A new open-source project has enabled the venerable Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to function as a live air traffic visualiser. The “NES Radar” project turns the classic console into a flight tracker, displaying real-time aircraft movements on a television screen, according to Hackaday.
How the NES Radar System Works
Instead of relying on internal radio hardware, the system uses a standard NES ROM cartridge and a specially constructed cable. This cable connects the console’s second controller port, repurposed as a serial port, to a nearby computer. A Python script running on the computer fetches aircraft position data, which is then sent to the NES at 9600 baud, as detailed by Hackaday. This approach leverages readily available ADS-B data and free APIs, allowing for real-time tracking, as reported by XDA-Developers.
Visualising Air Traffic
Users input a four-letter International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code for any airport, such as KATL for Atlanta or KLAX for Los Angeles, using the NES controller. Aircraft currently flying near that airport then appear as moving targets on the TV screen. However, the system is limited to displaying eight sprites, meaning very busy airports may not show all traffic, notes Hackaday. The project is open-source and available on GitHub, allowing enthusiasts to build their own.
Project Background and Creator
The NES Radar project was created by [k6lcm] and is open-source under the GPL license. It builds upon a similar concept, c64u-radar, which enabled flight tracking on a Commodore 64 using its LAN port, as reported by Hackaday. This ingenuity allows the NES, which lacks native internet connectivity, to effectively “piggyback” off a modern computer to receive data from the World Wide Web, according to XDA-Developers. A snippet from Adafruit also highlights the project’s ability to provide live ADS-B air traffic radar for the original Nintendo Entertainment System.
Implications for Manchester Readers
For those in Manchester and Greater Manchester with an old NES, this project offers a unique way to track flights around Manchester Airport. Typing in its ICAO code could allow users to observe local approach traffic lining up in real-time on their TV, turning a classic gaming console into a surprisingly functional, albeit niche, air traffic scope.