Decoders
VOR and ILS
Read aviation navigation signals on 108 to 118 MHz: the radial of a VOR and the needle of an ILS.
On this page
What it does #
A VOR is a ground station that tells an aircraft its direction from the station. An ILS helps it line up with a runway. The decoder shows what the signal says. It is for listening and learning, not for navigation.
Where to find it #
On Home, tune 108 to 118 MHz in the AM mode. A card appears under the spectrum. An ILS glideslope is on 329 to 335 MHz.
What the card shows #
| Part | What it says |
|---|---|
| Radial (VOR) | A compass with the direction from the station to your antenna, north up, and the course to fly to reach the station. |
| Ident | The Morse name of the station. |
| Station | Its name, from the offline list the app keeps, with the distance and the radial expected where you are. This needs your antenna location (see Settings). |
| Signal quality | How well the 30 Hz signal is received. |
| Needle (ILS) | A needle that shows whether to fly left or right, with the advice in words. |
The card always says "Not for navigation". Before the signal is locked it says it is listening for the 30 Hz signals (VOR) or the 90 Hz and 150 Hz tones (ILS).
Limits #
- The ident is Morse sent about every 10 seconds, so give it time.