Building a PilotAware.

[r_w_walker]

I have ordered the parts to build a unit today.
I currently use a PCAS device and have looked at FLARM but cost is prohibitive.
I hope this becomes widely available.
Is there anyway of knowing how many units are being constructed?
Could the members list be annotated to show members using unit and members who are constructing a unit?

[r_w_walker]

The ARF was from

https://www.wirelessthings.net/arf-high-power-radio-transceiver

Description: ARF - High power radio transceiver, Item No.: R011
Unit price: 24.17 GBP
Qty: 1

Merchant:
CISECO PLC
ebay@ciseco.co.uk

I had trouble finding the ARF Shield. It is an XBee-Pro-Breakout Board.

Ordered from.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XBee-Pro-Breakout-Board-3-3V-to-5V-MCU-Pitch-0-1-DIP-Adapter-w-3-LED-Indicator-/371377710181?

Hope a few more are building these units.

[Admin]

Please, Please double check this is the 3.3v board not the 5v board.
There are 2 versions of the digole board

Thx
Lee

[r_w_walker]

Hi Lee,

From description I hope it is the correct board!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XBee-Pro-Breakout-Board-3-3V-to-5V-MCU-Pitch-0-1-DIP-Adapter-w-3-LED-Indicator-/371377710181?

One set of breakout board for XBee/XBee Pro modules
This board will convert 5.0V MCU interface to 3.3V version of Xbee and
Also breakout 2.0mm pitch on xbee to 0.1"(2.54mm) standard pitch pin out
3 LEDs for signal: Power, RSSI and ASSO

[trapdoor]

Same one as I ordered.

Think I'll verify the output before plugging the ARF in.

Lee, does this board still require the cutting of the JMP foil?

[BobD]

I had trouble finding the ARF Shield. It is an XBee-Pro-Breakout Board.

I initially bought the wrong Xbee unit. Fortunately Lee sold me the correct one. For my second unit, I ordered one from China via E-Bay a few weeks ago. I am still waiting for that to arrive.   

Rather than wait, I decided to use the alternate Wirelessthings Powerpod suggested by onkelmuetze . After some confusion about the pin-outs, I managed to work out the correct ones. A copy of the correct pin-outs, and pictures of the Powerpod and ARF can be seen on my post in this thread:

http://forum.pilotaware.com/index.php/topic,6.msg218.html#msg218

I now have two working units, one using the original Digole power regulator, the second using the Powerpod. There are a couple of disadvantages to using the Powerpod, (it is a bit more awkward to solder, and both the Powerpod and ARF require glueing to the case) , but at least it gets over the supply problem of the correct Xbee Unit, and the possibility of buying the wrong one.

[Admin]

Same one as I ordered.
Think I'll verify the output before plugging the ARF in.
Lee, does this board still require the cutting of the JMP foil?

Allegedly, there was a bad batch of boards made in June, which unfortunately coincided with an order for
30 boards I made 
So I had a whole batch of bad boards.
Digole, assured me all other boards were recalled, if I were you, I would get my multimeter out and just
test to see if that jumper is in-place or not.

Thx
Lee

[trapdoor]

I've ordered one of these....

https://www.wirelessthings.net/slice-of-pod-raspberry-pi-to-i-o-pod-plug-and-play-board

This sort of looks like the idea of a fully integrated ARF-Pi plug-in - has a 3.3v reg on board and room to mount the ARF, although the pin pitch is wrong it'll be easy to patch-wire it and attach with a double-sided foam pad.

I have also ordered one of the 868Mz tuned short antennae as the one supplied with the ARF is a bit on the long side for coaming-mounting.

[rg]

the little dvb-t antenna that comes with the adsb dongle is a bit disapointing.  Can anyone recommend alternatives that won't required lots of external cable?  Even just an antenna that could plug straight into the mcx socket on the dongle...

[trapdoor]

You need an MCX to SMA converter, and then get an SMA antenna tuned to 1100MHz - in fact one of the GSM900 antennae will be better than the DVB-T aerial that comes with the box as it's tuned to around 800MHz. Alternative is to make one up as a rod antenna soldered directly into the centre pin of an MCX plug (not easy) or to trim the supplied antenna - the length at 1090MHz is 69mm at 1/4 wave

[rg]

Alternative is to make one up as a rod antenna soldered directly into the centre pin of an MCX plug (not easy) or to trim the supplied antenna - the length at 1090MHz is 69mm at 1/4 wave

Yeah bit techie for me.  Ordered a 95-1100 MHz telescopic/foldable antenna with SMA male connector and an SMA / MCX connector.  Will post with the results.

[DodiTyson]

From the details given it is looking that the board consists:
One set of breakout board for XBee/XBee Pro modules
This board will convert 5.0V MCU interface to 3.3V version of Xbee and
Also breakout 2.0mm pitch on xbee to 0.1"(2.54mm) standard pitch pin out
3 LEDs for signal: Power, RSSI and ASSO

quick-turn pcb assembly

[DaveStyles]

Hi,

you've resurrected quite an old thread here, from before the change from the ARF module.
The ARF module isn't being used any more.
There is now a shield being manufactured for the project, so the above conversation is moot.

Visit

www.pilotAwareHardware.com

if you haven't done so already.

regards,

[map5623]

I Know that this is an old thread.
I have been away for sometime and need to get up to speed on where the project is now.
Before I left there had been a request for a 'kit list' and a source of supply.
I see that there is a thread on known good hardware but having read it am non the wiser.
I have requested an update from the hardware site when components are available but am unsure how long this will be.
I am happy to build but would like the guidance on the the best course.

TVM
Mike
 

[Paul_Sengupta]

Everything is still valid apart from the RF shield (ARF and associated board). So you can still buy the Pi, case, wifi dongle, DVB-T dongle, GPS, power cable, data card. This will give you an ADS-B only set-up.

The new RF module will be out maybe in March. At the same time, full units will be available to buy complete with the first year's licence and a warranty.