FLARM Technology for the US Gliding Community

On 9/17/2010 11:17 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 9/17/2010 8:45 AM, cernauta wrote:
On Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:06:34 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

If a "European" FLARM is brought to US, and auto frequency selection
has not been defeated, it should be expected to switch to the same
frequency as used for US PowerFLARM.
Or still, you can select the geographic area, and the associated
frequency, by fiddling in the setup menu (using the "flarmtool" pc
interface).
Does anyone really know that Flarm actually selects a frequency and
transmits while in the USA? Since they prohibit it's use in the USA,
it seems more logical to shut off the transmitter when in the USA. If
it's legal reasons that are the basis for the prohibition, I would
think shutting it off gives far more protection from lawsuits or the
FCC regulations, when they clearly have the ability to disable it as
desired.
Perhaps they could get an FCC waiver to use Flarm in the Worlds task
area, and allow Flarm to work in the task area (and nowhere else in the
USA) and only during the contest period, and only during the day. The
trick is getting the waiver, not the minor Flarm firmware additions.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz