PilotAware
British Forum => Technical Support => Topic started by: AerialRob on June 10, 2016, 08:47:00 pm
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Hello
The quick start guide at item 3 describes alternating red and green LED's appearing approximately 1 minute after powering up.
I observed this on initial power up but now on subsequent power up only the green LED flashes a repeated series of 4 then nothing for a count of three then a series of four.
I mention this because on taking the device to the airfield for a test flight I could not get it to operate and different patterns of red and green flashing occurred .
Both a battery power pack and a 2A mains charger were used with the same result.
Are the colour sequences for a functioning device known together with the other LED's .
This would give confidence of normal operation and perhaps assist in interrogating faults.
Thanks
Bryce
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Hi Bryce
Red / green constant flashing indicates no valid license, which is what you get on initial bootup
Subsequently a green indicates a working interface, a red indicates a failing interface
The same leds are shown on the web home page
Were you able to connect to the home page ?
Thx
Lee
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Hello Lee
Thank you , that's interestingly.
It worked ok at home but at the airfield I could only obtain an intermittent wifi connection with the device.
I tried rebooting a number of times and twice got the message " unable to connect to wifi"
I didn't get a chance to see the homepage.
Back in the house it is now functioning properly both on mains and battery .
I will try again at the airfield tomorrow.
Am I correct in understanding that it is possible to connect more than one tablet/phone to the device by wifi .
Regards
Bryce
Sent from my iPhone
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Yes multiple devices can connect
Thx
Lee
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Hi Bryce
Red / green constant flashing indicates no valid license, which is what you get on initial bootup
Subsequently a green indicates a working interface, a red indicates a failing interface
The same leds are shown on the web home page
Were you able to connect to the home page ?
Thx
Lee
Confused about all the LEDs. There seem to four on the Bridge. As well as green my bridge is flashing a red LED to coincide with PAW TX and I can hear the TX "crack" on my scanner. Does this mean there is a still a failing interface?
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Hi Steve
You are right there are 4 leds on the bridge
2 indicate TX(red)/RX(green)
and 2 indicate status
The red green status LED's, should match what is on the web home page.
sequence is
(sysdata.status.test.dvbt);
(sysdata.status.test.trx);
(sysdata.status.test.baro);
(sysdata.status.test.gps);
Thx
Lee
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After repeatedly starting and stopping the device yesterday evening with success this morning on power up I was left with a flashing red LED and the gps LED did not commence flashing.
I could connect to the device by wifi and took these screen shots of the homepage and log.
SkyDemon connected but advised waiting for gps .
I disconnected the gps dongle counted to ten and reconnected but it made no difference.
I donot seem able to achieve consistency in startup which is definitely required for aircraft use .
The test last night were all satisfactorily achieved with the battery power pack and I donot believe it to be a power issue.
Thanks
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Hi Steve,
You are correct, there are 4 on the bridge. 2 are used by the RF transceiver and 2 by us.
Looking at the front of the case, the RF ones are to the right, the status are to the left.
RF is red for transmit and green for receive. You'll see them flashing away merrily.
The status ones give the same code as on the setup page. So you should usually be flashing greens.
there are of course 2 on the Pi itself as well!
Steady red for power, and green for disc access.
These are all useful for a quick glance, but really it's the home page that gives most detail.
Hope this helps
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Hi Rob,
it is a GPS issue, I can see from the home page, you have receieved 0 packets in the last 5 seconds,
so this is not a 'fix' issue, its simply receiving no data.
Couple of questions
Q. where is the unit positioned, does it have a good view of the sky ?
Q. you say not a power issue, are you using the power cable supplied ?
(I presume using the same power supply as yesterday?)
The GPS may not be working, although it does say it received 1684 data messages since bootup
Thx
Lee
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Hello
The next power up was successful .
4 Green flashes from the device LED's.
Connected to SkyDemon .
These are the screen shots of homepage and log.
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Hi Bryce,
you're using the supplied power lead aren't you ;-)
The GPS needs a good view of the sky, in my particular instance it will work fine on a windowsill at the front of the house, but only ever find a couple of satellites at the back of the house.
a unit will ALWAYS take a minute or 2 to start working, even if at an airfield, this is for the GPS to come online and is true of all GPS.
Your unit probably just needs to be powered up and left outside for a while. I'm not sure if the GPS can be hot swapped (I don't do it), but to avoid confusion, I'd just put it all together, power it up and leave it outside for 15 mins.
I'd power it up, let your GPS sort itself out, keep an eye on the home screen and connect SD when all is green. It's designed for the sky, it doesn't always find satellites quickly on the ground, but mine will run at 8 or 9 satellites on the ground, it just takes longer to find them all with all the clutter.
<edit>
Seen your update. You should be fine from now.
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Hi Bryce,
I see you have been receiving assistance from Lee and Dave and that your unit has now booted successfully. Looks like this has been the 'standard' issue of the time taken for the GPS unit to obtain its initial data - during which it needs a good clear viesw of the sky and preferably outside - not through 'e-glass'.
Now that it has established in effect 'where it is' it should function normally.
Regards
Peter
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Hello Lee
I have the device on a windowsill connected with the supplied power lead to a new Anker 20100 battery and the mode s aerial is located on the external windowsill .
I have the components connected as I intend to use them in the aircraft .
Can you advise if the gps dongle green LED flashes on power up or following power up when satellites are aquired .
Thanks
Regards
Bryce
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Hi Bryce
Can you advise if the gps dongle green LED flashes on power up or following power up when satellites are aquired .
I think it flashes when receiving data, so not necessarily a lock, but dont quote me on that.
Can you try the unit on the other side of the glass ?
I am not sure if it is true, but somebody told me certain types of glass have a coating which will restrict the GPS signals getting throuh - only one way to find out....
This is not the same for your iPad, which uses location services from your WiFi Router
Thx
Lee
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Yes, the Pilkington-K type (https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/products/product-categories/thermal-insulation/pilkington-k-glass-range/pilkington-k-glass) glass will block the GPS and much of the ADS-B signals. Solution is to hang the whole unit on the outside. Obviously if this is an upstairs window in the wind, or even a downstairs window really, make sure it's attached to something.
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Hello Lee
Just powered up device away from any possible satellite signal and the gps green Led flashes so I don't think it flashes to indicate satellite acquisition .
So for some reason the initial power up this morning failed to start the gps .
I will continue testing.
Thanks
Regards
Bryce
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I've set up a PAW with two people who have this type of glass. With one I just hung it on the power lead, with the other we strapped it to some counterweighted ruler or something.
The GPS only flashes when it's receiving a signal, well on the way to obtaining a lock. If it's downstairs indoors, away from any windows, it won't flash.
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Hello Lee
Just powered up device away from any possible satellite signal and the gps green Led flashes so I don't think it flashes to indicate satellite acquisition .
So for some reason the initial power up this morning failed to start the gps .
I will continue testing.
Thanks
Regards
Bryce
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Ah, repeat posts. In which case...
"The GPS only flashes when it's receiving a signal, well on the way to obtaining a lock. If it's downstairs indoors, away from any windows, it won't flash."
;D
I can see one of mine not flashing at this very moment! ;)
I've spent many an hour trying to get my GPS to flash. When attached to the unit and downstairs, even near my window, it doesn't flash. The signal even by the downstairs window is very patchy, maybe suffering interference from my TV/AV gear. Upstairs in my paper house, it seems to work even when away from the window, though gets more satellites when near the window. I also get more ADS-B near the window. I don't receive EGNOS even next to a window - my house is east/west facing, I really need south facing for EGNOS but my next door neighbour's house is in the way! Might try it out in the garden in a mo.
For consistency, always try it outdoors.
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Just undertook another test inside the house with the gps dongle covered with a metal saucepan.
Powered up device and gps dongle green led did not flash. No satellites shown on homepage.
Moved powered device into garden and gps green led commenced flashing and 8 satellites shown on home page.
Without the saucepan shielding the gps I manage to receive satellites in the house and away from windows.
I must have thin walls and basic glazing.
Bryce
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I've just experimented with a couple of my GPSs. One of them doesn't flash if it's not got a lock. Another one seems to flash all the time though. I even put it on an extension lead and dangled it down the fins of a radiator and it was still flashing! Must be ultra sensitive, or the extension lead was acting as an aerial.
How did you see inside the saucepan? ??? :)
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We'll add that to the operating instructions
"Do not cover your device with a metal saucepan, this will affect the GPS" ;D ;D ;D
I wonder if anyone else can place the conversation....
"It doesn't say 'DON'T pour washing up liquid into it"
"Well, it wouldn't would it, it doesn't say 'Don't chop it into little pieces, put it in a paper bag and flush it down the toilet' "
"Maybe that's where we are going wrong"
"Vivian, put the video down"
;D
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Young Ones !
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"Have we got a video?"
What I want to know, as a Welshman, was it a big saucepan or a little saucepan, and did the cat scram young Johnny?
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"Have we got a video?"
What I want to know, as a Welshman, was it a big saucepan or a little saucepan, and did the cat scram young Johnny?
well as a welshman, then it would be 'Sosban Fach'
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Sosban fach yn berwi ar y tân,
Sosban fawr yn berwi ar y llawr,
A'r gath wedi sgrapo Joni bach.
A little saucepan is boiling on the fire,
A big saucepan is boiling on the floor,
And the cat has scratched little Johnny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXLlMTgfsrU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXLlMTgfsrU)
Anyway, I assume AerialRob has got everything working now? ;D
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You guys are cracking up! You need to get out flying more often ;D ;D
Peter
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The aeroplane's in having an oil leak checked at the moment, so I'm having a weekend of gardening, interspersed with forum reading.
I think it's that way round.
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Hello
Well not sorted but making progress.
Weather not suitable here for flying so we undertook a test in the car parked in a relatively clear sky area.
4 green flashing led's on the device , gps green led flashing with 8 satellites listed on the home page and all green flags.
Skydemon showing ADB-S contacts around the local area.
When a second tablet was connected gps signal kept dropping out on Skydemon requiring the "fly" button to be selected again . GPS drop out occurred quite frequently but reduced when mode s range was reduced in both distance and height.
Any thoughts ?
Regards
Bryce
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When a second tablet was connected gps signal kept dropping out on Skydemon requiring the "fly" button to be selected again . GPS drop out occurred quite frequently but reduced when mode s range was reduced in both distance and height.
Any thoughts ?
Q. You say gps signal dropping out on SkyDemon, do you really mean connection ?
Is the message
"Connection to GPS is lost" - this means a WiFi connection issue
or
"Seeking GPS Satellites" - this means a GPS Fix issue
Q. Was the dropout occuring on both tablets or just one ?
Q. What are the types of the tablets which were failing and/or working ?
When reconnecting to PilotAware please go back to the homepage and take a look at UPTIME, if this is a low number it means that the unit rebooted, if it is increasing monotonically, then the power has remained up.
Thx
Lee
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Hello Lee
We were using my iPhone and an iPad and both receiving the same message "connection to gps lost"
This required the skydemon fly button to be selected and connection was regained straight away .
Connection remained more stable with only the iPad connected and then with the mode s settings ultra short and +_2000 both became more stable with occasional disconnects.
I have included screen shot of homepage after just rebooting as not sure which number I am reporting.
Thanks
Regards
Bryce
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Hi Bryce
Thanks for the screenshot.
So the important info here is row 5 in the table
UPTIME | .... up 0 days 00:07, ...
So this is telling us, at the time you looked at this page, the system had been running for only 7 minutes.
Does that sound correct, OR, was this a reboot due to a power issue ?
If you beleive that the system should have been up for more than 7 minutes, then there is a power issue,
because it had rebooted 7 minutes before this screen grab.
Thx
Lee
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Hello Lee
After testing the device in the vehicle it was powered off then latter restarted to screenshot the homepage I sent.
The Anker battery specification states it can supply 4.8A at 5v and it was only powering the PilotAware device during testing in the vehicle.
Thanks
Regards
Bryce
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Hello Lee
Managed an air test today and pleased to report the device worked fautlessly.
We had an iPhone and iPad connected using SkyDemon with the warning setting at +-5000.
Both devices remained connected and both ADBS and mode S targets were shown and visually identified.
Looking forward to some PilotAware traffic now.
For completeness I consider this topic to be solved.
Regards
Bryce