D10 controller described a stars aircraft display anomaly.

Attributes
ACN	1091623
Time
Date	201306
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	D10.TRACON
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Approach Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Narrative:

Stars...a VFR aircraft was 7-8 NM northeast of ads at 1;600 ft departing east. The aircraft was being displayed as a box (1200 beacon code) 1;600 ft; then it changed to a triangle; then to a splat; then to a box triangle box; you get the idea. The stars acted like it could not figure out what it was supposed to place on it (box; triangle or *). It also kept double printing the altitude. I called ads tower and asked them what they were seeing with this aircraft and they indicated the same thing that I saw. It was reported to management.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: D10 Controller described a STARS aircraft display anomaly.

Narrative: STARS...a VFR aircraft was 7-8 NM northeast of ADS at 1;600 FT departing east. The aircraft was being displayed as a box (1200 beacon code) 1;600 FT; then it changed to a triangle; then to a splat; then to a box triangle box; you get the idea. The STARS acted like it could not figure out what it was supposed to place on it (box; triangle or *). It also kept double printing the altitude. I called ADS Tower and asked them what they were seeing with this aircraft and they indicated the same thing that I saw. It was reported to management.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.