Flarm with Firmware 1.20 update

On Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:19:00 -0800, Dave Nadler wrote:

Thanks Martin, but Red Box is not available in USA; it does not meet FCC
requirements and cannot be sold here.

Yes, I know that.

There are plenty of non-USAians on r.a.s and what I wrote was primarily
for them, though I imagine most of it would also apply to the PowerFlarm
'brick' when it appears. The portable PowerFLARM isn't exactly large, so
it follows that the 'brick' will be quite a bit smaller since it has no
battery compartment and, if I didn't misread anything, the display is
separate too.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Jan 29, 8:19*am, Dave Nadler wrote:
Thanks Martin, but Red Box is not available in USA; it
does not meet FCC requirements and cannot be sold here.

For USA we have PowerFLARM. Currently PowerFLARM portable
is shipping, with the blind-mounting unit (analog to Red Box)
Real Soon Now (Urs will give a timeline update at the
SSA convention next week). PowerFLARM incorporates transponder
detection (Mode C, Mode S, ADS-B in).

Thanks for the comments,
Best Regards, Dave

PS details hehttp://www.gliderpilot.org/FLARM

With the 1.20 update in my box, I drove to the local airport and
observed for about an hour. Local Cessna tookoff and it showed a red
circle that expanded then turned green when it was 1 mile away. Next I
painted an airliner with ADS-B and I got a black arrow showing
position, about 2 miles north and tracking N/E with altitude +9.9
(above 10K). Next another mode C arrival marched down to 1 mile
showing a green circle that turned red as he entered the pattern and
landed. All of these contacts showed their altitude. The only thing I
didn't get was any audio warning, even inside 1/4 mile and zero
altitude difference?
I really like the unit and believe it will give me a reading on most
of the aircraft near my airspace. A majority of the ships flying at my
gliderport have Power flarm and the real threat of hitting another
glider should be greatly reduced. We often run a clearly defined shear-
line in the local mountains and there is lots of head-on traffic as we
all follow the good stuff that is in a narrow band.
See you on my Powerflarm,
JJ

Hi Dan,

Here are installation pictures from Uvalde.

http://soaringcafe.com/2011/08/power...t-uvaldeglide/

here is a picture from a Lak17 - the unit is mounted on the side of the
pedestal

http://soaringcafe.wpengine.netdna-c...s/DSC_8108.JPG

I tried fitting the PowerFlarm on top of the glare shhield in my SZD-55,
I didn't like it so I made a "prototype" that would attach to the side
of the pedestal. It worked out well, it was in my line of sight but
still unobtrusive. The mount came out bulkier than I wanted so I was
planing on improving it this winter, I have since sold the glider and
have to figure out how to mount it in the new bird. Here are the
pictures from the 55 installation

http://www.silentflight.ca/index.php..._itemId= 2491

Luke


On 01/28/2012 8:27 PM, Dan Marotta wrote:
From the website Eric posted: "If you add a Mode S transponder with
1090-ES (also called ADS-B-Out) to a PowerFLARM, for example the Trig
TT21, you can have a complete ADS-B in your cockpit now; and a collision
avoidance system specifically suited to the very particular situations
unique to gliders such as thermalling, gaggles, contests, etc."

NOW, you've got my attention! Still, I have to see if it can be
installed in a way I can live with. BTW, I have a Trig TT22 installed.


"Dan Marotta" wrote in message
...
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been looking for some
reference. I'll give your link a critical read and see if it's right
for me.

I would like to see some installations.


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
On 1/26/2012 8:37 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
Maybe I'll change my opinion when there's something that doesn't depend
on equipment not likely to ever appear in the vast majority of other
aircraft, ADS-B, perhaps. When the airlines and general aviation crowd
install FLARM, come talk to me about it.

Possibly there is some communication issue he the US pilots are
actually talking about PowerFLARM, not the original FLARM. PowerFLARM
also has PCAS capability to detect transponder equipped aircraft, and
ADS-B capability to detect aircraft so equipped. It's all in one box,
with the data merged onto one screen.

If you haven't already read this article, now would be good time:

http://www.gliderpilot.org/Flarm

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

On Jan 27, 10:45*am, "Paul Remde" wrote:
Hi,

Many good points below.

I'm sure we will all learn much more about the status of the PowerFLARM
Brick at the SSA Convention in a few days. *I will update my FLARM web page
as soon as possible. *I agree that we need them to be delivered ASAP. *FLARM
knows that too. *They have put delivery of the Brick units ahead of work on
the IGC flight recorder in the Portable unit. *The good news is that the
PowerFLARM Portable units are working very nicely and I'm pretty sure that
90% of the software and hardware is the same in the Brick.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Three Uniform" wrote in message

...







Folks,
I think quite some energy is wasted here on negative thinking. Like
bitching about the government (you get the government you deserve,
i.e. voted for) or the mandating discussions ("you stay out of my
cockpit", "No, you stay out of my airspace").
PowerFlarm will proliferate. I think it is key to facilitate that
proliferation as quickly as possible.
As others said, in our Region 11 we have experienced in our close
circles the Hawker-ASG29 mid-air and the Pawnee-ASW27 midair in the
landing pattern.

Fortunately the current experiences with the portable are very
encouraging. I would like to congratulate and thank the PowerFlarm
team for the progress booked up till now.
However, working in the High Tech electronics industry myself, I am
very concerned about the schedule for the brick, taking into account
that many people are waiting for the brick. By lack of any status info
from the PowerFlarm team and knowing schedule slips (as we have also
seen with the portable), I concur with an earlier observation that the
brick could easily slip into 2013 season. Leaving many of us exposed
to the higher risk for another season.

I think it would be good if we could focus our energy on how we could
help/stimulate the PowerFlarm team to
* * * * * *- keep us updated on the status and schedule of the brick
* * * * * *- publish the specification of the brick and display such
that we can prepare wiring during the winter for easy mid-season drop-
in.
* * * * * *- complete development of the brick as soon as possible.

3U

Another great reason to buy PowerFlarm....An IGC recorder. (coming
soon I hope) PowerFlarm sounds expensive, but no yearly fees right?
Divide the cost by how many years you will use it and it's pretty
cheap. (your age may vary) I'm going to attempt to talk our club into
this. ... Aaron

Thanks, Luke and Dave

I'm still thinking this over and trying to minimize clutter in my cockpit.
Currently the only thing appended to the panel is an Android on a flex
mount. If there is, indeed, a blind mount box which can be interfaced via
Bluetooth to the Android (XCSoar has configuration pages for Flarm), then I
could hopefully have the alerts displayed on XCSoar. I'd then have a clean
panel with no obstructions to outside scan.

I would hope this blind mounted box (brick?) could be had without having to
purchase a display, which I wouldn't need.

Maybe I can borrow a flarm for a day and pair it with my Android and see how
it works. That would make deciding easier.


"Luke" wrote in message
...
Hi Dan,

Here are installation pictures from Uvalde.

http://soaringcafe.com/2011/08/power...t-uvaldeglide/

here is a picture from a Lak17 - the unit is mounted on the side of the
pedestal

http://soaringcafe.wpengine.netdna-c...s/DSC_8108.JPG

I tried fitting the PowerFlarm on top of the glare shhield in my SZD-55, I
didn't like it so I made a "prototype" that would attach to the side of
the pedestal. It worked out well, it was in my line of sight but still
unobtrusive. The mount came out bulkier than I wanted so I was planing on
improving it this winter, I have since sold the glider and have to figure
out how to mount it in the new bird. Here are the pictures from the 55
installation

http://www.silentflight.ca/index.php..._itemId= 2491

Luke


On 01/28/2012 8:27 PM, Dan Marotta wrote:
From the website Eric posted: "If you add a Mode S transponder with
1090-ES (also called ADS-B-Out) to a PowerFLARM, for example the Trig
TT21, you can have a complete ADS-B in your cockpit now; and a collision
avoidance system specifically suited to the very particular situations
unique to gliders such as thermalling, gaggles, contests, etc."

NOW, you've got my attention! Still, I have to see if it can be
installed in a way I can live with. BTW, I have a Trig TT22 installed.


"Dan Marotta" wrote in message
...
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been looking for some
reference. I'll give your link a critical read and see if it's right
for me.

I would like to see some installations.


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
On 1/26/2012 8:37 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
Maybe I'll change my opinion when there's something that doesn't
depend
on equipment not likely to ever appear in the vast majority of other
aircraft, ADS-B, perhaps. When the airlines and general aviation crowd
install FLARM, come talk to me about it.

Possibly there is some communication issue he the US pilots are
actually talking about PowerFLARM, not the original FLARM. PowerFLARM
also has PCAS capability to detect transponder equipped aircraft, and
ADS-B capability to detect aircraft so equipped. It's all in one box,
with the data merged onto one screen.

If you haven't already read this article, now would be good time:

http://www.gliderpilot.org/Flarm

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

On Jan 30, 5:31*pm, "Dan Marotta" wrote:
Thanks, Luke and Dave

I'm still thinking this over and trying to minimize clutter in my cockpit..
Currently the only thing appended to the panel is an Android on a flex
mount. *If there is, indeed, a blind mount box which can be interfaced via
Bluetooth to the Android (XCSoar has configuration pages for Flarm), then I
could hopefully have the alerts displayed on XCSoar. *I'd then have a clean
panel with no obstructions to outside scan.

I would hope this blind mounted box (brick?) could be had without having to
purchase a display, which I wouldn't need.

Maybe I can borrow a flarm for a day and pair it with my Android and see how
it works. *That would make deciding easier.

"Luke" wrote in message

...



Hi Dan,

Here are installation pictures from Uvalde.

http://soaringcafe.com/2011/08/power...t-uvaldeglide/

here is a picture from a Lak17 - the unit is mounted on the side of the
pedestal

http://soaringcafe.wpengine.netdna-c...allery/powerfl...

I tried fitting the PowerFlarm on top of the glare shhield in my SZD-55, I
didn't like it so I made a "prototype" that would attach to the side of
the pedestal. *It worked out well, it was in my line of sight but still
unobtrusive. *The mount came out bulkier than I wanted so I was planing on
improving it this winter, I have since sold the glider and have to figure
out how to mount it in the new bird. *Here are the pictures from the 55
installation

http://www.silentflight.ca/index.php...2&Itemid=27&g2...

Luke

On 01/28/2012 8:27 PM, Dan Marotta wrote:
*From the website Eric posted: "If you add a Mode S transponder with
1090-ES (also called ADS-B-Out) to a PowerFLARM, for example the Trig
TT21, you can have a complete ADS-B in your cockpit now; and a collision
avoidance system specifically suited to the very particular situations
unique to gliders such as thermalling, gaggles, contests, etc."

NOW, you've got my attention! Still, I have to see if it can be
installed in a way I can live with. BTW, I have a Trig TT22 installed.

"Dan Marotta" wrote in message
...
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been looking for some
reference. I'll give your link a critical read and see if it's right
for me.

I would like to see some installations.

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
On 1/26/2012 8:37 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
Maybe I'll change my opinion when there's something that doesn't
depend
on equipment not likely to ever appear in the vast majority of other
aircraft, ADS-B, perhaps. When the airlines and general aviation crowd
install FLARM, come talk to me about it.

Possibly there is some communication issue he the US pilots are
actually talking about PowerFLARM, not the original FLARM. PowerFLARM
also has PCAS capability to detect transponder equipped aircraft, and
ADS-B capability to detect aircraft so equipped. It's all in one box,
with the data merged onto one screen.

If you haven't already read this article, now would be good time:

http://www.gliderpilot.org/Flarm

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

There are few things to consider for the non dedicated display
approach:
1 - Is the brick includes the speaker? If not, your PDA/PNA/Tablet
audio may not be nearly as good in catching your attention as the
Flarm alarm speaker.
2 - Unless your software provides a Flarm radar display (XCSoar does),
you may or may not get usable alerts from a standard moving map mode
depend on your zoom level and display orientation (track up vs north
up). And if your software includes Flarm radar, keep in mind that it
will take part of your screen.
3 - It is not clear to me if PCAS alert functionality will be provided
to flight computers since this may clutter the display too much.
4 - My understanding is that flarm support in flight computers was not
designed to be a substitute to Flarm display, only to provide
additional information, such as where your buddies are and how they
doing.

Ramy

Ramy

On Jan 30, 7:31*pm, "Dan Marotta" wrote:
Thanks, Luke and Dave

I'm still thinking this over and trying to minimize clutter in my cockpit..
Currently the only thing appended to the panel is an Android on a flex
mount. *If there is, indeed, a blind mount box which can be interfaced via
Bluetooth to the Android (XCSoar has configuration pages for Flarm), then I
could hopefully have the alerts displayed on XCSoar. *I'd then have a clean
panel with no obstructions to outside scan.

I would hope this blind mounted box (brick?) could be had without having to
purchase a display, which I wouldn't need.

Dan, the quick answer is no, you have to have the PowerFLARM brick
display on your panel; it has the controls for the device on it.
Please spend some time on Paul Remde's site and learn more about the
device. You can send data to your droid so it will show FLARM traffic
on the moving map, but it probably doesn't send Mode S, ADS-B, or Mode
A/C warnings.

I have an LS6 with a small panel - and I can find a place for the
small PF display. I'll even cover my backup vario and compass if
necessary - it's that much more important, IMHO. Don't know what kind
of glider you fly, but seriously doubt there isn't a good place to
mount it.

Since you have already spent the $3K for your Trig (nice!), as others
have said the PowerFLARM makes the perfect complement in that it shows
YOU the traffic around you, including Joe Dentist in his Cirrus,
squawking 1200 VFR and not talking to anybody, heads down playing with
his shiny toys. It's only a big sky until the moment someone hits
you....

Cheers,

Kirk
66

On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:49:08 AM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:
but it [FLARM] probably doesn't send Mode S, ADS-B, or Mode
A/C warnings.

FLARM will send this info in NMEA data stream in an upcoming
release, and likely all downstream devices will display.
For example, ILEC SN10 will have a SW update to display
this info...

You still *may* want a cockpit-accessible control for FLARM.

Hope that helps,
Best Regards, Dave

I am just wondering if this would work. Like Dan, I have a Lak17A and
the panel is full, and the cockpit is a bit cramped. Even so, I could
imagine that with remote aerials/antennae on leads, either a one-piece
PowerFlarm or the two piece version could be stowed in a way that
allows access to the controls, not on the panel. I am devising a
camera mount that fits on the canopy. Anything electrical so mounted
would need breakaway capability to avoid impeding canopy jettison, but
should be doable. I expect the separate control thingy would be small
and light, and the larger power bit could perhaps be stuck behind the
seat or in the luggage place behind the headrest.

Does that sound feasible?

Chris N.

I've owned two(!) LS-6s, great ships with small panels, but that was before
all these new devices came on the market. I currently fly a LAK-17a which
has a similarly small panel, actually, maybe a tiny bit larger, but it's
fully populated and I won't hang anything off the side or on top.

Now if anyone wants to buy an electric turn indicator (practically new,
57mm) or a PZL mechanical vario (80mm), I could free up some space. But
then I have to ask: Are any models of Flarm configured so that they can be
fitted to one of these holes?

I'll spend some time on Paul's site and the Flarm site and try to figure a
way to do what I'd like to do.


"kirk.stant" wrote in message
...
On Jan 30, 7:31 pm, "Dan Marotta" wrote:
Thanks, Luke and Dave

I'm still thinking this over and trying to minimize clutter in my cockpit.
Currently the only thing appended to the panel is an Android on a flex
mount. If there is, indeed, a blind mount box which can be interfaced via
Bluetooth to the Android (XCSoar has configuration pages for Flarm), then
I
could hopefully have the alerts displayed on XCSoar. I'd then have a clean
panel with no obstructions to outside scan.

I would hope this blind mounted box (brick?) could be had without having
to
purchase a display, which I wouldn't need.

Dan, the quick answer is no, you have to have the PowerFLARM brick
display on your panel; it has the controls for the device on it.
Please spend some time on Paul Remde's site and learn more about the
device. You can send data to your droid so it will show FLARM traffic
on the moving map, but it probably doesn't send Mode S, ADS-B, or Mode
A/C warnings.

I have an LS6 with a small panel - and I can find a place for the
small PF display. I'll even cover my backup vario and compass if
necessary - it's that much more important, IMHO. Don't know what kind
of glider you fly, but seriously doubt there isn't a good place to
mount it.

Since you have already spent the $3K for your Trig (nice!), as others
have said the PowerFLARM makes the perfect complement in that it shows
YOU the traffic around you, including Joe Dentist in his Cirrus,
squawking 1200 VFR and not talking to anybody, heads down playing with
his shiny toys. It's only a big sky until the moment someone hits
you....

Cheers,

Kirk
66