Topics

1

Technical Support / Update of Latest Software

« on: December 03, 2016, 02:39:03 pm »

I've tried uploading the latest software using the instructions from the PAW website but with no success. When I first got the hardware I (somehow) managed to see the PAW page with all the details on but I can't remember how I got that (or where I saw it - on my PC or on my iPad). This is what I've done so far...

1 Unplugged the ethernet cable (to the broadband router) from PC and connected the PAW box directly to router via this ethernet cable.   
2 Started the PAW box by plugging the USB cable into my PC USB slot (red light comes on). So PAW now talking to my router.
3 So where do I now type in 192.168.1.1? I can connect my iPad to the PAW box via WiFi (using WiFi dongle...) but when I open Safari on my iPad and type in the 192.168.1.1 nothing happens. If I type 192.168.1.1 on my PC browser of course it cannot find anything because my PC is no longer connected to the internet.

Later that same afternoon: I think I've managed to update the software! After unplugging the ethernet cable from my PAW box, I managed to see the PAW pages on my iPad via the Safari browser. This shows the latest version as 21061124 and under the Updates tab it says No Software Updates available.

If I have got the latest version, it took far too long with lots of trial and error. There must be an easier way!   
 


 

2

Technical Support / Latest Software Update

« on: October 17, 2016, 07:19:55 pm »

I see from the PAW Home page that the latest version of the software on my device is 20160520 - which surprised me as I bought the kit only a few days ago. So I followed the instructions to update with the latest version.
When I got as far as "checking for updates" nothing happened and so I think I must have the 192.169.1.xxx router. Then the instructions are a bit vague: 
"There are 2 ways to  overcome  this:
Option  1
connect  to your  home  network,  and leave for 20 mins 
turn  off
disconnect from  home  network
turn  on
connect  to PilotAware from Tablet check the latest software has downloaded".

I'm reading the instructions on my desktop PC, disconnected the ethernet cable from my PC and connected it to my PAW unit and powered it up via my new Anker power source. Then I connected my iPad to the PAW via the WiFi link and and opened the Pilotaware home page on the iPad. This showed the software version was still 20160520. So I waited and on my iPad the blue line kept flashing across (page refreshing?). I waited an hour and still the blue line kept flashing and flashing...   So I'm starring to think I've done something wrong.

The instruction above don't say what to connect to what or what to turn off/on. It would be useful to have an idiot-proof of downloading the latest software.  Help please!

PS and it might be helpful to suggest how long one has to wait for the software to be downloaded and installed; 5 minutes, 20 minutes or more?

3

General Discussion / PAW take-up and Coverage

« on: October 15, 2016, 01:04:16 pm »

I was thinking how widespread the take-up of PAW actually is so here's my attempt at a summary:
 * PAW can detect the range, bearing and relative altitude of nearby traffic using ADS-B (most CAT traffic?)
 * PAW can detect the range, bearing and relative altitude of nearby a/c using PAW (a low % of GA a/c?)
 * PAW will soon be able to detect nearby traffic using Mode C/S but only their relative altitude not their bearing and range (a large % of GA a/c?)
 * PAW can detect a/c like gliders using FLARM but needs a FLARM "mouse" which is expensive 

So best results using ADS-B and PAW as the transmission source but not as good for Mode C/S. ADS-B generates a more powerful signal but this route is pricey. PAW is a the only low-cost alternative so the more a/c that use it the better. 

Is that a fair summary? 
 

4

General Discussion / Altitudes Displayed

« on: October 14, 2016, 04:00:32 pm »

Tried out my shiny new PAW yesterday while getting a Traffic Service from Brize Radar who advised us of a helicopter passing 500' below us which then appeared on my iPad showing -500. Apart form the little aeroplane icon, SkyDemon didn't generate a banner alert. Should it have? And I assume that the baro encoder in PAW is calibrated to standard pressure so shows the Pressure Altitude? As the transmission from the helicopter was almost certainly ADS-B, I guess his altitude is also based on a pressure setting of 1013 - so that the difference displayed on SkyDemon is accurate and we don't have to worry about a conversion if flying on QNH?