Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 23, 2016, 08:55:22 am »

thanks Ian,
do you see the $pflaa string coming from your flarm box with no targets ? Which Flarm box are you using ?
I'm wondering if the Redbox variant actually outputs general target info, i.e the $pflaa string.
Being a 3rd party device (LX)  they may do something different to actual Flarm and only output collision aircraft info. (just a thought). There is no detailed technical info on their web site so if I can't see if they specify this string  from their device.
 I guess I will have to try and get answer direct from LX about what actually comes out of their device.
Your offer to be a source is a good one and I'm happy to visit with my kit of bits !! When would be convenient for you ??
regards
Alan

17

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 23, 2016, 12:05:17 am »

I've done a little more experimenting. Using a terminal program I have looked at data coming from Flarm box with different settings.
Pic 1 is Redbox box set for gps only output
pic 2 is Redbox set for FLARM only output
pic 3 is Redbox set for gps & FLARM

As you can see different strings are being sent and then as a composite in pic 3 so the box appears to be doing something like it should. Of course this late at night there is no Flarm signals active for me to receive so I don't know if string data changes upon receiving one or more Flarm signals.

What strings(s) is PAW looking for to display on SkyDemon output ? Are these pictures a clue as to the system behaviour, correct or not ?

regards
Alan

18

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 22, 2016, 07:35:13 pm »

Correct, no gps dongle is connected directly to PAW, the data is coming from Flarm Redbox.

I didn't realise you were so close, happy to visit Thame if you are willing to help me.

thanks
Alan

19

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 22, 2016, 06:44:51 pm »

Hi Lee
Thanks for help, attached is screen photo from iPad showing data logging screen. I don't know what to expect, I can see the gps sentences but are any of them flarm data ?

I'm located in Aylesbury and fly from Halton

I probably can borrow a portable flarm box from the club to get a consistent local flarm signal next week.
If you can give me any clue as to what the problem is, I would be grateful.
regards
Alan

20

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 22, 2016, 03:18:00 pm »

15.10 22/10/16
Well just had some Flarm traffic pass close to me as seen on OGN but did not show on my Skydemon display or in PAW traffic screen. So it seems that although I'm getting 19200 GPS data from Flarm box into PAW, the aircraft data is not being seen/recognised by PAW. I have checked using "Flarm tool" that the Flarm box is set to send "Navigation and Flarm" data at 19200, so that seems to be correct, and PAW is set to "Flarm in" at 19200.
Now I'm stuck, don't know how to find why Flarm traffic not being shown via PAW on Skydemon.
Any ideas welcome
Alan

21

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 22, 2016, 02:28:01 pm »

Update on my Redbox to PAW integration.
I used the USB/RS232 cable from Farnell (USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-0.0 CABLE, USB A - RS232, SERIAL CONVERTOR). Cheaper ones can be found on e-bay but I used this because previous reports that it worked ok with Flarm mouse.
Pin 1 from Flarm RJ45 is ground (white) and was connected to black on RS232 cable. Pin 3 from Flarm is Tx data (red) and was connected to yellow on RS232 cable. Pin 2 from Flarm is Rx data (black) and was connected to orange on RS232 cable.
In PAW configuration screen on iPad Port 2 was set to Flarm In and 19200 rate, (Redbox must use 19200 to talk to Flarm display indicator).
The gps signal seems to be working and PAW starts ok and talks to SkyDemon displaying ADSB aircraft and Mode C/S rings ok.
I don't seem to be seeing any Flarm traffic on the Skydemon display which is a puzzle but Flarm traffic is short range and in my home test set up it could be none are in range.
Continuing investigation.
Can anyone else confirm that the latest PAW software is seeing and displaying Flarm traffic from a Flarm receiver ??
regards
Alan

22

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration

« on: October 15, 2016, 05:09:19 pm »

Hi, next week I plan to try and integrate an LX RedBox FLARM unit with a PAW box for use on a new aircraft.
To be clear, I plan to take serial data from the display port of RedBox and connect via RS232/USB adaptor to one of the USB ports on the PAW. (replacing existing GPS dongle). Do I need to do anything in software to get FLARM aircraft showing on my iPAD SkyDemon nav display, or does it "just work" ?
thanks for help,
Alan

23

General Discussion / Re: FL*RM Integration - Beta Testers

« on: October 01, 2016, 01:14:54 pm »

When connecting Flarm mouse to PAW, can the normal Flarm display also be connected and functioning ?
thanks, Alan

24

General Discussion / Re: Enhancement Requests

« on: October 13, 2015, 10:08:54 am »

Before planning an entire network, please note that the ISM frequency band that PAW uses, is shared with other non-licensed users  . There is no guarantee that transmissions are uninterrupted and you may actually cause interference with others.

Ground receivers would not transmit anything so could not cause interference to anyone else. However you are correct that any ground station could receive interference.
regards

25

General Discussion / Re: Enhancement Requests

« on: October 11, 2015, 01:53:53 pm »

Lee, thanks, I look forward to learning more about your "cunning Plan" !!

On a separate subject, I would also support the establishing of PA ground stations and would certainly be happy to host one if no progress is made with OGN. I would think with the relative hi power O/P of the PA transmitter, it would have a pretty good range to a ground station giving good coverage if the ground receiver antenna is in a clear location.
Unfortunately I have no knowledge of servers and programming so cannot provide any direct help in implementation but I'm sure amongst this group we must have some that are knowledgeable in this area

I don't believe PA will have any significant take up in the gliding community, Flarm is too well established, however in the GA community I think you have a winner. The extremely low cost of build, open protocol and small size all seem very attractive to implement as an anti collision system. Even as ADS-B takes hold in GA, to just have your low cost device as a receiver only displaying other traffic including ADS-B on an iPad is magic.

I also found recently another use; in implementing ADS-B on an existing aircraft installation, it is hard to do an initial test to prove operation and do a check on its performance. I used your device just as a receiver with my iPad and could verify the presence ADS-B transmission on the ground after modification. Then by carrying it in the air on the same aircraft, I could see that the ADS-B GPS position being given corresponded with the actual position of the aircraft as shown on the moving map. A great piece of test equipment ! 
regards
Alan

26

General Discussion / Re: Enhancement Requests

« on: October 09, 2015, 12:38:02 am »

Hi Lee, thanks for reply, yes it is correct that it is almost impossible to get any accurate real distance measurement from the received strength, however the issue is that it alerts you that someone is close with a transponder going in the absence of ADS-B information, and at present there are many more non ADS-B transponders than active ones on GA aircraft.
It makes you look out twice as hard when you see that (in my case) green ring !
It doesn't need to respond to small signals that are far away, as far as I can see (I'm guessing) it seems a trigger level is set that makes the ring appear and it then gets smaller around my aircraft symbol the stronger the signal. It really gets your attention when you see a ring getting smaller around you, i.e. closer !
Probably requires some experimentation to get the scaling sensible but I have found it a helpful display. Happy to be of any help I can if you decide to pursue this idea.
regards
Alan

27

General Discussion / Re: Enhancement Requests

« on: October 07, 2015, 02:01:05 pm »

Hi, just got my system fired up and working, very happy thanks.
As a future software enhancement would it be possible to receive non ads-b transponders and display a coloured ring around my aircraft whose diameter is proportional to received signal strength.
Whilst this does not given any actual position information it does alert pilot that another aircraft is somewhere close, the smaller the ring the closer it is !!!
This is implemented on "PowerFlarm" interface to SkyDemon and I find it very useful, it really make me look out with great attention when I get a ring around my current position. Not as good as ADS-B position I agree but better than no alert at all.
Great work from you, thanks,
regards
Alan
p.s. you might want to put in construction document the SkyDemon Flarm code 6000, it took me a while to find why my box wouldn't connect. Also in SkyDemon, there is an altitude window for traffic alerts in "set up" - "navigation options" that took me a while to find. Might be worth mentioning in build document.