Scope Differences

jarhead0863 Trusted Member Grand Forks, ND

For those of you that have worked with a lot of the different scopes out there, can you provide some information about the differences between some of them? I know that in centers they only use the DSR equipment, but what in the tracons mainly. I know some use ARTS and STARS. What are the differences between ACD, ARTS-3A, ARTS-3E, and ARTS-2? Thanks.

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

ARTS IIA, IIE, IIIA scopes are round and you have one color "GREEN"

STARS, and ARTS IIIE, has the newer ACD's that are 21" square monitors with full COLOR capabilities. The best part is that the newer ACD's are easier on the eyes, have sharper aphanumerics, and are all around way better.

Radarluv Old Guy

ARTS-2, that takes me back. No ground speed info on the tags make sequencing a bit of a challenge!

DairyCreamer Senior Member Elsewhere

I thought STARS and ACD were two entirely separate systems? STARS being a complete system, and ACD just being a replacement display system for the largest TRACONs still running ARTS IIIe?

~Nate

Dale Senior Member Uniondale, Indiana

You are correct. The common piece is that both STARS and ACD use the Sony 2K monitor as the final color display. All the electronics behind the Sony are different.

The original display for DSR was also the Sony 2K but has since been upgraded to flat panels.

The reason the Sony was used so much was that the FAA bought a lot of them under the failed AAS contract, and wanted to recoup some of the lost money. Because of problems associated with long storage, older technology, and falling prices on flat panels; I'm not convinced they were successful saving the money.

Hopefully, STARS and ACD will get flat panel displays in the near future. Should have already happened to my mind.

Dale Senior Member Uniondale, Indiana

The ARTS IIA's have all been upgraded to ARTS IIE's long ago. Both A's and E's use the same display, and the color may be either green or yellow dependent upon the manufacturer of the CRT put into the display.

ARTS IIIA's have all been replaced by STARS, and are no longer in the inventory.

ARTS IIIE's may have any of 3 differrent displays, the ACD being one of them. ACD's were deployed to only some of the ARTS IIIE facilities. The rest still have round, green/yellow, monochrome displays.

.

DairyCreamer Senior Member Elsewhere

Those displays are known as FDAD, Full Digital ARTS Display. I know D01 got rid of em within the last year or two, replaced by ACD. C90 uses ACD.

Are there really any facilities still using those?

~Nate

planetalkerkp Junior Member Alabama

DOD is converting STARS to BARCO flat panels soon. Actually the Army has already changed its STARS facilities to BARCO flat panels already.

Howard2128 Newcomer Temecula, CA

March Arb DOD just got there Stars! plus has the oldest tower in the Airforce. A Piece of Crap!

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Worked with the OD-58/T while in the Navy. Nice orange display, no keyboard, good times. Use that with the TPX-42, I was unstoppable!!!!