On Saturday, September 15, 2012 7:59:20 AM UTC-7, K wrote:
Mike and Kev,

Thanks for the response. So far we have one vote for Paper Weight and on vote for keep at it . Sorry for the tone, and I don't mind having an old instrument (Ive had an old Cambridge that I was no longer able to connect to a computer but an Oudie worked great for loading it), But the fact that this thing is still available new in what appears to be its early 1990s version is amazing.

Is there an online forum anywhere. Also, can this thing be made to work with any of the PDA style devices (I am a See You Mobile customer so that would be best). If I want to load tasks or declarations am I stuck with the Volkslogger?

Thanks Guys.

Kirk, add another the the "keep it it's a great instrument" list. I've been using an SN10 for 12 years and still think it's one of the best gliding computers available - and so does Dick Butler, by the way, check out his Concordia cockpit!

First to clear up some misconceptions: Just about any GPS will work - just need the right connector. I started with a Garmin Pilot 3, then a Themi, and now use a wired-in Garmin 35 puck. It will also work with a PowerFLARM, infact it has it's own dedicated Flarm pages that repeat what is displayed on the PF display.

Next, the old way to update software and download flights required either a notebook with the right software and cable (the special cable is a dumb idea!) or a properly setup PDA, again with special software and the dumb cable. It works, and I can tell you how to set it up if you want to go that way, but it's a pain; the solution is to get the USB adaptor and all the hassle goes away. To load software or databases, just put them on a USB thumbdrive, stick them in the adaptor in the cockpit, and turn on the SN10. For downloading flights, after you land, just put in the thumbdrive and the flight automatically downloads.

Turnpoint and airspace files are a bit of a chore to make, but there are tools online to help, and the turnpoint exchange has premade ones (http://soaringweb.org/TP/HomePage.html#toc).

There are two versions out there, SN10 and SN10B, which have different hardware and displays but are apparently pretty similar. This is important when it comes to setting up some cables and doing software updates, so determine which kind yours is.

Cumulus soaring is a good place to have a custom cable made to connect your SN10 to just about anything - just figure out what your want to hook up to and tell Paul and he can help. For example, he made me a custom panel cable that has my hardwired GPS35 (power from the SN10), and a cable for data with a RJ45 connector, and a cable with a DB9 for the USB adaptor. The vario and wind data from the SN10 goes into a K6Mux, where it is combined with the Flarm and GPS data from my PowerFLARM brick, and sent to an Oudie. All just plug and play.

Finally, the place to go is http://www.nadler.com/sn10/SN10_Resource_Index.html, there is all the info you need, including the latest software updates, up to date manuals, and a nifty simulator that you can put on your PC and play around with to determine how to setup your custom pages, etc, and to check to see if your turnpoint and airspace files are good.

Please feel free to contact me directly if/when you have more questions.

So, yeah, it's old, kinda like a 1911A1 is old.

Cheers,

Kirk
66

(PS I think Michael was trying to score an SN10 cheap!)