ACARS
Category A&B (SITA)
(according to ARINC 597-5)
2400 bps PSK packet-like system used by Civilian Aircraft for onboard flight-deck computer interconnections into ground stations. A typical ACARS Message Block Format (counted in bits) is made up as follows,
| 128 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 56 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 48 | 8 | 128 | 8 | |
| pre-key | bit sync | char sync | SOH | mode | address | ack/nak | label | block ID | STX | Seq No. | Flight No. | Text | ETX | CRC | BCS |
| pre-key | A maximum of 128 bits is transmitted to allow for the transmitter to key. If the transmitter keys up and settles on frequency quickly, it is possible to see most of the 128 bits, if the transmitter is slow then much less than 128 bits is seen. The received signals therefore does not always contain all 128 bits during this pre-key sequence. The sequence is also designed to compensate for variable response times of receiver squelches and AGC settling times. At 2400bps, 128 bits equates to about a 20th of a second (53.333mS to be precise). |
| bit sync | 16 bits of alternate bits to allow the decoder to lock into the bit speed. |
| char sync | 2 bytes with a unique bit pattern allows the decoder to precisely character syncronise to the following 8 bit bytes. |
| SOH | Start of header marker byte. |
| mode | Type of transmission. (AGCS-1, AGCS-D etc). |
| address | Aircraft Registration number. Filled with a special sequence if a squitter burst. |
| ack/nak | Acknowledged/Not acknowledged. Advises other station if a re-send is necessary. |
| label | Label identifies type of message being sent. Usually a letter and a number. See labels table. |
| block ID | Single byte which increments on each successful transmission. |
| STX | If STX present, then text message follows. |
| Seq. No. | Message sequence number. Usually made from the current time (minutes/seconds). Only transmitted in downlink data blocks. |
| Flight No. | Aircraft carriers international flight number. Only transmitted in downlink data blocks. |
| Text | The text message itself. Just as with AX25 packet, the actual length is variable but limited to a maximum of 220 characters. |
| ETX | End of text marker. If ETB is transmitted instead then more text follows in a subsequent data packet. |
| CRC | Checksum. |
| BCS | End of packet block marker byte. |
Typical frequency for Europe is 131.725 MHz.
Click here for a small example of some typical ACARS data bursts (22k)
For more information on ACARS also take a look at the following sites,
http://www.arinc.com/Products_Services/acars.html
http://www.grove.net/~acarsweb/index.html
http://www.sita.int/index.html
http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/Hans.Wildschut/acars.htm