PilotAware
British Forum => Technical Support => Topic started by: peastlake on May 12, 2021, 11:58:27 am
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Hi
Brand new Rosetta out of the box, external antennas hang out of a window, booted to set up (which was successful). But no 1090 connections?
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I would remove the cover and check the antenna pigtail is connected to the SDR module.
Also you have a voltage warning and is currently throttled. Can you confirm that you are using the supplied USB cable and a PSU capable of supplying 2A?
If both are good then it could be a faulty SDR. They can draw a high current when they fail, dragging the voltage down.
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Thanks Ian
Yes, using the supplied cable with a Logic3 battery pack with output rated at 2.4A. It’s been on for a bit, and the radio module (with the pink cable disappearing into the box?) is very hot! But the pink cable seems attached to the module plugged into the USB port.
I’ll try another battery pack. This one’s old & maybe a bit “tired”?
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Well, it’s on mains power now, and I’m still getting the same warnings. No 1090, voltage warning & “throttling”
Arghh
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The SDR does get hot. Try unplugging it and restarting the PAW. See if the power warning goes.
Probably best to contact Support@PilotAware.com.
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Hi Peastlake,
The home page is saying that the 1090 SD is "Connected", that tells us that the radio module is communicating with the PilotAware.
Just a thought, are there many transmitting aircraft around you for the receiver to pick up and register?
Also, the external antenna is a monopole, and requires a ground-plane.
The status colours on the home page are explained here.
https://www.pilotaware.com/knowledgebase/home-page (https://www.pilotaware.com/knowledgebase/home-page)
RED "Indicates that no packets have yet been received."
If it still doesn't work considering all of the above, please email support.
I hope this helps.
Ashley
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Hi peastlake,
Have you tried Iain’s tip? - try booting with the 1090 SDR removed from the USB port and see if this removes the Voltage and Throttled warnings. If it does, there could be a fault in the SDR (though it will have been tested prior to dispatch).
Ash is correct - the external (monopole) antennas do require a ground plane for proper efficient operation - however that shouldn’t stop the 1090 side receiving some high power CAT traffic without the ground plane (provided of course there was any flying within range). How long did you leave it? You can check for the presence of traffic locally on fr24.com. The other ‘quick test’ to check for any pigtail or antenna faults is to isolate the 1090 antenna system completely by unplugging the pigtail from the SDR and replacing the antenna system with a length of thin wire (length not critical for this test and insulated wire is fine - just bare the end) which fits into the centre only of the MCX socket as strong 1090 signals should be receivable on the proverbial ‘piece of wet string’ (though I definitely recommend wire)!
If no joy, get back to Ashley via the support email mentioned above.
Regards
Peter
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Thanks all for your comments.
Firstly the “reboot” seems to have cleared the throttle & voltage warnings.
The external aerial is the dipole type as supplied by PAW, not the type that requires a ground plane, but I’ve gone back to the short screw on aerial.
But I’m still getting the “red flag” for 1090. The Rosetta is on a windowsill, so can “see the air”, but is it possible it’s simple picking up NO traffic? There’s not a lot about, but FR24 is showing a couple of local aircraft at Stansted (8 miles or so away, on the other side of the house)
Is the case (apart from the cover hiding the USB ports, “undo-able”? I’ve got my PAW Classic on the trike at the airfield (which is supposed to go back to PAW). Could the SDR module be used from that?
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And how do you get the external GPS mouse through the cover over the USB ports? Simply cut a hole?
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Hi again peastlake,
Did you do the reboot with the SDR still in place? In any case it’s obviously now back in the USB slot, with no voltage issues reporting, so unlikely to be an SDR issue that caused that.
As Ash advised, a Red Light for 1090 traffic can just mean that no Mode C/S or ADSB traffic has been detected yet. This ‘problem’ could still be just lack of traffic - especially if you have tried with the screw-on 1090 antenna and are still getting no results. If you hadn’t swapped to the other antenna, I’d suspect the dipole, or the SDR still might be faulty. I’d certainly suggest trying the SDR from your Classic if you haven’t sent it back yet - especially if it has been working normally. Again, try to make sure that there is definitely ADSB traffic in the vicinity. Remember also that Mode C/S is ‘off’ by default unless you have changed your Config settings appropriately (also off in SkyDemon unless changed BTW), though ADSB should still be received.
You can open the main case, but it’s easy to break the clips if you don’t know where they are, so I’d keep that as a last resort.
If you look closely at the joint between the end cover and main case on the end of the unit (i.e. in line with the left hand row of USB slots) you will see that there is a preformed slot at the centre where the end cap meets the main case, specifically for the remote GPS cable to exit.
If you get your Rosetta running but still see no traffic, can you please post screenshots of the Config and Traffic Screens.
Regards
Peter
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is this issue still open ?
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Hi Lee,
I’m still waiting for an update from peastlake, so it is as far as I’m concerned.
Peter
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Sorry - been busy with work.
I’ll take it to the airfield tomorrow, switched on my Trig xponder (which is ADS-B out), remove my aircraft details from the PAW config, and see if I can see myself! Will report back....
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Hi peastlake,
Be aware that even after removing your own aircraft details from your PilotAware, you may NOT see your own transponder due to close proximity - as the PilotAware may recognise any strong Mode C response from your transponder as it being in your own aircraft and filter it out regardless of hexID.
For this reason it’s best to run the PilotAware away from the Aircraft you are trying to detect.
Peter
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I suspect if the SDR is correctly inserted in the USB slot, then it may have gone kaput :-(
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So I took the Rosetta to the airfield today. Still a red flag on the 1090 line on the home page when out in the open, and connected to the Charge-4 (a recommended power supply) on the trike.
Brought it & the Classic from out of the trike back home. Disconnected the little circuit board with the pink pig tail from the USB port on the Rosetta & plugged the D-TV dongle from the Classic into the same USB port on the Rosetta. Result - all green flags! See attached.
Powered off, disconnected the D-TV dongle and replugged in the little circuit board back into the same USB port. Power back on. Red flag on the 1090 line. See second screenshot attached to next post (522K is too restrictive!) Conclusion-duff little circuit board!
What to do next?
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After putting back in Rosetta’s little circuit board (obviously powered off while swapping these around)
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I’m supposed to be returning the Classic, but obviously can’t until the new unit is working properly.
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Put the SDR from the classic in the Rosetta?
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That's what I did Ian - isn't it? Otherwise I'm confused!
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Hi peastlake,
Yes, that is what you did. Good news, you have confirmed that that was the problem - the new SDR (the circuit board without the case) was obviously faulty. If you are happy, just keep the one from your Classic and send the rest back (it will be re-used to set up another Ground Station).
If you’d prefer a new replacement, hang on to the old SDR to keep your new Rosetta going meantime and put the defective one in with the Classic with a clear note to the effect that it is defective - (refer to this thread) - and ask Ash to replace it. (I’m sure he will be happy to let you keep the old dongle as a spare.)
Regards
Peter
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Thanks Peter. Didn’t know you could remove the aerial/pigtail from the dongle/SDR. Any trick to that? Don’t really want to use the D-TV aerial attached to the working dongle - that was one of the reasons for upgrading
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That's what I did Ian - isn't it? Otherwise I'm confused!
Sorry, I missed that post :-[
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Hi peastlake,
The antenna cable is just a push fit - same as the connection between the pigtail and the small board inside the Rosetta, so you can simply swap over the two SDRs. You can easily take the black case off the dongle from the Classic by splitting it at the obvious join with a thin blade, or even a thumbnail. The case then slips off quite easily.
Regards
Peter
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Hi Peastlake,
Please can you PM me your order number?
I will soak test and send you a replacement SDR.
Kind Regards,
Ashely