New LXNAV Wi-Fi Module

I see another discussion coming! How to prevent competition pilots using
live weather and OGN for competitive advantage....

Jim

At 05:31 26 February 2018, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi Jonathan,

I've sold quite a few of the LXNAV WiFi modules. I have one in the
LX9050
=
demo on my desk. It works great for uploading flights to the OLC or
emaili=
ng a flight log to yourself or the contest scorer. =20

One unexpected benefit is how it makes it extremely easy to update the
firm=
ware and airspace database in the LX9050. At power-up, after it connects
t=
o the internet through my home Wifi network or my iPhone, it checks the
ver=
sions. If there is an update available, it displays a message. To
update,=
I just press the Update button. I don't need to enter the unit's serial
n=
umber or any special code. It is much easier than bringing an SD card to
t=
he unit, and avoiding the need for a update code is also very convenient.
=
=20

So far, LXNAV doesn't seem to have found a source for weather data for
the
=
USA to display on the LX80x0 and LX90x0 products. I hope they will in
time=
.. =20

I'll have my LX9050 and WiFi module at the SSA Convention this week if
anyo=
ne wants to see it work.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

On Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 9:57:06 PM UTC-6, Jonathan St. Cloud
wrote:
Has anyone actually tried the wifi module, if so what are your
impression=
s? =20
=20
On Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 8:52:06 PM UTC-7, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi,
=20
I'm very excited about a new product from LXNAV. The LXNAV Wi-Fi
Modu=
le=20
can be used to connect to the internet through a wireless network
such
=
as a=20
smart phone that can act as a "Personal Hotspot". It offers many
powerf=
ul=20
features - such as the ability to e-mail your flight log to your
home=
=20
computer while still sitting in the glider. It can also be used to
down=
load=20
and display weather data on the map (coming soon).
=20
It will be extremely nice to e-mail my flight log to my home
computer=
=20
immediately after landing - using my iPhone to connect the LX9000 to
th=
e=20
internet. Displaying weather maps on the map will also be extremely
use=
ful -=20
assuming my iPhone can connect to the internet while at altitude.
=20
You can see details he
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/lxnav.htm#LXNAV-WiFi
=20
Best Regards,
=20
Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

If the WiFi could be used to download daily TFR it would be great but unfortunately LXNAV does not produce a TFR database.

Ramy

Jonathan:
I used the WiFi module my last time in South Africa. The initial set up is more than a little tedious as you have to put in your email address, password(s), OLC password etc. into the LX - all in a hunt & peck input method. If you could do it on LX Styler (the LX PC program) and then import it into the module that would be great - but I am not sure that is doable. Paul Remde could comment on that.

Once installed correctly (it took several tries) the module does what it says it will do and it will upload your flight to OLC or to your phone via hotspot. But honestly it all struck me as a bit of a "solution in search of a problem". It is just not that hard to download a flight to an SD card or USB and then upload it (or give it to the scorer) and frequently it is very helpful to review your flight log before you upload it to OLC -especially if you fly in different configurations (15m and 18m) as it is easy to forget to reset the configuration in the LX.

There are further comments about complexity vs simplicity in the ClearNav vs LX 9000 discussion elsewhere.

ROY

On Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 10:16:48 AM UTC+10:30, Roy B. wrote:
Jonathan:
I used the WiFi module my last time in South Africa. The initial set up is more than a little tedious as you have to put in your email address, password(s), OLC password etc. into the LX - all in a hunt & peck input method.. If you could do it on LX Styler (the LX PC program) and then import it into the module that would be great - but I am not sure that is doable. Paul Remde could comment on that.

Once installed correctly (it took several tries) the module does what it says it will do and it will upload your flight to OLC or to your phone via hotspot. But honestly it all struck me as a bit of a "solution in search of a problem". It is just not that hard to download a flight to an SD card or USB and then upload it (or give it to the scorer) and frequently it is very helpful to review your flight log before you upload it to OLC -especially if you fly in different configurations (15m and 18m) as it is easy to forget to reset the configuration in the LX.

There are further comments about complexity vs simplicity in the ClearNav vs LX 9000 discussion elsewhere.

ROY

It's just the first step to enabling new technologies. Already you can download weather forecasts (from SkySight) and see a live updating rain radar via the Wifi module too. I hope next comes a 3G module so you don't even need to tether.

I have it in an Arcus and use it to email flights and update firmware - both of which it does very easily. The rear seat unit has to have the firmware updated in the old fashioned way.

I do not use it for weather. I generally have my phone in flight mode while flying. I think you only get a phone signal when you are uncomfortably low in the UK.

On Tue, 27 Feb 2018 02:59:09 -0800, waremark wrote:

I think you only get a phone signal when you are
uncomfortably low in the UK.

Confirmed: I remember sitting smack over the centre of Huntingdon at
3000ft on a really nice, calm weekday. I was circling by myself in a weak
thermal, so I Hauled out a phone to let a friend hear the vario at work
but got no signal. At all.

Most of England is so flat that there's no need for more than horizontal
RF coverage at or below the top of the cell antenna.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

This seems to be more or less no longer true with 4G. Flying in England last year I observed I had 4G 80-90% of the time using my phone mounted on the canopy. With an antenna that's not in carbon bucket I imagine you'll get it all the time.
On Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 5:42:12 AM UTC+10:30, Kiwi User wrote:
On Tue, 27 Feb 2018 02:59:09 -0800, waremark wrote:

I think you only get a phone signal when you are
uncomfortably low in the UK.

Confirmed: I remember sitting smack over the centre of Huntingdon at
3000ft on a really nice, calm weekday. I was circling by myself in a weak
thermal, so I Hauled out a phone to let a friend hear the vario at work
but got no signal. At all.

Most of England is so flat that there's no need for more than horizontal
RF coverage at or below the top of the cell antenna.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org