Recently, developers launched a project called NES Radar, which transforms idle Nintendo NES consoles into real-time flight tracking devices. The project is scheduled to be completed and made available by September 2026. Users can enter airport codes using the NES controller, and flight information will be displayed on the TV screen in the form of moving targets. In this solution, the NES itself does not connect to the internet; instead, an external computer runs the server. Real-time flight data is transmitted to the host through the controller interface via a 5V FTDI USB serial cable, thereby cleverly bypassing hardware limitations and enabling use of old devices in new applications. The project has been made open-source, and related tutorials are available on GitHub.
Recently, developers launched the NES Radar project, transforming idle NES game consoles into real-time flight tracking devices. The project is scheduled to be completed and made available by September 2026, supporting searches at any airport worldwide (via ICAO four-letter codes). Users can enter airport codes using the NES controller, and flights will be displayed on the TV screen as moving targets. The NES itself does not have an internet connection; instead, a external computer runs the server, which transmits real-time flight data to the host via the controller’s interface using a 5V FTDI USB serial cable. This solution cleverly bypasses NES hardware limitations, allowing old devices to be used for new purposes. The project is now open-source, and tutorials are available on GitHub.