello fellow controllers,
I was curious if there was a STARS keyboard command for the follow:

I’d like to show the ADS-B callsigns / registration numbers for all VFR (1200) targets in my area. Currently the only way to see them is if I do a quick look (slew) on them. It will disappear after a few seconds. I’m new to my facility (VFR Tower) and this would be helpful to not only me but some of the veteran controllers. I know I could just initiate control on the target, but that will just irritate my Tracon personnel in the long run. I really wanted to see if I could just make visible the data blocks in another way.

Thanks in advance
TowerGuy17

Try multi-func B enter. If I remember correctly that should display all beacon codes and adsb. Not at work so I can't try it.

AW

 

[TowerGuy17]

Thanks I will give it a try on Monday. And would it be the same to hide them again?

 

[Atcbrownie]

Yes, it's a toggle

 

[MossimoDM]

The very top left key, which is blank, you can hold that down. When you have it held down it will show ADSB and squawk code while you hold it down. It might have to be programed, because the tower I currently work at not every stars keyboard works with that function.

 

[TowerGuy17]

Yes, it's a toggle

Great I’ll give it a try, thanks

The very top left key, which is blank, you can hold that down. When you have it held down it will show ADSB and squawk code while you hold it down. It might have to be programed, because the tower I currently work at not every stars keyboard works with that function.

Interesting, I’ll try this as well. Thanks

 

[flypilot]

Im at work and I tried the multi func b enter and it does work but it also shows everything for every single target including people in the flight levels.

I just use the top left blank key whenever I wanna see the ADSB of someone

 

[Termine]

I’d like to show the ADS-B callsigns / registration numbers for all VFR (1200) targets in my area

Try what others have suggested, they will work, just remember that it's for situational awareness only. You still need to apply one of the approved radar identification methods before you provide radar services.

because the tower I currently work at not every stars keyboard works with that function.

In my experience if you have a "main" keyboard and an "accessory" keyboard connected to the same STARS display, the beaconator will only work on the main keyboard.

 

[DADDYSbabyBIRD]

There is no keyboard command to get it to act in the exact way you would like. That functionality cannot be turned on and off per scope. However, you can have it turned on for everyone all the time. That change will have to be agreed upon between local natca and your management and then tech ops will have to make the change. You will see all the 1200 tags as their ads-b names still with altitude and speed. IFR/Descreet code VFR tags will be as they always are. I'm actually surprised all VFR towers don't have it set this way. I know some of the old timers have trouble with change and some people find the call signs as more clutter.

 

[TowerGuy17]

Thank you to everyone so far replying. For the short time I’ve been in this tower, I’ve observed that the staff seems to sometimes miss the callsigns on initial contact. So having the VFR ADS-B would be helpful for this and avoid the “Calling tower say again” transmission. We are VFR tower so the use of the stars is really for situational awareness. We don’t get a lot of traffic other than on a Sunday for breakfast. lol

I think the multi-function B will probably be turned on and see how that does for us. If it gets to be too cluttered we will shut it off and use the suggested Blank key hold.

Thanks again everyone.

Im at work and I tried the multi func b enter and it does work but it also shows everything for every single target including people in the flight levels.

I just use the top left blank key whenever I wanna see the ADSB of someone

Thank you for taking the time to try it out.

 

[Homsar]

I'm actually surprised all VFR towers don't have it set this way. I know some of the old timers have trouble with change and some people find the call signs as more clutter.

One of the busiest VFR towers in the country does not have it always set this way, and it has nothing to do with “old timers.” You could barely make out anything on the screen with 25+ A/C in the airspace with it on.

 

[TowerGuy17]

One of the busiest VFR towers in the country does not have it always set this way, and it has nothing to do with “old timers.” You could barely make out anything on the screen with 25+ A/C in the airspace with it on.

Yeah I’d imagine if there is a lot of traffic it could be filled with unnecessary clutter. So I would think it would have to be used sparingly in those busier areas, and not worth it. In my application though when my daily ops (other than a Sunday), I maybe have 30-45 operations in a day.

I have since discussed with some of the other controllers since posting this question. They are all looking forward to exploring if this function (multi-function B) will help us all out. So we shall see how it goes starting with the morning shift.

 

[DADDYSbabyBIRD]

One of the busiest VFR towers in the country does not have it always set this way, and it has nothing to do with “old timers.” You could barely make out anything on the screen with 25+ A/C in the airspace with it on.

What facility would this be if you don't mind me asking? Did they actually try it out?

 

[CF]

What facility would this be if you don't mind me asking? Did they actually try it out?

I work at one of the busiest VFR towers in the country and when it’s busy having it on doesn’t work. It’s nice to turn on when you only have a couple in the pattern so you can just work the traffic from the scope but when it’s really busy the scope becomes unusable if they are all showing call signs.

 

[TowerGuy17]

UPDATE:

Ok so the multifunction B did in fact work on our STARS. The “blank” button keypress did NOT however. Seems to do nothing in our case.

Upon doing the Multifunction B command it did reveal the beacon code on line 1, followed by altitude and speed alternating with type and scratch pad on line 2, and finally ADSB Registration number on line 3.

After leaving this in place for a good portion of my shift, there were a few times where I could see how this would become a cluttered situation for most. So I dove a little deeper. Personally thinking, if the beacon code line (line 1 in this case) was omitted, the clutter would dramatically decrease. Since the remaining 2 lines and the fact that line 2 is in an alternating state. It doesn’t seem to clutter as much and allow for better situational awareness.

So next question. Is there a way to implement this multifunction B command and then also remove the beacon code line? I tried MF BE Enter but didn’t work

Thanks again everyone for your help and patience on this.

 

[Atcbrownie]

There isn't currently a way to do what you are asking however, your facility can make a request through your OSF for an enhancement to STARS. I work with a guy who can help make this happen for you. What facility are you at?

AW

 

[KP-ATC]

UPDATE:

Ok so the multifunction B did in fact work on our STARS. The “blank” button keypress did NOT however. Seems to do nothing in our case.

Upon doing the Multifunction B command it did reveal the beacon code on line 1, followed by altitude and speed alternating with type and scratch pad on line 2, and finally ADSB Registration number on line 3.

After leaving this in place for a good portion of my shift, there were a few times where I could see how this would become a cluttered situation for most. So I dove a little deeper. Personally thinking, if the beacon code line (line 1 in this case) was omitted, the clutter would dramatically decrease. Since the remaining 2 lines and the fact that line 2 is in an alternating state. It doesn’t seem to clutter as much and allow for better situational awareness.

So next question. Is there a way to implement this multifunction B command and then also remove the beacon code line? I tried MF BE Enter but didn’t work

Thanks again everyone for your help and patience on this.

You are only getting the type if it is entered into someone's full data block. The tags you described will not look the same for a 1200 code.

 

[TowerGuy17]

You are only getting the type if it is entered into someone's full data block. The tags you described will not look the same for a 1200 code.

interesting. The aircraft must be then interacting with another facility then at some point then, Since I was in fact getting type in the data block.

There isn't currently a way to do what you are asking however, your facility can make a request through your OSF for an enhancement to STARS. I work with a guy who can help make this happen for you. What facility are you at?

AW

I am at KFOK. I will talk to our rep on the field who monitors the STARS for us. Thank you

 

[KP-ATC]

interesting. The aircraft must be then interacting with another facility then at some point then, Since I was in fact getting type in the data block.


I am at KFOK. I will talk to our rep on the field who monitors the STARS for us. Thank you

You guys were a total C-F a couple years ago. I flew a bunch of charter flights in there during the apocalypse.

 

[TowerGuy17]

You guys were a total C-F a couple years ago. I flew a bunch of charter flights in there during the apocalypse.

Yes still are a C-F.