MagicMirror² Module: Flight Tracker

MMM-FlightTracker is a module for MagicMirror² that displays real-time information about nearby aircraft using ADS-B data.

This fork has been modernized with:

• tar1090 integration for richer aircraft data (recommended)
• Flight route lookup via adsb.lol API
• Streamlined dependencies (removed RTL-SDR support, network-only mode)
• Zero CVE vulnerabilities

Features

• Display aircraft callsign, airline, type, altitude, speed, heading
• Show flight routes (origin-destination) when available
• Support for tar1090/readsb JSON API or legacy SBS1 TCP stream
• Distance and bearing from your location
• Configurable units (metric/imperial/knots)
• Sort by distance, altitude, speed, or age

Installation

Clone this module into your MagicMirror's modules directory:

cd ~/MagicMirror/modules
git clone https://github.com/ericjohncarlson/MMM-FlightTracker
cd MMM-FlightTracker
npm install

Configuration

Add the module to your config/config.js:

tar1090 Mode (Recommended)

Use this mode if you have tar1090, readsb, or adsb-ultrafeeder running. This provides the richest data including full aircraft descriptions and pre-calculated distances.

{
    module: 'MMM-FlightTracker',
    header: 'Nearby Aircraft',
    position: 'top_right',
    config: {
        client: {
            mode: 'tar1090',
            host: '192.168.1.100',  // Your tar1090/readsb host
            port: 8080,             // Web interface port
            enableRoutes: true      // Lookup flight routes via adsb.lol
        },
        interval: 5,
        altitudeUnits: 'imperial',
        speedUnits: 'knots',
        orderBy: 'distance:asc',
        limit: 8,
        showAirline: true,
        showType: true,
        showSpeed: true,
        showAltitude: true,
        showHeading: true,
        showRoute: true
    }
}

Network/SBS1 Mode (Legacy)

Use this mode to connect to a dump1090 SBS1 stream on port 30003:

{
    module: 'MMM-FlightTracker',
    header: 'Nearby Aircraft',
    position: 'top_right',
    config: {
        client: {
            mode: 'network',
            host: '192.168.1.100',
            port: 30003
        },
        latLng: [40.4406, -79.9959],  // Required for distance calculation
        interval: 5,
        altitudeUnits: 'imperial',
        speedUnits: 'knots',
        orderBy: 'distance:asc',
        limit: 8
    }
}

Configuration Options

Option	Description	Default
interval	Polling interval in seconds	1
animationSpeed	Animation speed in milliseconds	1000
passingByThreshold	Altitude threshold (ft) to separate "nearby" vs "passing" planes. Set to -1 to disable.	-1
latLng	Your coordinates [lat, lng] for distance calculation (required for network mode, optional for tar1090)	[]
orderBy	Sort order: distance:asc, altitude:desc, speed:asc, age:asc, etc.	undefined
limit	Maximum number of aircraft to display	-1 (all)
altitudeUnits	metric (meters) or imperial (feet)	Global config
speedUnits	metric (km/h), imperial (mph), or knots	Global config
showAirline	Show airline/operator name	true
showType	Show aircraft type code (e.g., B738, A320)	true
showSpeed	Show ground speed	true
showAltitude	Show altitude with climb/descent indicator	true
showHeading	Show cardinal direction (N, NE, E, etc.)	true
showRoute	Show flight route if available (e.g., DFW-PHL)	true

Client Options

Option	Description	Default
mode	tar1090 or network	network
host	Hostname or IP of your ADS-B receiver	Required
port	Port number (8080 for tar1090, 30003 for SBS1)	Required
enableRoutes	Enable route lookup via adsb.lol API (tar1090 mode only)	true

Display Format

SWA1098 / SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO · B38M (DFW-PHL)
500 knots  ↑ 31000 ft  NE  60.4 nm

• Line 1: Callsign / Airline (max 25 chars) · Aircraft Type (Route)
• Line 2: Speed, Altitude (↑ climbing, ↓ descending, → level), Heading, Distance

Data Sources

tar1090 Mode

• Aircraft data: Local tar1090 JSON API (/data/aircraft.json)
• Includes: registration, aircraft type, operator, pre-calculated distance
• Route data: adsb.lol API (cached per callsign)

Network Mode

• Aircraft data: SBS1 BaseStation format over TCP
• Enriched with local CSV databases (airlines, aircraft types)
• Distance calculated using Haversine formula

Credits

• Original module by Thomas Bouron
• Modernized fork by Eric Carlson
• Route data from adsb.lol and VRS standing-data

License

Apache-2.0