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I am currently using dumpvdl2 with an RTL-SDR to receive VDL2 ACARS messages in Germany.

Setup:

Antenna placed on top of a roof. no obstacles

My current command looks like this:

dumpvdl2 --rtlsdr "00000007" \
         --centerfreq 136.975M 136.955M 136.725M \
         --gain 40 \
         --output decoded:json:file:path=/var/log/acars/vdl2.jsonl,rotate=hourly

I would like to know if this setup is suitable for receiving VDL2 ACARS traffic in the Germany region, or if there are improvements I could make.

I'm receiving data, but I'm not sure if its the optimal way to receive as many as possible.

Are the center frequencies I am using optimal for German VHF ACARS coverage?

Is the gain setting of 40 appropriate, or could it be adjusted for better reception?

Are there any other RTL-SDR or dumpvdl2 parameters that could improve reliability or decoding rate?

Any advice or best practices for setting up dumpvdl2 for Germany would be highly appreciated.

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  • $\begingroup$ Hi Tobias, this question is not about amateur radio or the technology of radio, within the scope defined in the help center; ACARS is not an amateur mode, and the commercial airflight bands do not fall under amateur radio provisions. You might want to ask this over at the aviation sister site. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 28, 2025 at 23:53
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    $\begingroup$ I do get what you are saying @MarcusMüller.. I've often wondered whether our scope is a bit narrow. Many licensed amateurs I know are fascinated by and spend a great deal of time listening to and searching for non-ham radio signals, including ADS-B and similar. I wonder if it's worth raising in meta. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 30, 2025 at 22:43
  • $\begingroup$ @DavidHoelzer hm, I'd also agree this is sensible to discuss in general! $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 31, 2025 at 11:24

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