Butterfly display (displaying a big red logo under normal flight conditions)

My "own transponder" functionality works just fine and I never get a self
alert.

I'm not sure what it's doing early in the flight - pressing the right switch
to the left, it shows a transponder code of 4707 (IIRC) and, shortly later,
it shows 1202, my squawk. It's fine after that.

"Andy" wrote in message
...
On Wednesday, October 16, 2013 8:34:06 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:

"After the early PCAS issues were resolved"

PCAS issues are still not resolved if you fly with a transponder. The fix
for continous "own ship" alerting appears to have been to inhibit reporting
of co-altitude targets. My portable still does not perform the function it
was purchased for (traffic awareness and collision warning for my airplane).

I hope the "other issues" the FLARM team are working on include making PCAS
work. That functionality is long overdue.


Andy

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 8:01:14 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
I have no doubt that there are faulty units around. I seen units which either don't receive well or don't transmit well. Could also be a setup issue or antenna issues. Just like with radios. Some installations work better than others. In my case I had PCAS issues until I replaced my PCAS antena. Could also be some sort of a comparability issue with some transponders if we can identify a trend. I have a mode C Becker and have no issues. I should also point out that I did not necessarily follow the installation recomendations. My PF antennas are telatively close to each other in the nose of my glider close to the pedals and not completely vertical yet the reception is pretty good, even from behind. I've seen installations partially below the glare shield which also work relatively well.



Ramy

My antennas are on the top of the glare shield according to instructions with the right separation and no compass in my glider. My glider is not a flying museum .

I will see how my unit works in the other glider.

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 5:15:14 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
My "own transponder" functionality works just fine and I never get a self

alert.



I'm not sure what it's doing early in the flight - pressing the right switch

to the left, it shows a transponder code of 4707 (IIRC) and, shortly later,

it shows 1202, my squawk. It's fine after that.



"Andy" wrote in message

...

On Wednesday, October 16, 2013 8:34:06 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:



"After the early PCAS issues were resolved"



PCAS issues are still not resolved if you fly with a transponder. The fix

for continous "own ship" alerting appears to have been to inhibit reporting

of co-altitude targets. My portable still does not perform the function it

was purchased for (traffic awareness and collision warning for my airplane).



I hope the "other issues" the FLARM team are working on include making PCAS

work. That functionality is long overdue.





Andy

I used to notice the same with my MRX. When you fly close to another aircraft it will throw off both the squawk code and altitude for a while, until it eventually correct itself, or if you recycle the power. The same (for altitude) does not happen with PF PCAS.

Ramy

I guess my old-fashioned Lithuanian sailplane (vintage 2001) is a museum
piece. The flight manual lists a compensated magnetic compass as required
equipment.

Not I know that the electronic instruments are far better than a mag
compass, but what's the FAA (or your governing body) going to say if you're
not in compliance with your flight manual?


wrote in message
...

snip

My antennas are on the top of the glare shield according to instructions
with the right separation and no compass in my glider. My glider is not a
flying museum .

I will see how my unit works in the other glider.

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 3:58:59 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
I have hundreds of hours with transponder and PF without a single false alarm. None of the 50 pilots or so that flying in our region with both PF and transponder are reporting this issue. So it is time for you to conclude this is likely a unique issue with your setup or send your PF to repair.



Ramy

But are you, and the 50 others you cite, using the PF portable? Not that I suspect there is any difference in this respect.

Did you read the firmware release notes that describe the failure to detect co-altitude targets. If so, why do you dismiss FLARM's own assertion that there is an issue?

Wonderful that you have no false alerts but don't you have any concern that the manufacturer knows that co-altitude targets, the only ones that can hit you, may not be detected?

Andy

I know of at least 5 pilots flying with portable and transponder and have no false alerts. I only know one locally who has the same issue. I would also like to hear the response from the factory. It seem that portables have more issues than brick. I recommend people to get the brick.

Ramy

Thinking again about the displays...

the Portable unit has the large radar screen, with the bottom sliver cut off (and thats ok!) giving good situational awareness (SA) to the sectors of interest, large icons, etc.

The BF display has the complete radar screen, with data to the right. So this display is more setup for a tactical awareness (TA) purpose.

If/When the BF team get around to bringing their products back in-line to each other, it would be nice for the user to be able to select the option of either the SA or the TA display.

I agree with the statement that any rotation of the knob should be first and foremost for zoom levels, rather than target selection.. heck that could be another user selectable feature.

-Britton

On Friday, October 18, 2013 9:35:13 AM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
I know of at least 5 pilots flying with portable and transponder and have no false alerts. I only know one locally who has the same issue. I would also like to hear the response from the factory. It seem that portables have more issues than brick. I recommend people to get the brick. Ramy

You're just not getting it. The latest firmware fixes the spurious own transponder alerts at the expense of reliable co-altitude alerting. Saying that you have no spurious alerts contributes nothing. Tell me instead about how many alerts you have had for transponder targets that maintained the same altitude as you while in the alerting volume.

If you fly only a glider you may never see this scenario. If you fly a powered airplane then it is not only possible but likely.

Andy

Ok, I missunderstood your comment. I suspect this suppression only happens at the exact same altitude consistsntly. I didn't notice targets disappearing when flying together, and I am flying with latest firmware since it was released. I assume their algorithm is smart enough to make it a non issue. Did you experienced targets disappearing when you fly power at the same altitude as other traffic?

Ramy

On Friday, October 18, 2013 10:38:52 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
I guess my old-fashioned Lithuanian sailplane (vintage 2001) is a museum

piece. The flight manual lists a compensated magnetic compass as required

equipment.



Not I know that the electronic instruments are far better than a mag

compass, but what's the FAA (or your governing body) going to say if you're

not in compliance with your flight manual?





wrote in message

...



snip



My antennas are on the top of the glare shield according to instructions

with the right separation and no compass in my glider. My glider is not a

flying museum .



I will see how my unit works in the other glider.

It is off topic but if you have a magnetic solid state compass it will pass in experimental but I guess it will not pass in type certified glider.