Paw and AVMAP EKP V

[tfede]

Hi all,


i was wondering if someone knows how to use PAW to supply traffic information totes Avmap EKP V.
As far as I understood the EKP V is able to receive information FRO a Zaon TCAS via USB...


Federico

[Admin]

Hi Federico

I have tried to find information on this but have not been successful.
Do you have any links to documentstion about the format it requires ?
Does it use wifi or rs232 ?

Thx
Lee

[scsirob]

Hi Federico,

I am working on something like this in a stand-alone translation gadget. I am at 50%, my code generates valid Zaon XRX data. Quick demo with PocketFMS:
https://youtu.be/82Hj2XWtQg8

Unfortunately I have a bit of difficulty with my EKP-V right now or I would be able to test this too.
Next step is translating $PFLAA and $PFLAU messages from PAW and selecting the most imminent threats to display. The Zaon protocol only supports three simultaneous threats to display.

Rob

[Admin]

Hi Rob

Can you provide a link to the protocol definition ?
Also, what is the physical connectio, I am presuming RS232 ?

Thx
Lee

[scsirob]

Hi Lee,

The connection is RS-232 at 57600 Baud. The protocol is a binary data blob with values and bit fields. The protocol requires both sending and receiving data, as some of the Zaon settings coming from the device (PocketFMS, EKP-V) are echo'ed back in the binary blob for verification.

I will contact you offline about the manual, not sure if I can send a copy due to copyrights.

Rob

[Paul_Sengupta]

Does the Zaon use the fabled Garmin protocol which seems to exist but no one wants to make available? 

I believe you can link a Zaon to a Garmin GPS?

[Welsh Pilot]

Yes you can. My XRX is coupled to my Garmin 695.

[scsirob]

The XRX supports a few 'profiles' for external EFIS systems. In my docs, profile 1 is for AnywhereMap, profile 2 for Trueflight. Garmin support only exists in V2.0 firmware, which is the last one released before Zaon went belly-up.

I will ask Avmap which Zaon protocol/profile they support, as they claim compatibility but their manual shows no info which profile should be selected. My demo uses the binary format described in a hard-copy Tech Reference manual from 2006 and not available online. This manual claims this binary format is 'Trueflight' mode.

Edit: The EKP-V manual *does* show which profile to use, they list profile 1. Their previous product EKP-IV shows profile 2. So they have switched, I guess?

Edit again: Avmap probably should take the opportunity to natively support $PFLAA/PFLAU traffic inputs. They have an external GPS antenna that is just a uBlox, so if they instead allow PAW to be the GPS and traffic source, they are all done.

[tfede]

Thank you all for the interest, it seems something good is growing





Federico