LXNAV S80 Pilot Reports?

On Monday, July 27, 2015 at 6:16:43 PM UTC+2, wrote:
Would anyone care to comment on their experience with the LXNAV S80 vario? Pro's, con's, likes, dislikes, does it perform per manual specs, etc? On paper it looks like a very nice instrument. Thanks for any feedback.

-Mark

I have about 40h with the S80 now in my LS7. My setup is as follows:

PowerFlarm Core Pure - S80 - RasberryPI with USB Serial and Wifi AP - Blackberry Passport with XCSoar


Highlights:
* Very good display
* Very good task function (tested in competition)
* Powerflarm can be powered directly from GPS port
* PDA Port with Power (5v/1A)
* Accurate Wind
* Flarm Display integrated (i threw out the led display)
* Task/Waypoint overview
* STF mode great for Finalglide
* Protocol PDA is the same as for the V7 (S7)
* Easy Firmware upgrades

What it (currently) doesn't do:
* Nearest Airports (This i miss...)
* IGC Logging (I do it via the powerflarm. USB Sticks are very comfortable)
* AAT Task Time optimization (It does AAT just no optimization)
* Airspace warnings (This i miss...)
* Spoken Flarm alerts (I was under the impression it should)

Things I'm still working out:
* Polar calculation does not match XCSoar's which is a shame for Auto MC
* The PTOT Probe in my unit seems defective. I have no TAS
* Using the digial IO pins for the water valves

Sounds like a great system!

Since you mentioned XCSoar, your map displays airports with a good
turnpoint file. If you want a list, simply draw a backwards "L" on the
screen (down then left) and you'll get a list of alternates ordered by
distance.

Likewise, with a .sua (special use airspace) file selected in XCSoar,
you'll get airspace warnings.

Good luck!

On 7/28/2015 5:18 AM, wrote:
On Monday, July 27, 2015 at 6:16:43 PM UTC+2, wrote:
Would anyone care to comment on their experience with the LXNAV S80 vario? Pro's, con's, likes, dislikes, does it perform per manual specs, etc? On paper it looks like a very nice instrument. Thanks for any feedback.

-Mark
I have about 40h with the S80 now in my LS7. My setup is as follows:

PowerFlarm Core Pure - S80 - RasberryPI with USB Serial and Wifi AP - Blackberry Passport with XCSoar


Highlights:
* Very good display
* Very good task function (tested in competition)
* Powerflarm can be powered directly from GPS port
* PDA Port with Power (5v/1A)
* Accurate Wind
* Flarm Display integrated (i threw out the led display)
* Task/Waypoint overview
* STF mode great for Finalglide
* Protocol PDA is the same as for the V7 (S7)
* Easy Firmware upgrades

What it (currently) doesn't do:
* Nearest Airports (This i miss...)
* IGC Logging (I do it via the powerflarm. USB Sticks are very comfortable)
* AAT Task Time optimization (It does AAT just no optimization)
* Airspace warnings (This i miss...)
* Spoken Flarm alerts (I was under the impression it should)

Things I'm still working out:
* Polar calculation does not match XCSoar's which is a shame for Auto MC
* The PTOT Probe in my unit seems defective. I have no TAS
* Using the digial IO pins for the water valves

--
Dan Marotta

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 4:48:53 PM UTC+2, Dan Marotta wrote:
Sounds like a great system!
thx Dan!

Since you mentioned XCSoar, your map displays airports with a good
turnpoint file.* If you want a list, simply draw a backwards "L" on
the screen (down then left) and you'll get a list of alternates
ordered by distance.

Likewise, with a .sua (special use airspace) file selected in
XCSoar, you'll get airspace warnings.
Yes, this is how i currently use the entire system. It just that I would like to have a backup device in case the mobile phone fails.
The device would be near perfect if it could do the airport and airspace calculations. You could go Cross Country with just the Vario. I currently use a kyobo e-reader and the mobile phone is the backup since it contains a standalone GPS. I also carry a powerbank for the phone and kyobo just in case..

Swiss airspace is very packed, and due to terrain you often have to skim the TMAs / CTRs in order to get somewhere. Without tech that is near impossible, that is why i'd like to see those functions in the vario.

- Folken

Thanks everyone for the very helpful replies!!