Virtual Radar Server for Windows

Virtual Radar Server — Real-time aircraft monitoring for Windows

Virtual Radar Server is a free, open-source Windows program that lets you observe airborne traffic live. It runs a small local web server so you can open its interface from any current browser and view aircraft plotted on a dynamic map. The program is geared toward both hobbyists and professional users who want a straightforward way to visualize flight activity.

Core operation

• Installs and operates on Windows, hosting a local web interface reachable from your computer or other devices on the same network.
• Maps aircraft positions in real time and overlays relevant flight data for each target.
• Designed for ease of use with an interactive, browser-based display rather than a desktop-only GUI.

Compatible data streams

• RTL-SDR receivers (for users feeding raw ADS-B/Mode-S signals).
• SBS3 feeders (commonly used by some ADS-B receiver setups).
• SBS1 inputs (older or alternate SBS-format sources).

What it displays

• Heading, ground track, and direction information for tracked aircraft.
• Altitude and vertical movement data to show climb or descent.
• Identifiers such as flight numbers and transponder-derived tags; the system relies on Mode-S/ADS-B traffic for much of this detail.

Who benefits from this tool

• Casual observers who want a simple, browser-accessible map of nearby flights.
• More advanced users and aviation enthusiasts who combine receivers and data feeds to study traffic patterns.
• Useful in the utilities & tools category when you need an accessible, effective way to monitor air traffic from a local installation.

Alternative suggestion

• SHAREit (Free) is listed as a top alternative in some sources; it is a freeware option but serves a different primary purpose (file sharing and transfers) rather than dedicated aircraft tracking.