← SquitterPro

Help & Setup Guide

Everything you need to get SquitterPro running. Most of the app is explained by the built-in tour (About → Replay tutorial). This page covers setup and the technical extras.
Install & first run Connect a receiver No receiver? Going Pro & activation ACARS cockpit messages AI “Explain” Troubleshooting

Install & first run

  1. Download SquitterPro-Setup.exe from the latest release and run it.
  2. The first time you run an app downloaded from the internet, Windows may show “Windows protected your PC.” Click More info → Run anyway. (See the note below.)
  3. On first launch you’ll accept the license agreement and get a short guided tour. You can replay the tour any time from About.
  4. SquitterPro runs in free mode right away: live map, logbook, photos, your own receiver, and station stats. Pro features unlock with a license key (see Going Pro).
SmartScreen warning: the installer isn’t code-signed yet, so Windows shows a blue warning the first time. This is normal for small independent apps. Click More info → Run anyway. The app makes no changes outside your own user folder.

Connect a receiver

SquitterPro reads live aircraft from an ADS-B receiver on your network. Open ⚙ Setup → Receiver / connection, pick your type, enter its address, and Save. If you don’t know the IP, click Scan to find it automatically.

If your receiver’s IP changes after a power outage or router reboot, just open Setup → Receiver and Scan again.

No receiver? Use the public feed

You don’t need any hardware to use SquitterPro. Turn on Public Feed (top bar) to blend in free community traffic from adsb.lol / adsb.fi / airplanes.live around your location. First, set where you are: ⚙ Setup → Set home location — type coordinates or drop a pin on the map. Public-feed aircraft are display-only and don’t count toward your own receiver’s logbook or stats.

Going Pro & activation

Pro unlocks weather radar, area weather, coverage map & range records, type trends, the 2.5D altitude view, and ACARS cockpit messages. It’s a one-time license.

Activate

  1. Buy a license, and you’ll receive a license key by email.
  2. In SquitterPro click ★ Pro (top bar), paste your key, and click Activate.
  3. That’s it. Pro features unlock immediately. Your key is remembered.

Moving to a new computer?

Each license works on a limited number of devices. To free a slot before switching machines, open ★ Pro → Remove license on the old computer, then activate on the new one. A reinstall on the same computer does not use up a slot.

“Activation limit reached”?

You’ve activated on the maximum number of devices for that key. Remove the license from a device you no longer use (above), or get in touch and we’ll help.

ACARS cockpit messages Pro

ACARS/VDL2/HFDL are the short text messages aircraft exchange with the ground: gate info, weather, position reports, and occasionally emergencies. SquitterPro can show them two ways, and you can use either or both. Open ⚙ Setup → Cockpit messages (ACARS) and choose a Source.

Option A — airframes.io (easiest)

  1. Make a free account at airframes.io and copy your API key.
  2. In Setup → Cockpit messages, set Source to airframes.io (or Both), paste the key, and Save.

Data is provided by Airframes.io and its community of feeders.

Option B — your own decoders (local)

If you run your own SDR decoders, point their JSON output at SquitterPro over UDP. Set Source to Local (or Both); the default port is 5555. Examples (replace the device/frequency arguments for your setup):

# VHF ACARS (acarsdec)
acarsdec -o 0 -j 127.0.0.1:5555 <your device/frequency args>

# VDL Mode 2 (dumpvdl2)
dumpvdl2 --output decoded:json:udp:address=127.0.0.1,port=5555 <args>

# HFDL (dumphfdl)
dumphfdl --output decoded:json:udp:address=127.0.0.1,port=5555 <args>
If the decoder runs on another machine, use SquitterPro’s IP instead of 127.0.0.1 and make sure UDP 5555 is allowed through the firewall.

Copy a message

Every message has a Copy link, handy for pasting into a search engine or another AI tool.

Reading messages

AI “Explain” Optional

Some ACARS messages are just letters and numbers (airline-proprietary or engine/maintenance reports). SquitterPro can send a single message to an AI of your choice and get a plain-English explanation back. Nothing is sent unless you click Explain on a message.

Set it up in Setup → Cockpit messages → Explain messages with AI. Pick a provider and paste a key from your own account:

Leave the model blank to use a fast, low-cost default. You pay your provider directly for what you use; explanations typically cost a fraction of a cent each.

Troubleshooting

“Windows protected your PC” when I run the installer

Expected for an unsigned app. Click More info → Run anyway. SquitterPro is safe and only writes to your own user folder.

No aircraft on the map

Either your receiver isn’t reachable, or you have no receiver. Check ⚙ Setup → Receiver (and Scan), or turn on Public Feed and set your home location.

“Receiver offline” / it can’t find my receiver

Confirm the receiver is powered on and on the same network, then Setup → Receiver → Scan. If its IP changed, the scan will find the new one. Check that your firewall isn’t blocking the app.

The map looks blank or tiles won’t load

Check your internet connection. Advanced users can set their own map key in ⚙ Setup → Map tiles.

ACARS shows nothing

Make sure a Source is selected (Setup → Cockpit messages) and that your airframes.io key is valid or your local decoder is sending to UDP 5555. The global feed can also be briefly unavailable on the provider’s side; it reconnects automatically.

AI “Explain” says it isn’t set up

Add a provider and API key in Setup → Cockpit messages → Explain messages with AI.

Where is my data stored?

Everything stays on your PC under %LOCALAPPDATA%\SquitterPro: logbook, settings, cached photos, and your license. Deleting that folder resets the app.

Still stuck? Email SquitterPro@proton.me or use About → Report a problem in the app.