I have an aircraft "radar" system in my home. It's not really radar, which sends microwave signals out and looks for a return signal, but the newer version used by the FAA: ADS-B, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. This system has the aircraft actively sending it identity and location all the time. It also listens for other nearby aircraft and alerts the pilots if a collision is possible. The system also sends out weather maps, but I'm not using that feature.

Here is a link to my receiver's web interface. Give it a try. It opens in a new window.

My system runs on a raspberry Pi 3 single-board computer, using a SDR-type USB dongle as a receiver and an antenna on my roof. It's a clever system.

My data feeds to Flightradar24 and to FlightAware websites.