Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Rosetta + Anker battery + on/off switch + eliminate microUSB

« on: November 23, 2020, 11:09:04 am »

Yeah I considered that but it seems to work equally as well in all orientations on the window sill but then it can only see half the sky so not a fair test.
Therefore no particular plans for orientation, there's no reason why it has to be that way up when stuck to the window in the a/c, that was just the easiest for a photo.
I'll be sure to report any problems.

17

General Discussion / Rosetta + Anker battery + on/off switch + eliminate microUSB

« on: November 21, 2020, 12:00:15 pm »

Just an idea of a modification for those who are happy with disassembly and soldering directly on to a board.
Don't attempt this if you are not completely happy as you are likely to damage the Pi.

I wanted to get rid of the micro USB sticking out of the side and also fit a power switch. This way I can leave the plug connected all the time.
The switch is a latching push-to-make that I have recessed into the case (bottom right of case) so it doesn’t get easily accidentally knocked.

The +ve is soldered onto PP2 on the Pi so that the supply is still protected but it's not the easiest to solder to. You could us one the many 5v feeds elsewhere on the 2 boards to make the soldering easier but then you miss the protection.

I put the -ve onto the HDMI shield as it had a decent size tab with few tracks close-by. Needs a hot iron with a suitably sized tip as the shield sinks the heat.

That switch isn't the most suitable as they are not rated as high as I would like but realistically should be ok. I drilled the hole to the larger collar size and then just used epoxy to stick it in. I've left enough wire so I can swap it if it causes any problems. It only just fits under the ADS-B adaptor and with hindsight the switch could have gone 1mm rearward which would have been better. Alternatively just move the USB plugs around (2 and 3 instead of 1 and 4). The push button only just protrudes from the side of the case so unlikely to get knocked but the oversize hole makes it easy to access when required.

I removed the 2 USB signal wires and sealed them up. I retained as much of the shielding as I could. I soldered a replacement 24AWG silicone wire onto the ground as this was easier to run. Lots of little bits of heatshrink to ensure nothing can short in there. The outer shrink is a glued one and the hole in the case is a tight fit. This keeps it nicely secure but I also added a cable tie to prevent pull-outs. 24gague silicone wire also from the switch to the Pi. (20 won't be necessary for this internal wiring and would be very difficult to solder to the tabs)

Oh and decent quality 3M double sided foam to stick the pack on - but not on the removable Rosetta cover so you can still get to the ports (just!)

Small mod that hopefully makes it much more simple to use.

UPDATE MARCH 2021
Cllick below link for a (possibly) unnecessary modification to improve GNSS reception when mounted upside down and with this battery pack attached.

18

General Discussion / Re: How to mute audio

« on: November 21, 2020, 10:17:11 am »

These are all really good ideas. I like the PAW audio as I often fly without SD/RWHD/EVFR running as I know where I am and where the NOTAMS are but I will try and keep PA running for the audio and the transmit to others. I jump between aircraft during a working day and often stay within 30 mins of the airfield sometimes never leaving the ATZ.
Some thoughts from reading this:

Low level/airspeed attenuation would be ok most of the time but it would inconveniently eliminate warnings when hovering in a random field and about to launch back into the air - often back up into a busy traffic area

With the audio set correctly, the only time I get too many notifications is within the ATZ. There's too much going on to find this useful. Having a 'disable audio within 2nm of this lat/long' might solve this? It would be nice if this was automated to "all airfields" but this would require PAW to have a database of airfields and their locations and at quiet ones, you might actually want notifications turned on.

Connecting the audio to the headset via bluetooth and being able to correctly 'mix' it might be the best plan

just a few thoughts

19

General Discussion / Re: Transmit location over GSM?

« on: May 17, 2019, 08:05:32 am »

... But if you're not using voice or data, leaving the phone switched on and not in flight mode isn't a huge problem.

I got the impression that just having the phone connecting to the network was the part that was not permitted, is this not the case?
To be honest I could not quite work out the specific details of the legislation link you sent. It seems to be an OFCOM exemption to the act of 2006 which permits the use of a GSM device under certain conditions - but that does not actually say that the device can't be used if those conditions are not met. I briefly looked in the act for the referenced section 8(1) but did not find it.

Can you provide any more information?

20

General Discussion / Re: Transmit location over GSM?

« on: May 15, 2019, 01:00:46 pm »

Airborne phones cause issues with the networks of ground receivers due to the number of ground masts that can be 'seen' compared to a device at ground level.

yeah exactly the problem I have had.

Good to know the rules tho - thanks for the link.

I'll make sure I always use my phone nice and high in future and initiate the fitment of the base stations into the fleet then we can hopefully progress this use of PA in this way.

21

General Discussion / Re: Transmit location over GSM?

« on: May 10, 2019, 10:31:52 pm »

EasyVFR Nav Program has used the 3G/4G network whilst airborne, for the last couple of years, for their flight tracking feature called “Virtual Radar”.

To quote their explanation of the feature; “ When you enable flight tracking your friends and family can monitor the progress of your flight via virtualradar.pocketfms.com
Simply pass them the flight ID that you created. As soon as flight mode is enabled and you start to move, the tracking will start. EVFR uses the mobile data 3G/4G capabilities of your device to send small packets of position reports every few seconds.”

I used this feature on the LAA 70th anniversary round Britain tour and it works very well showing your track virtually real-time on the map.

Yes EXACTLY like that!
I was hopoing that we could have PA do it directly and automatically. Not many of the heli users use EasyVFR and although I do use it, not on every flight (local training flights for example) so it would be great it if the feature just booked up with PA and started working as PA does. I think it would be a really beneficial safety feature.

22

General Discussion / Re: Transmit location over GSM?

« on: April 30, 2019, 05:39:00 pm »

Thinking about it further - I'm in helis the vast majority of time and so get all dizzy and confused of there is much more than 1000' below me!

The only problem I occasionally have with using the phone is actually when near towns and traveling quickly. It's seems as though the device cannot keep up with the changing of cell towers. This problem seems to have been massively reduced over the past few years though (maybe with 4G?) and is only really noticeable with voice where there can be temporary drop-outs.

The data being sent over the network to give position data would not need to be continuous of course. Just an idea of where the heli last had access to a network would at least narrow the search in the even of an overdue a/c. Especially if on a training flight and up around the fells of northern england.

There is equipment out there to do this such as spidertracks but PA is so nearly there is seems like a simple and cost effective compromise.

23

General Discussion / Re: Transmit location over GSM?

« on: April 29, 2019, 04:46:09 pm »

Note that transmitting in the air over the mobile network would be both unreliable and illegal.

What makes you say that? My mobile phone functions very well in the air the vast majority of time. As do the tablets with SIM cards used for the moving maps. EasyVFR also does pretty much exactly what I was asking of PA by sending location data to a nominated person. From a safety point of view it would be better if it was automated and for all users of an A/C and that's where I thought PA (permanent install) would come in.

As Lee points out, at least in the UK there's a network of OGN-R stations which receive PilotAware positions as well as Flarm positions.

Yes that solution would work but I am not sure that there are sufficient receiving stations (particularly around this area) to provide as much coverage as a mobile network would. Also, I am not sure if the data received by the OGN-R stations is readily available?

24

Technical Support / Re: FTP Server

« on: February 26, 2019, 11:52:15 am »

Next release has a blind frp site
You can download tracks
And upload new releases

Thx
Lee

which release does this apply to and is it available yet?

25

General Discussion / Transmit location over GSM?

« on: February 26, 2019, 11:49:07 am »

Has this been discussed before? I can't find it on the forum but it seems like a logical evolution of the PA unit.
Install a cheap PAYG sim card and then set the PA unit to transmit location to a server and therefore allow us to track the aircraft in our fleet.
There are some very cheap dedicated units that will achieve this but it means doubling up on GNSS receiver and also on power supply. The PA unit is already doing this but with only the transmit part of the process missing - oh and something to receive the data at the other end of course.

26

General Discussion / Re: Post processing, viewing and converting .trk files for track analysis

« on: August 03, 2018, 04:26:44 pm »

I'm not the only person that felt like there was something missing here then ;-)

27

General Discussion / Post processing, viewing and converting .trk files for track analysis

« on: August 03, 2018, 11:19:34 am »

I was just wondering if I am missing some information on the forum and in the documentation. I have had a really good search around but cannot really find what I am looking for. I also thought that if it is not already done, it would be useful to have it all in one place. Here's what I have found out:

.trk files can be saved to a USB stick by plugging into PA and using the web interface to sync - however, windows does not always format USB drives correctly for this. Therefore format the stick using the SD card formatter used to format the SD card in the PA (as per the instructions)

In future releases, it will be possible to sync tracks using FTP just like we can with the update file.

The latest PA operating instructions say "A software tool is available on the PilotAware forum that can analyse this data if required. In essence it contains a complete record of your flight, including all traffic information received by PilotAware. This can be used to play back your flight using your chosen navigation package. It will not only show you where you went but who came close to you as well."
The former file is discussed and can be downloaded here: http://forum.pilotaware.com/index.php/topic,535.0.html
The latter part of this statement refers to re-sending the flight to your nav software as if it's flying. A replay simulation type thing.
I think a little more documentation on these would be useful.

GPS Visualizer (web based) cannot view the files. http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/

Route Converter works (I had to update my Java first): https://www.routeconverter.com/stable-releases/en

I have tried to include as many search terms in this thread and title as possible to help others.

Can anyone add anything to all this?

28

Technical Support / Re: USB update not showing - SOLVED

« on: June 04, 2018, 09:42:45 pm »

Well that was it!

Blame the way windows formats USB sticks as FAT!
I have just formatted the stick using the SD card formatter used to format the SD card now in the PA (as per the instructions)
It still days FAT on windows properties but it is now recognised by the PA unit.
And yes, when I plug it back into Windows, it comes up with:
"There is a problem with this drive. Scan drive now and fix it."
but still works.

....but I'll be using FTP from now on!

thanks for all the help

29

Technical Support / Re: USB update not showing

« on: June 04, 2018, 08:30:27 pm »

Can we spilt the FTP into a different thread and set the USB issue to resolved, if it is?

I never really got to the bottom of the USB problem. I have 3 USB sticks that all work fine on all other devices tried so far. All formatted as Fat32 according to windows. 1 of them works and the others do not.
Interestingly, when I plugged the one that worked in PA back into my PC it said there was an error on the stick and it needed repairing.
So the USB problem has been resolved by using FTP instead 

30

Technical Support / Re: HEX Code

« on: June 04, 2018, 04:06:30 pm »

I have come across errors and omissions in the G-INFO database over the years. You should have one but it looks like the database doesn't know it.
- possibly a blessing ;-)