Messages

241

General Discussion / Re: Skydemon + PAw, simultaneous audio output

« on: March 12, 2019, 03:03:23 am »

It is my belief that when the new PAW audio is released and output using the Bluetooth capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 3 that all our audio worries will be solved 

I haven't used it but I think the Sky Demon intelligent audio sounds like a very good idea and really quite clever at what it does. However, Tim has certainly made it clear that he doesn't like bearingless targets and thinks ground stations should be seen as aircraft. It's his train set, so I suppose he can implement whatever ideas he considers best. I would like to be alerted to bearingless targets, so would prefer the PAW audio (via BT to my headset).  If PAW doesn't tell me which runway I'm entering then I'm sure I'll cope. As for the SD airspace audio warnings, well I realise I wouldn't get those but will have to rely on the visual banners instead.

As a very good alternative, EasyVFR 4 looks to be shaping up nicely and it will be interesting to see how it performs when it hits the streets. Audio traffic warnings (including bearingless) plus airspace warnings, all over BT.......certainly an option I'll be considering very carefully......and PAW ground stations = ground stations 

242

Technical Support / Re: PilotAware Audio Output

« on: February 28, 2019, 11:14:15 pm »

I get SkyDemon warnings through blue tooth, but there’s no audio warnings coming from PilotAware even though aircraft are showing (Call sign and vertical Clearance) on the SkyDemon screen in flight.

I believe SkyDemon does not give any audio warning for bearingless targets but, apart from that, the SkyDemon traffic warnings should be the same as the PAW warnings. I assume you have the latest version of SkyDemon (with the 'intelligent' verbal audio) and that you've turned on all the speech options in the SD settings. In which case you should get verbal traffic warnings from SD and can use that until the new and improved version arrives from PAW   

243

Technical Support / Re: PilotAware Audio Output

« on: February 28, 2019, 07:35:56 am »

Peter, so until the software update is released, then its a physical connection between my Radio interface and PilotAware?

Or pair your tablet with your interface (as per your YouTube video) and use SkyDemon's vocal audio until PAW's comes out. No need to hard wire anything......until you get your transponder.

244

Technical Support / Re: PilotAware Audio Output

« on: February 27, 2019, 09:00:42 am »

Cheers Peter, all understood. I was just wondering if there was a technical reason he had to wire the PAW to the adapter and to see whether I was talking my normal load of bolleaux 

245

Technical Support / Re: PilotAware Audio Output

« on: February 26, 2019, 11:02:07 pm »

Hi Peter,

Why would Graham need to hard wire the PAW to the interface? He said he has a Micro Avionics BT adapter, so wouldn't that act as a BT receiver from his iPad (with SkyDemon) and then pipe the audio to his headset?

I've never seen or used one of these adapters, whereas you flexwing chaps seem to all have them. The very slight possibility may be that I've got it all wrong......again 

I think this is what he has: https://www.ukppg.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1464783

246

Technical Support / Re: PilotAware Audio Output

« on: February 26, 2019, 07:56:23 am »

Hi Gramac,

Non-expert here    I assume you are running your Sky Demon on an iPad or similar. If this is the case you should be able to pair your iPad (or similar) Bluetooth to your MicroAvionics radio interface. Provided you have the latest version of Sky Demon then you should get audio from it, to your headset, via the iPad Bluetooth connection. Make sure all the audio options are turned on or else it'll be quire quiet. There is a simulator function that allows you to test the new SD audio but I only speak from Forum knowledge as mine is still but a dream.

I have never heard of the radio interface but, presumably, it is a Bluetooth receiver that connects to your headset allowing you to hear anything it is paired with. If this is the case then you shouldn't need any more hardware.

Mentioned in another thread is the forthcoming Bluetooth audio output directly from Pilot Aware (using the Raspberry Pi 3). I believe they said they were going to combine that with the new MLAT functionality. Fairly obviously, you would then just pair your radio interface with your PAW instead of your iPad (or similar).

For ADSB Out from your Trig transponder you need to supply the GPS data from your PAW to the extended squitter of your Xpdr. If you search on this forum you'll find plenty of information about it but you'll need to buy an RS232 adaptor (I THINK it is the FTDI but hopefully someone who knows what they're talking about can confirm it) that plugs into one of the PAW USB ports and then one wire (TX) goes to pin 5 on the TT21/22 and the ground wire goes to pin 4. This will cost you about 18 squids.

247

Technical Support / Re: Audio alerts - how to connect PAW to Funke ATR833-II radio

« on: February 24, 2019, 08:59:33 am »

This sort of thing might help:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ground-Isolator-Neoteck-Filter-Eliminator-Black/dp/B076J3GD74/ref=pd_cp_23_1/259-0072402-9124720?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B076J3GD74&pd_rd_r=5a3cc744-3812-11e9-b19b-8fd3a333dfb7&pd_rd_w=szfcw&pd_rd_wg=LvjzR&pf_rd_p=01704ebe-a86a-4b47-8c36-0f9f5bbc2882&pf_rd_r=WHC6SV5HS0TCEWJM1EXS&psc=1&refRID=WHC6SV5HS0TCEWJM1EXS

248

General Discussion / Re: Web radar circle background color

« on: February 20, 2019, 11:12:16 pm »

What if you have two bearing-less targets? It's no good changing the whole screen even if you did change it for the highest priority target. You then wouldn't know what priority the second target is.

For a radar screen I quite like the way James is doing it on the Aircrew instrument:

249

General Discussion / Re: GPS Splitter

« on: February 10, 2019, 09:48:13 am »

That's all fantastic info and thank you for taking the time to explain stuff so that even I can understand it :-)

I'm very pleased I'll be able to feed my PAW with NMEA messages from the SP12 and it'll all work without me having to adjust anything.

I certainly take your point regarding the single point failure for the BFI57 and may well end up just having it's own antenna (probably would be a better description). However, the SP12 will have it's own power supply and will be able to run off the battery, separate to the EFIS. If it gets to the stage where I've got no electricity then I'm buggered, 'cos it's a 912iS and they need wigglies to keep the prop turning, so I'll be looking for a field anyway and most likely not consulting my GPS  The other thing I discovered (once I'd manage to get hold of a BFI57 manual) is that they do have an RS232 Rx. I have written to Funke, explained the GPS messages transmitted by the SP12 NMEA Tx and asked them if the BFI would accept this as a GPS input. If they say no, then separate antenna it definitely is. The EFIS has its own GPS antenna, whereas the SP12 is basically for the transponder and acts as a backup GPS if the EFIS's's's's own fails.

I really appreciate the lesson in baud rates versus message length and understand now why the SIL 3 would need a high rate.

At least I'm down to 3 antennas now 

250

General Discussion / Re: GPS Splitter

« on: February 09, 2019, 09:53:04 am »

Thank you for your reply. I did post a message earlier but I think I must have had finger trouble as it didn't appear anywhere 

I've been looking further into your idea about using the NMEA GPS message output from the RS232 TX of the MGL SP12 GPS.

I have asked Rainier at MGL if this can be used at the same time as the CAN bus, which will connect the SP12 to my TT21 transponder but, assuming this is okay, it would seem you can connect more than one device to the RS232 output.

I am thinking RS232 wire to a USB adapter (makes a change from the other way round) to 'feed' my PAW with GPS position information and, possibly, an RS232 wire to SMA adapter to 'feed' the same position to my Funke BFI57 'back up' instrument (I haven't seen if this adapter is a real thing yet). Any snags with this please feel free to shout out 

Now, going a bit techie, does anyone know what baud rate would be acceptable to the PAW box, assuming it was being fed the GPS position as described above? The SP12 usually uses 115200 as the default and, I believe, this allows SDA 2, SIL 3. The baud rates of the SP12 can be changed and, obviously, this would not affect the PAW as it doesn't need those 'certified' numbers but I have no idea if going to a different baud rate reduces the SDA 2, SIL 3 of the SP12. I think I'm talking Greek at the moment 

I'll need to sort out the same thing with the BFI57 but one thing at a time.

So, does anyone have a view on all the above or am I on a hiding to nothing and will need to find room for 4 GPS antennas? 

251

General Discussion / GPS Splitter

« on: February 03, 2019, 02:22:57 pm »

It looks like I'm going to end up with 4 GPS antennas in my machine. 1 for the MGL iEFIS Lite. 1 for the super duper MGL SP12 SIL = 3. 1 for my Funke BF157 'backup instrument' and, finally, 1 for my PAW.

I have read various things about some (SP12 in particular) requiring a ground plane and the distances required between GPS antennas. All of this means I could be struggling to find suitable locations. Now, this is not impossible and if it comes to it then I'm sure I'll cope but I was wondering about the viability of a GPS splitter. Something like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Symmetricom-58536A-GPS-4-Way-Active-Antenna-Signal-1x4-Divider-Splitter-N-Female/283194294918?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=fbb6b1e433e5445f9ed94b55dba9766d&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=361827897630&itm=283194294918&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I was thinking that the SP12 GPS could be the 'master' input (since it's needed for the SIL = 3 etc) and then the other units could run off the splitter.

So, wise gurus of the Forum, what do you think? Am I worrying unnecessarily about the distance between GPS antennas? Is a ground plane really necessary for the SP12 GPS (it says so in their manual)? Do GPS splitters work or do they degrade the signal? In other words do I or don't I 

I have written to Mr MGL himself as he knows his stuff but realise there is a LOT of collective intelligence here on the matter, so thought I'd write twice.

252

Technical Support / Re: External Aerial questions and disable pilotaware out signal

« on: January 22, 2019, 04:27:55 am »

As I understand it, the OGN-R stations need to be aware that you're close by in order to send you information on Flarm traffic. I believe you wouldn't get that information if you did not have PAW Out as they have no way of seeing you otherwise. I don't know if the same scenario will apply to the MLAT information but, seeing as it is being re-broadcast from ground stations I think they will need to know you're there as well (that's guesswork on my part).

I'm interested in the expert answer to will you be seen twice if you have ADSB Out and PAW Out but this amateur thinks not. I believe the receiver sees your HEX code from both PAW and ADSB and realises they are one in the same and just displays one target. I am often wrong, however 

The 1090 ADSB antenna can be as simple as one of the TED transponder antennas.

The PAW/869 antenna can be a Flarm antenna or else you could buy the external antenna kit if you can't be bothered shopping around: https://pilotaware.com/product/external-antenna-installation-kit/

If you use the search function for external antennas you'll find a whole load of information on this site.....most of the questions I've asked myself 

253

Technical Support / Re: Power Experiment

« on: January 21, 2019, 01:26:08 am »

If the PAWin an aircraft ignored stationary 'targets' would it still be able to talk to ground stations to get OGN-R, MLAT etc, or would it ignore them because they're not moving?

254

Technical Support / Re: Dedicated screen interface

« on: January 16, 2019, 03:32:39 am »

Again from the glider perspective, the PAW unit needs a speaker system.

With the advent of PAW Bluetooth audio from Rosetta/Pi3 you could have a BT speaker. Could make the setup a lot simpler 

255

General Discussion / Re: Rosetta having crackling interference on voice warning

« on: January 03, 2019, 11:50:08 pm »

Yes, I was very pleased to see the development of Bluetooth audio and I am convinced it will be useful for many people 

The funny thing was getting a message from Lee the same day as I'd bought all the components to make an audio mixer. I will still make the mixer just for fun but will probably not fit it into the aircraft just to keep the panel looking 'clean'.

My Pi2 will be replaced with a Pi3 and then I'll eventually use the Pi2 for an OGN-R set up. The plan will be to eventually live on the Isle Of Wight (if the Oz house ever sells). I'm not sure there will be too much re-broadcasting to do there but it might help with an extra relay.

Just out of interest, does anyone know if the Pi3 can Bluetooth to more than one device? I know my iPad can only connect to one of my headsets and suspect it is a restriction of Bluetooth itself. I'm quite happy for me to hear the PAW audio and for my wife to think there's nobody else around but I suppose it would be better if both headsets could connect. It's really not that important and I'm delighted we'll be able to do away with another wire and, in my case, an audio mixer but it would be nice to know