Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: SOLVED! - Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: June 08, 2016, 09:35:41 pm »

Will my 'special' build just do a normal update over the internet to the normal build now, or do I need to do something to revert back to normal?

2

General Discussion / Re: Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: June 06, 2016, 04:29:11 pm »

Just to close off my original question at the start of this thread ......

Having been using a version of PilotAware from Lee that reverted the WiFi configuration back to the old configuration, I've not had any problem with GPS dropping out.  Have been in various aircraft with it, including the C172 where the problems first arose.

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General Discussion / Re: Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: May 25, 2016, 08:08:28 am »

Hi Paul,
I had GPS in top right above WiFi.
I'm now trying a different WiFi configuration that Lee sent over last night which so far has seemed better.
I noticed first thing this morning that it took a good 2 - 3 minutes TTFF (from a SE facing window ledge) but once it had got its first fix it has seemed stable.
There now seems no difference in the number of satellites regardless of whether I plug the GPS dongle in directly, or on the USB extension lead.
I have noticed however, that when located in the same location - the dongle reports 'Satellites=6' whereas my Nexus 7 reports 11 satellites in use - so i guess the dongle is also lower sensitivity.
Richard

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General Discussion / Re: Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: May 24, 2016, 07:06:44 pm »

ok - usb cable tried....

If I put the UBlox7 on a 60cm USB cable number of satellites visible immediately goes from zero to 7 (keeping the U-blox in a fixed position and moving the PA away). 

If I then move the PA back towards the U-blox all is fine, until I hold the U-blox within a cm of the WiFi dongle and then drops to 4 visible.  If I plug back in directly in the same position also 4.

I've repeated this a few times, and the degradation results are not entirely consistent (anything between zero and 7) - but I am always getting 7 satellites visible when separated from the PA a little.

This would suggest that the performance of the GPS dongle is impaired a little when directly attached.  I observed that PA WiFi was on channel 6 during these tests.

Caveat:  Based on a small number of tests in one location in a 15 minute period!

Yes - happy to try another release (I'll probably stick it on another SD card so I can toggle between the two to compare)

5

General Discussion / Re: Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: May 24, 2016, 05:25:21 pm »

The Skydemon error has been 'searching for satellites' 
(and if I go to the PilotAware status page in the browser, it shows 0 satellites on the GPS row - and no flashing green light on the dongle)

Separately I have had a couple of issues with WiFi dropping, but blamed that on one of the pair of GoPro's Wifi getting in the way (!!), and is probably unrelated to this issue.

In both cases I've been using the Ublox7 GPS dongle, and yes, I've tried swapping them around.

The bit that surprised me was that the tablet didn't seem to be able to get a location fix using its internal GPS until I powered off the PA - albeit that might be a coincidence, and I haven't been able to reproduce it this afternoon.

Previous version that was working ok was 20151219

I've got a USB extension lead, so will try putting a bit of distance between the GPS dongle and the various other interference sources.

6

General Discussion / SOLVED! - Pilotaware & GPS problems?

« on: May 24, 2016, 04:07:40 pm »

Has anyone had problems with Pilotaware interfering with GPS signals?

I've been using an early Pilotaware without bridge for a few months, and it's been fine - if anything the GPS was quicker to get a location fix and more stable than the tablet's internal GPS.

I'm using Skydemon on a Nexus 7 2013.  The PilotAware is sat on the P2 seat.

My new PilotAware arrived last week - so have been trying that out.
Last week the GPS kept dropping out - I thought it must just be having a bad day (Murphy's law about doing live demos and all of that!).

Today it wouldn't even get a location fix.  I switched over in SkyDemon from Flarm to 'Location Services' (i.e. internal GPS) .... still no location fix (left it trying for 60 seconds).  I powered off the PilotAware .... within a couple of seconds I then got a location fix, and all was stable for 2.5hr flying  - albeit obviously without a PilotAware.

I'm going to try putting the GPS dongle on a USB lead to separate it from the rest of the PilotAware.

Admittedly this was in a C172, so the sky is obscured from most angles, but the GPS in my tablet has historically coped ok, and seemed to be fine today once I switched off the PA.