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Guide Message database
adswill edited this page Oct 18, 2026
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View > Messages opens one searchable store of everything the decoders heard: ADS-B, ACARS, VDL2, HFDL, pagers, AIS, APRS, radiosondes, LoRa, BLE, drone ID and DSC.
It is a SQLite file, <data folder>/messages/messages.db, with full-text search (words are ANDed, word* is a prefix), filters for mode, identity, time range and
"with position", and a timeline (newest first, 300 per page).
- Export: CSV, JSON (with every decoded field) or ADIF (APRS stations with a call sign) of everything the current filters match.
- Retention: Storage section. Most rows, size cap in MB and days to keep; the oldest rows go first. Default 1 million rows, 512 MB, no age limit. "Record decoded messages" switches the feed off. "Clear all" empties the file.
- Chatty updates (aircraft, vessel, sonde, BLE and drone positions) are stored at most once a minute per object.
- Voice audio and encrypted traffic are never stored; the store refuses them.
- The feed is a tap on the Automations event bus (
Engine::setTap), so a decoder needs no extra code beyond emitting its automation event.
See also: Tutorials and guides, FAQ, Troubleshooting.
Getting started
Using OnAir
Tools and guides (0.2.7)
- Band survey
- Message database
- Watchlists
- TV recorder
- Time machine
- Pass scheduler
- Plugin SDK
- Headless server
- All guides
Radios
Modes by group
- TV
- Broadcast radio
- Aviation
- Maritime
- Satellite & navigation
- Two-way radio
- Cellular & rail
- Pagers
- IoT & sensors
- Weather & science
- Amateur: digital
- Amateur: voice & packet
- HF utility
- General & tools
Tutorials
- DVB-T2 TV with a HackRF
- FM radio with RDS
- Aircraft with ADS-B and the map
- Ships with AIS
- DAB+ digital radio
- Weather satellite images
- HF digital: FT8 and WSPR
- Digital voice: DMR, D-STAR, P25
- Pagers: POCSAG and FLEX
- Time stations and the clock
- Record IQ, then the Signal workbench
- The signal sample library
- Control a rig with Hamlib
- Two receivers and the multi-decoder
Reference
Help
Legal and privacy
More