Hi Lee,
Both units are homebuilt. The one in the aircraft is a Pi2 and is running 20180129 that has been updated a number of times by memory stick, hence the early kernel, I’m guessing. It has been “playing up” recently as the WiFi sometimes drops out and it doesn’t communicate with EasyVFR on the iPad. A colleague has recently started using SkyDemon with it and loses WiFi upon takeoff though I believe the unit is working autonomously, pushing out P3i because I regularly see group members flying via Glidertracker and the OGN-R Ground Stations. Most of our members just use the audio alerts and don’t connect to a tablet. I witnessed this behaviour myself first hand, this Sunday. I was seeing CAT and GA OK whilst taxying but as soon as I took off I lost the visual traffic indications. The WiFi had dropped out and I appeared to be locked to the Aero Club WiFi. I powered the PAW off/on several times before I got the hot-spot back again. The number of WiFi sources the iPad was pulling in whilst airborne, low down, had to be seen to be believed! I think the problem on takeoff is that the tablet is dropping the PAW WiFi in favour of the aeroclub WiFi that is likely stronger at that point.
Once all was working OK I was able to see glider and other traffic on screen plus track to my ground station, and see all this on the iPhone as well using PilotAware Radar. Things then appeared to go awry again and I lost traffic info visually, though I still appeared to be locked to PAW hotspot on both devices. The radar screen showed but overlaid with a message INVALID DATA or similar.
I rarely use the PAW as GPS source for the Nav program these days due to this dropping out problem, preferring the internal iPad source as more reliable in practice. Note that the PAW is plumbed into the aircraft with a PilotAware GPS mouse on the panel coaming and external P3i and ADS-B stub antennas/ cables sourced from the PilotAware shop.
It is for this reason that I want a later kernel and intend replacing the WiFi dongle and will soon be using the recommended Anker Car charger vice the EasyACC one that has always appeared to be reliable. Power cable is 0.5m Juicebitz so should be OK.
The spare PAW unit is based on the originally recommended Pi1B+, which I use for ground testing, having recently renewed its licence.
Apologies for having gone on at length!
Thx,
Chris