Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Using PAW to test own Transponder

« on: November 09, 2020, 03:46:27 pm »

Thanks Graham.
I did spot this and had tried Enabling the maintenance mode for a short time.

Still nothing showed on the PAW traffic screen but perhaps I also need to press the ALT mode key to actually activate it? It is not clear from the manual

I hope to get up to Denham this week so will do more testing and let you all know
Thanks again for all your helpful input!
Rod

2

General Discussion / Using PAW to test own Transponder

« on: November 08, 2020, 11:07:16 am »

Hi,

We have a Garmin GTX 35R connected to and controlled by a Garmin G3X in our Sling 4. We also have a G5 with own GPS antenna on the same CANBUS

Following the recent article in the LAA Mag on EC I wanted to use our PAW to test the output and specifically confirm the SIL code being output.

I had previously done this during the build stage with an older version of PAW sw on the bench, and whilst the airframe was in a barn in Suffolk -  the hex code appeared as expected in the Traffic table.

Whilst testing yesterday in a hangar at Denham, I did not see our hex code in the table, but did see 15+ targets of various types.

I even tried changing the HEX code in PAW (different profile) temporarily to avoid it being filtered out but still nothing. Not sure when the filtering of own Hex code takes place?

My question is therefore, should I be seeing our own TXPDNR whilst stationary in a hangar if it set to ON and 7000? And if so what set up do I need to make this happen.

The advice in LAA TL3.03 seems to imply this should work - so what was i doing wrong!

Cheers Rod

3

General Discussion / Re: Mode-S pretty good after all!

« on: June 17, 2016, 05:36:42 pm »

Hi Lee and the whole team

You chaps are amazing!!

I have just received my "new" replacement Pi2 kit and within minutes had it up and running here are my desk in Fulham directly under the LHR flightpath (though unusually they are taking off to the East)

I had a go a setting the Mode S detection to "noisy" and instantly started getting audio reports of a helicopter tracking down the Thames nearby - brilliant!!

If interested have a look at

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nazuy8t5l3kswul/WP_20160617_013.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5sdaydtvox763c5/WP_20160617_014.mp4?dl=0

Anyway keep up the good work - I look forward to converting my RV9 group to PAW afficiandos!!

Rgds

Rod

4

General Discussion / Re: Mode C/S

« on: December 29, 2015, 06:33:54 pm »

Hi Rod -
I have moved this post to the Engineering thread

Thx
Lee

5

General Discussion / Re: In flight tests.

« on: November 20, 2015, 05:35:07 pm »

Good point and of course I new that... So at least two GA chaps with ADSB-Out enabled which is encouraging. We have a TRIG mode C transponder and G430's in the panel so at some point will look into making the necessary connection.

6

General Discussion / Re: In flight tests.

« on: November 20, 2015, 05:14:31 pm »

I took advantage of the brief blue skies around Denham and had a short test of PAW – had it sitting on the P2 seat of our venerable C177RG so was not expecting much but as you can see from the attached I picked up two contacts of note.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h4vwnfe00l20hoq/IMG_0168.PNG?dl=0


The one on the left was keeping close to Weston on the Green and I could see it beneath the sct layer – I am guessing a glider with FLARM

The more interesting contact was OXF30 which was tracking towards me and climbed above a sct layer then reversed course and flew directly back over my track 1000’ above – it was a twin so I am assuming had ADSB-Out enabled on its transponder. Since we were both doing general handling and there was a sct layer this was a real test and most useful.

Lots of other traffic around with Farnborough giving plenty of warning calls even for basic service for traffic which I didn't see! so as always the danger of TCAS in general is that unless EVERYONE is transmitting there is danger of fixating on the "live" targets and not the ones that will really hit you!

Looking forward to more testing and further enhancements esp on the separate topic of Mode C/S detection - the whole concept is brilliant!

7

General Discussion / Re: Transmit power and range

« on: October 30, 2015, 04:15:59 pm »

Thanks John - so it seems to Squitter or to Extended Squitter that is the question!

I am fortunate enough to have access to a nice Cardinal with a Mode-S Transponder and G430 for further testing but it has not yet undergone the upgrade to connect the two together (for fear the avionics chaps will mess up both!) so not sure how useful that will be at the moment.

One more question - am I  correct in assuming that PAW even with an ARF will also not pick up true F****M traffic as that has a different transmit protocol? Lee has just been very clever in utilising the existing SD F*****M interface to enable PAW to show ADS-B and (when available) ARF contacts? Or am I missing something?

Hope the weather clears and everyone can get some flying this weekend

8

General Discussion / Re: Transmit power and range

« on: October 30, 2015, 08:58:06 am »

HI All, I have successfully built two units at the weekend. Thanks to excellent documentation and advice on the forum both fired up first time with just the ADS-B In fitted. I did some initial testing in an RV9 over East Anglia and was gaily spotting the big jets heading into and out of Stansted, Norwich and even London at 2000' over Diss - see pic.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u0g2dnujcchezk4/IMG_0164.PNG?dl=0

Later when back on the ground I was still picking up a/c over Belgium - seems extraodinary - is that norm

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mhqfuo3ofgh102l/IMG_0165.PNG?dl=0

When my ARF and Jeremy's shield arrived I fitted and again fired up great. First test was at my desk in Fulham and again good results with ADS-B In.

I was interested to see one a/c turning onto finals at LCY (2000') and it had a course marker attached

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2sd8cp085egm4m5/IMG_0166.PNG?dl=0

 - does that mean I was receiving Mode S data? I understand that Mode-S on its own only transmits Reg and Height info on the ES - what should I expect to see on Skydemon for an a/c in that mode only (i.e no connection to a GPS source)

Keep up the good work

Cheers, Rod