Warning to users of Zaon PCAS MRX

On Feb 20, 3:21*pm, Westbender wrote:
On Feb 20, 11:43*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:



On Feb 20, 9:10*am, kd6veb wrote:

Hi Gang
* This thread prompted me to think as to how the MXR unit ignores my
transponder in my glider which is being pinged regularly where I fly?
Explanation anyone or a pointer to where I could find an answer to my
question? Thanks.
Dave

Dave RTFM! This is described in the manual. The MRX uses its internal
altimeter to compare to the Mode C altitude tramitted by an
transponder. If the values are close it assumes it is your transponder
it is seeing and supresses the alert. *The exact logic/tollerances it
uses however is not described.

Darryl

I don't own one of these yet, but I just have to ask this question.

Are you saying if a target is at the same altitude as you, it will be
suppressed? That is a scary thought! I would think the horizontal
proximity would also be part of the suppression criteria.

I don't want to speak for them but the answer is no! I have had
plenty of alerts when the target is at the same altitude as myself
when the unit is working. This includes my towplane and other
aircraft in the same gaggle (circling with the air force gliders at a
contest near radar). In normal operation you never pick up yourself
if you have a transponder.

Bruno - B4

On Feb 20, 3:02*pm, Bruno wrote:
On Feb 20, 3:21*pm, Westbender wrote:



On Feb 20, 11:43*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:

On Feb 20, 9:10*am, kd6veb wrote:

Hi Gang
* This thread prompted me to think as to how the MXR unit ignores my
transponder in my glider which is being pinged regularly where I fly?
Explanation anyone or a pointer to where I could find an answer to my
question? Thanks.
Dave

Dave RTFM! This is described in the manual. The MRX uses its internal
altimeter to compare to the Mode C altitude tramitted by an
transponder. If the values are close it assumes it is your transponder
it is seeing and supresses the alert. *The exact logic/tollerances it
uses however is not described.

Darryl

I don't own one of these yet, but I just have to ask this question.

Are you saying if a target is at the same altitude as you, it will be
suppressed? That is a scary thought! I would think the horizontal
proximity would also be part of the suppression criteria.

I don't want to speak for them but the answer is no! *I have had
plenty of alerts when the target is at the same altitude as myself
when the unit is working. *This includes my towplane and other
aircraft in the same gaggle (circling with the air force gliders at a
contest near radar). *In normal operation you never pick up yourself
if you have a transponder.

Bruno - B4

The electronic technology isn't there yet.
Who wants "the boy who cried WOLF" in the cockpit, or the need to
consider whether you're being interrogated by RADAR for the thing to
work?
Something akin to the Swiss unmentionable-on-this-forum device is
needed in all aircraft.
They fail too, mostly due to bad antennas. But at least you know it
when the towplane or the glider launching after you are not on the
visual display.
Heads up!
Jim

On Feb 20, 3:02*pm, Bruno wrote:
I have had
plenty of alerts when the target is at the same altitude as myself
when the unit is working. *This includes my towplane and other
aircraft in the same gaggle (circling with the air force gliders at a
contest near radar). *In normal operation you never pick up yourself
if you have a transponder.

Bruno - B4

On Feb 21, 10:53*am, JS wrote:
The electronic technology isn't there yet.
* Who wants "the boy who cried WOLF" in the cockpit, or the need to
consider whether you're being interrogated by RADAR for the thing to
work?
* Something akin to the Swiss unmentionable-on-this-forum device is
needed in all aircraft.
They fail too, mostly due to bad antennas. But at least you know it
when the towplane or the glider launching after you are not on the
visual display.
Heads up!
Jim

On Feb 20, 3:02*pm, Bruno wrote:

I have had
plenty of alerts when the target is at the same altitude as myself
when the unit is working. *This includes my towplane and other
aircraft in the same gaggle (circling with the air force gliders at a
contest near radar). *In normal operation you never pick up yourself
if you have a transponder.

Bruno - B4



Jim

The false alarm/"boy who cries wolf" problem like what Andy is
describing appears to be very rare with the Zaon MRX. My experience is
if the MRX warns of a threat you get your eyes outside looking for it.
It is (literally) eye opening how much stuff an MRX can find that you
might otherwise miss.

All these traffic awareness technologies, including Flarm (there I
said it!) have limitations. The main limitation with Flarm is not
having a magic wand to wave to get Flarm units installed in other
aircraft, and many of those other aircraft have transponders today.
And while it would be great to see things like PowerFLARM (PCAS, ADS-B
1090ES data-in and yes FLARM!) installed in the USA glider fleet, I
expect you will never be able to convince a significant number of GA
aircraft in the USA to have Flarm anything (including combined
products like a PowerFLARM).

Darryl


Darryl