Messages

16

Technical Support / Re: The latest version and FLARM

« on: December 07, 2016, 10:55:17 pm »

Peter,
In theory this sounds a dead simple solution and maybe at this RS232 level would work wonderfully! My formal life involved controlling robots with RS232 and splitting caused all sorts of issues, however we were using handshaking as well RTS etc.
FLARM somewhere in its documents says that the signal should not be split, but of course that could just mean Air Avionics worried they may not be able to rip off customers. After all it is already split because the Air Connect can send to WiFi and RS232 to MGL as there are two ports!.  In my simple mind this is already split!
I can of course thinking about this logically and having had a couple of glasses of red wine resolve this simply - MAYBE The Butterfly RS232 WiFi is no longer used as the iPAd now is dedicated to the PAW. SO Spare PAW port needs a USB / RS232 converter and Connect FLARM TXD to PAW RCD plus GND.
Only slight (hopefully) issue is the Power FLARM also throws out ADS-B stuff which means I would be duplicating data arriving at the PAW. Also I would not be getting mode C & S in the MGL as it is only taking data from the POwer FLARM.

So here is another possible.
Power FLARM TXD to Spare PAW port via RS232 RCD then using same RS232 connector, TXD output MGL iEFIS. Theory says the PAW becomes the source of both data sets to WiFi and also RS232 to MGL. Sounds sound, but not sure from a PAW software aspect.

17

Technical Support / Re: The latest version and FLARM

« on: December 07, 2016, 10:18:58 pm »

To add an lustration to my last post that hopefully explains the intention better.

18

Technical Support / Re: The latest version and FLARM

« on: December 07, 2016, 09:10:33 pm »

While on this subject and in the same vein. I currently have a Power Flarm connected to an MGL iEFIS via RS232. The MGL iEFIS has a menu setting to accept Power FLARM input and does so without hesitation. I also have the PAW that currently via WiFi provides all the PAW features to SkyDemon on an iPAD via WiFi.
The latest PAW apparently allows the addition of a FLARM Dongle - which product is this? However by adding this to the PAW will I guess use up all my USB ports.
So to get an RS232 output in a compatible Power FLARM output I would need an USB - RS232 converter and an extra USB port. The essential elements are therefore to obtain a dual full FLARM, ADS-B to both the iEFIS and SkyDemon are:
1) if I replaced the Power FLARM with a FLARM Dongle into the PAW. ( hopefully selling the former on EBay to fund the latter)
2) added a USB Hub to give an additional USB port
3) added a USB to RS232 converter ( already got one)
4) connected RS232  to MGL iEFIS using existing Power FLARM setting. ( Noting that both PAW and Power FLARM can communicate to SkyDemon via FLARM protocol and Butterfly Connect can do RS232 to SkyDemon via WiFi also)
5) Assuming RS232 out from PAW is a simple TX - RX, GND and not asynchronous.

Theory says it should work and as the claim is that the PAW has four potential output nodes then A = WiFi to SkyDemon, B = WiFi for Radar output, C = RS232 to iEFIS and D = the weather data you have not developed yet!!

So if this is doable will someone let me know please.

19

Technical Support / Re: Radio inteference

« on: May 26, 2016, 11:18:59 pm »

Seems Charge 2/4 is the solution BUT most items are out of stock with no clue as to when next availability is. A cost of nearly ½ that of the PAW also seems that to have an effective PAW then everyone should be adding 50% to their cost installation. Are there alternatives?

20

Technical Support / Radio inteference

« on: May 26, 2016, 03:26:04 pm »

I have today flight tested the latest PAW and all works perfectly except I am getting very bad radio interference. My PAW antennae are mid fuselage and radio antennae in the tail. All wood aircraft. In flight I removed aerials one at a time and no difference. Unplug and all returns to normal. I have tried moving the PAW around within the cockpit and no difference. My suspicion is the USB power supply 2.1 A which is now hard wired into the aircraft. Does anyone know of a tested for RF non cigar lighter USB source or is a ferrite core a possible solution and if so what would be the optimum location within the cable. I.e. On the 12V power or USB output power.

21

General Discussion / Re: GPS Ublox7 Dongle connection problems

« on: May 18, 2016, 09:00:19 am »

I left the unit on all night, but not outside and there was no difference this morning. However when I plug in a USB extension lead I get 7 satellites and a 3D fix without any problems and all works. Remove the extension lead and plug the GPS dongle directly into the Pi and I momentarily may get 4 satellites but mostly 0. So I guess I am getting some shielding effect. When installed for real use then the GPS dongle will be on a USB extension lead so the Pi can be positioned protected from the sun.
Power supply is currently a mains iPad transformer (not an iPhone charger).

22

General Discussion / Re: GPS Ublox7 Dongle connection problems

« on: May 17, 2016, 11:10:08 pm »

I have exactly the same problem. The GPS dongle has been sitting in view of the sky for nearly 5 hours. As I understand the dongle should flash green when it has a fix, it doesn't. Log on via a browser 192...... and the home screen gives a status of 'satellites = 0'. If you then use the old fashioned CollisionAware on an iPad and SkyDemon then there is an error displayed of Multiple GPS sources. The CollisionAware is however linked to the iPad Location Services and then using SkyDemon and GO Flying and FLARM services does give traffic information clearly. HOWEVER frequently SkDemon flashes up searching for satellites, this is not very good as at that point your location is lost. As stated before if you Select Location Services from the Go Flying option then there is no traffic data displayed. I hasten to add Connectivity is set up correctly on the SkyDemon (latest version).
This is somewhat concerning as the previous system I built which I will present to the Flying club for ATC worked pretty damn well. Something has failed somewhere.
I have also tried under settings of changing Port 3 to GPS instead of Auto, however baud rate is still 4800.
I don't actually need the GPS fix for ADS-B output sourced from my GPS but of course I do for the Bridge unit.

23

General Discussion / Confusion Confusion!

« on: May 11, 2016, 08:36:23 pm »

We have all received I guess the latest email about the new hardware release. It seems though that all are sold out instantly.
On top of this there is confusion on what exactly is required.
Last December I purchased all the elements required to build a PAW without the ARF as it was advised it was not satisfactory to do this and just go for ADS-B. This assembled all worked fine and advice was to wait until the new ARF Bridge Unit is available. Well apparently it is available (but not in stock on the hardware site) and all we have to do is request an email when it is in stock. I have done this a few times over the last month or so and don't get emailed and on the day it is announced available it is NOT. This is madness, please someone state clearly what the situation is.
To make matters even more confusing my system was built on a PiB+ as per advice on hardware. Now it seems that I need a Pi2B, which I do actually have which would then provide all the functions. I don't have an ARF to return as advise was not to purchase.
And then to confuse me even more there is dialogue about a License number, I do have one but am not sure what relevance it is if I eventually get a Bridge and then connect up all my existing bits to the new Pi2B.
Somebody for heavens sake who is not so wrapped up in tech speak spell this all out simply. I cannot believe I am the only one who is becoming more and more confused.

24

General Discussion / Re: SD Formating

« on: December 17, 2015, 11:02:44 am »

For the avoidance of doubt just compared the two types i.e. Mac Disk Utility and iOS formatter program.
on Ctrl I both formats came up with MS-DOS (FAT32)  and 7.96Gb free. So I would guess either method will do. Thanks for advice.

25

General Discussion / Re: Dosnt work after loading latest version.

« on: December 17, 2015, 10:59:04 am »

Lee,

Page 18, Section 8. Vers 0.6
It may be correct but the number displayed on Page 18 suggests it is the WiFi address and not the LAN address.
Page 19 states (Licences are now based on the Raspberry Pi’s Ethernet MAC address rather than the Wi-Fi dongle’s MAC address)
May be a bit confusing for the uninitiated.

26

General Discussion / SD Formating

« on: December 16, 2015, 05:36:11 pm »

I am one of those people who has ditched Microsoft for Apple. Raspberry Pi SD cards can be formatted using iOS Disk Utility and selecting MSDOS FAT for use on general run of the mill Raspberry Pi stuff. Does anyone know if this is OK for PAW or have I got to find a Windows PC and do the formatting through the Formatter program.

27

General Discussion / Re: Dosnt work after loading latest version.

« on: December 16, 2015, 05:17:09 pm »

If this is the case can you please update the Software Installation Document as it is saying use the WiFi MAC address.