PilotAware
British Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: falcoguy on September 17, 2015, 10:21:09 am
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Everybody
John Parker and I have been building a few PilotAwares and have at least 2 up and running - maybe more. We hope to fly /test at the weekend. Being based at Fenland we thought it might be a good further trial for those with running PilotAwares to offer a meet up, and maybe have a PilotAware Hotspot!
Fenland is in the relevant guides - and of course you will find it in SkyDemon!
Dave Thomas
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Any idea on times that you'll be there? I might fly that way to see if I can pick you up.
Cheers,
Steve
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steve
I was thinking of flying in about 11.30
dave t
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Hi Davey
your neighbour here :) I have a spare iPad. I was planning on leavng it running all day in The tower for anyone to see (anyone is welcome to go in the tower). It should be a good demo day
John
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just out of interest, when showing PilotAware at the LAA rally I wanted an Antenna I could place outside of the marquee
I purchased one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/868MHZ-915MHZ-GSM-3G-Small-99-UK-Omnidirectional-High-gain-Antenna-7DBI-/171802354402?hash=item280037e2e2
Just wondering if this would be useful for your control tower
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All
We have tested (on the ground) all 7 of our PilotAwares so far built. We have to add the barometric sensor next week. But will take them all to Fenland on Saturday. Some will be flying!
Dave T
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All
We have tested (on the ground) all 7 of our PilotAwares so far built. We have to add the barometric sensor next week. But will take them all to Fenland on Saturday. Some will be flying!
Dave T
Hi Dave,
I presume by tested, they could all see each other ?
Did you have all booted and running at the same time, or were you testing in pairs, what was the
test scenario
thx
Lee
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Test Scenario:
Check of TV screen for correct boot up and fault messages.
Once we had 2 running - one was then taken to a house about 3km down road to be installed in the window!
Then I booted the others up (one at a time - only one iPad!) and tested against the distance one transmitting P3i and ADSB inputs. Used phone to check that P3i signals could be seen both ways.
We have had a problem with the distance one (John Parkers) switching the collision aware software off many times, which made testing painful. We think however that this was because he had SkyDemon Updates ticked for both Ground use and INFLIGHT. John has now disabled inflight updates and wie will try again today. All mine (with no inflight updates) were stable over many hours.
We are hoping to have a minimum of three or (more possible with associated hardware) running concurrently tomorrow at the Fenland Fly In. 1 we hope in the tower, and minimum 2 in the air.
So far so good - next week we hope to implement the Barometric Sensors in all seven currently running when they arrive. Then we will distribute the units to the participating parties!
Thanks for all your hard work
Dave T
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I'm planning on coming in with a friend. Will be really interested to test my device as I've no idea if the ARF is working. Not sure of arrival, will have to let you guys know, but it might be a little earlier than 11:30.
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I'm there by 9.00 and will have it up and running in the tower shortly after. perhaps if you include pilot aware in your tx call we can look for the target range and take notes. It's fair to say we are all excited in anticipation at Fenland especialy if a ground monitoring station is developed. we often have flight-radar on in the tower now the adsb is in action.
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I'll be flying G-BXEX. Will mention it getting PPR. Will be inbound from the west (Nottingham).
Will call up "callsign, inbound, pilotaware system, request airfield information"
Then you should be able to pick me up... Hopefully...
Does that work?
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we will be in Falco G-CCOR. Only coming from strip 10mins away! Sian (my wife) will be flying so we will fly around a bit in the local area. It will be our first in flight test with the pilotaware.
With luck will have a pilotaware in the tower as well. Its a fly in so PPR not necessary. Call up will be OK - good idea to let the tower know you have a pilotaware unit. They already spot us - but with ADSB.
John Parker will be around - he's a tall slim guy - he has a Eurostar based fenland G-VORN. He will also be on his first PilotAware flight trials!
Look forward to meeting you
Dave Thomas
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planning on being there Saturday morning.
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I really wish I could make this, put I have a committment early afternoon I cannot shift.
I feel like I am missing the birth of one of my children !
Luckily Keith and Dominic will be along with all their experience to date,
I Look forward to the reports on the forum tomorrow evening.
Best of luck
Thx
Lee
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I'm hoping to come up before lunch with a couple of other flexwings from Sandy. We took part in the early testing in the air at Long Marston.
We havent yet built any PilotAware systems. It will be good to see how it has progressed and to see the units that John Parker and falconguy have built.
Falconguy I believe we spoke about the system in the cafe at Fenland some time back.
I have just setup my Transponder to do ADSB out ( I may take part in the nats trial) might do a test enroute!
Brian
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fog just lifted, on our way.
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I just watched G-CDFL arrive from overhead folkingham disused. However it crashed on my device as the plane entered the ATZ. I got it reboot to see it arrive on final
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I just watched G-CDFL arrive from overhead folkingham disused. However it crashed on my device as the plane entered the ATZ. I got it reboot to see it arrive on final
Hi Stephen,
can you tell me what crashed ?
PilotAware or ipad ?
(hopefully not G-CDFL)
Thx
Lee
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Hi Lee,
Can't narrow it down completely, sky demon says GPS lost and then I have to reboot the RPi and reconnect everything to get it working again.
Still testing it in the air now.
Kit is a EC power bank 22400mAh. 20 AWG cable, powerPod instead of the Chinese thing.
Running ios9
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Hi Lee,
seemed to me it was the PA box stopping, I'm going to boot it up now at home and see what happens.
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Hi Stephen
Can you describe your power setup in the plane.
Power is absolutely critical, poor quality USB and power supplies are really bad
I think nearly every issue I have seen relating to dropouts has come down to power
Thx
Lee
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Sure...
One of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010XWJBS6
Being powered by a fully charged one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F5Q4F0U
HTHs
Steve.
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Yikes, is it really a 3m cable ?
If so that will have quite a voltage drop, I use cables from the same manufacurer, but the 50cm version
Thlee
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No... I think it's the 1.5m one...
I'll order a 0.5m one and see if that helps
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Hi.
I had the a 2nd generation big iPad with and external xgps unit blue toothed in the tower. After several lost GPS connections I gave up with that one. I did manage to see daves Falco a treat on skydemon recieving ADSB early on and all the way into the circuit and land with great accuracy on the screen.
I then went flying with the internally GPS equipped iPad mini and the Skydemon locked up (froze). never have I seen that one before.
Thanks John
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Yes... mine only crashed whilst close to Fenland, was fine all the way across from Nottingham.
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Hi John
Are you at Fenland this Sunday 20th ( Tomorrow) as I wanted to fly over to test my own device. I will not be able to land as I really need tarmac or super smooth grass.
Lancair 235 G-BSRI.
Thanks in advance.
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No sorry, My one day do what you like token has been used up ;) My setup need a bit of a review in the power supply. More stability and power quality
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We picked up someone on the ground at fenland as we approached, then after we parked up we followed g-cdfl taxiing, taking off and climbing out, was he outputting adsb or pilotaware?
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No sorry, My one day do what you like token has been used up ;) My setup need a bit of a review in the power supply. More stability and power quality
Try the Charge 2/4 USB Power supplies from Jeremy Curtis. I fitted one and have now tried a lot of different Tablets and iPhones/iPads with no issues but as Lee as stated, keep the USB leads as short as possible and the bigger the wire gauge the better.
Hopefully meet up soon. ;)
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Hi John and all at Fenland,
I was sorry to hear you did not have a great deal of luck on Saturday.
Power is absolutely critical, and I made a long thread here about my findings
http://forum.pilotaware.com/index.php/topic,9.0.html
Regarding the USB power leads, the shorter the better, and also look for the
AWG (American Wire Gauge), needs to be 20AWG or less - the smaller the number
the fatter the wires.
I used these, and I get very little voltage drop.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271936509656
And this adapter (although some report radio interference)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291297256105
Thx
Lee
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Report on Fly In at Fenland from 'falcoguy'
Many apologies to Stephen Melody - tried to find you and asked around but didn't meet you - saw the aeroplane come in and go out! Hope you got something out of the day. If you want to meet up - please let me know.
Met Duncan and Keith who were very helpful.
My sortie to Fenland - first flight trial was not successful. 'GPS signal kept cutting out'. In the end I unplugged the Pilot Aware and switched ADSB back on at which point the Tower PilotAware tracked me pretty well, including to parking! I had had enough of messing around and decided to enjoy the day with friends instead.
After talking to Duncan and Keith tried the Samsung usb cables I'd bought for the kit of parts(previously used a different cable) and on the way home the PilotAware worked beautifully except I hadn't put our Hex code in the aware - so I got a piggy back plane all the way home!
Put Hex code in Aware at home and flew to Sherburn today - unit worked perfectly except for the piggy back plane still on the screen all the way there. I have some checks to make before declaring there is any issue.
On the way home from Sherburn disaster - Skydemon wouldnt find the GPS and we tried several times even trying without the Flarm input and just selecting location services. In the end we gave up because flying through Doncaster on Radar service was more vital!
We have made progress and will try again when we have more time to play. We have ordered the 20awg cable.
Regards to all
Dave T
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David T,
I,m Based at Sherburn. What aircraft were you in?
Its a shame, I wasn't aware of you or we could have compared devices. I have no dropouts at all just works all the time every time!!! I was in the Air for 1 hour today at 13:00 to 14:00. Back at Sherburn.......
Sorry David I should have realised from your user name... Looked you up on G-INFO. The Yellow Falcon. I did see your aircraft.
Richard.
Europa XS
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Evening,
I have on order a juicebitz 20awg short cable, a juicebitz 3amp wall charger for home trial (I'll leave it on for a month if anyone wants to buzz Fenland as I live next door) and also one of Jeremy's USB supplies. If voltage is the issue how can any aircraft maintain this who isn't running one of Jeremy's units. I'm sure Falco Dave has concerns when his retracts drags the voltage down. The ideal would be 12 volt in and regulated on-board the Aware. I'm just thinking the mass market won't be so tolerant as we are with this fussiness.
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John,
I Agree it could be a drop in voltage within the the aircraft...
I too have Jeramy's Charge 2 unit and it is fited with in the aricraft panel and is turned on when I flick the avionics switch.... the PilotAware is plug into the Charge 2 which stars at the same time. I just leave the PilotAware connected all the time. When I go fly simply connect the Ipad, press go fly..... Everything works well.
If the Weather good on Sunday I may Buzz your house I will let you know.
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Hi John/Richard.
I managed to fit my unit and get flying today ( Been away 2 weeks) and using the old software release. I have a 48Amp load on my electrical system when retracting/extending gear. I use the Charge 2 USB charger integral to the aircraft and did not have a dropout for the short 30min flight. Also using a Dual 160 Bluetooth receiver with no issues so far.
The only traffic I could see was ADS-B targets as I don't know anybody in the Strubby/Skegness/Boston area using the PilotAware box yet.
I'm hoping to build a few more units and then I can test out the 868Mhz setup.
Can I try to co-ordinate a flyby trial with you guys next week, weather permitting?Any pointers on a supplier for a shorter 868Mhz aerial? Thanks.
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Pete/John/Richard
I live a few km from John - under base leg 180 RH for Fenland - though the plane is at a private strip south of here
I'm pleased to meet up, next weekend, weather permitting. John and I have a few pilotawares running and proved on the ground
Richard - I believe I saw you starting up at Sherburn as we were filling up with fuel.
Dave T
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Need to be careful with those el' cheapo 12V to 5V cigarette lighter thingies. They're a bit of a lottery, some seem ok, others not.
In one post Lee linked to above I've found a fairly good switch mode power supply - you'd have to do some soldering though :-)
DaveT seems to have found a good one too?
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I'm hoping to build a few more units and then I can test out the 868Mhz setup.
Can I try to co-ordinate a flyby trial with you guys next week, weather permitting?Any pointers on a supplier for a shorter 868Mhz aerial? Thanks.
Pete,
You can get the small Antenna from wierlessthings https://www.wirelessthings.net/868-915-mhz-small-rubber-duck-antenna
Need to be careful with those el' cheapo 12V to 5V cigarette lighter thingies. They're a bit of a lottery, some seem ok, others not.
I Agree, I had an incident with one ... it melted while in use (on the ground thankfully) so will never use one again.
Sunday will be good for me. I can fly to fenland for lunch... any one up for it this weekend?
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Richard
that will be OK by me
Pete
I am at a farm strip - White Fen Farm Benwick. Its grass but pretty smooth - the grass is longer than it used to be but we have 750m (could be more) N-S. It is smooth and not lumpy like fenland - could meet there if you feel safe to land? We operate the Falco quite successfully.
Dave T
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Thanks Falcoguy/ Richard
I'm looking at Sunday if ok with you. I'll research your strip as the Lancair has small wheels but 750M will be fine.Thanks for pointer on small antennae
Regards
Pete
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Pete / Richard
The Falco has 500 x 5 wheels and a littler wheel on the front! We are OK at white fen farm, benwick.
We could all meet at our strip if you like - although we don't have a restaurant!
I will have to find a way of importing an image - I can let you have more info
Let me know whether the WFF, Benwick is an option.
Dave
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Richard
I have been in contact with Pete and due to other commitments we have had to relocate to Saturday. Are you about?
We are proposing to meet at our strip - White Fen Farm, Benwick about 15m south of fenland around midmorn to mid day
I will monitor the forum to see any replies. We think we have at least 2 working units for air testing
Dave T
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I will have a ground based unit up and running tomorrow, so if anyone is flying near to Cambridge (nearest easy reference point is the A14/A10 junction) it should show up.
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Richard
I have been in contact with Pete and due to other commitments we have had to relocate to Saturday. Are you about?
We are proposing to meet at our strip - White Fen Farm, Benwick about 15m south of fenland around midmorn to mid day
I will monitor the forum to see any replies. We think we have at least 2 working units for air testing
Dave T
David,
Sorry Can't make it on Saturday, We Have The Great Yorkshire Air Show at Former Church Fenton, now Leeds East. I'm also working in the morning so can't get to Sherburn before the close of the ATZ
There will be another day, for sure. Have fun, and let us all know your results.
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Just a not for anyone using ground stations - remember LOS (line of sight)
Try and get the antenna positioned in such a way that it has a completely un-obstructed view
At these frequencies, the losses even from trees & bushes is high
Thx
Lee