Updating Avionics - How I Remember What's What!

On Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 7:31:22 AM UTC-8, Tom BravoMike wrote:
On Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 11:47:35 PM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 8:13:31 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
Updating files/firmware on my avionics should be easy. Then why is it so hard?

Heck, I am an electrical engineer. I have been around computers since high school (early 70's). I was in Information Technology for MANY years and still do this on a volunteer basis. I should be able to handle this!

I think that the answer is in several parts;

- There are multiple files for each device to upload/download; firmware, waypoint databases, FLARM databases, obstacle databases, SUA databases, IGC files, etc, etc.
- What is the URL to find these much needed files?
- Each device seems to need its own specifically formatted file - just look at the turnpoint database! Some instruments are mentioned there by name but others use a "generic" format of a file - but which one to use?
- There are multiple methods to upload/download. With a cable? Via a memory stick? Then where does the file go on the stick (root or a folder)? Does the install happen when the device is booted or when the device is already on? Does the install happen automatically or do you have to manually do something?
- While the avionics manufacturers create wonderful devices it is a fact of life that their manuals seem woefully inadequate for the task at hand and/or become obsolete from lack of updating.
- Is my recorder's re-calibration due so I don't miss getting credit for my epic flight?
- And critically, I only perform this task about once a year and I FORGET the magic steps of what to do!

HELP!

As my own panel evolved from "steam gauges" to a "glass cockpit" I kept my sanity by creating a spreadsheet of the how-tos, where-froms and the tricks-of-the-trade.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are interested in using my spreadsheet as a template for your own cockpit it can be found here = http://aviation.derosaweb.net/forms/

Comments welcome.

Best of Luck,
John OHM Ω

Yeah, it's a quagmire out there, for sure. I went to a full glass cockpit in my new ASH31Mi. I simplified the problem by sticking to three instrument manufacturers: LXNAV, Garmin and Trig. LXNAV provided the glide computer (LX9070), which has a good user's group. I will add their wi-fi adapter next year so I don't have to deal with SD cards. Garmin provided the PFD (primary flight display), which replaced all of the old steam gauges. Trig provided the radio and transponder, and solved the ADS-B out issue. I also had Schleicher install all of the instruments, and they did a GREAT job. This isn't an option for you, so it is either a DYI job or find an avionics shop.. I also switched to LFP batteries with a total of 32 AHr of capacity. This is a MUST for a glass cockpit as my typical current draw is 1.9 A. BTW, I also have PowerFlarm, but I don't call that an instrument.

I have flown with this setup for an entire season and LOVE IT! About the only thing I might add is a dedicated Flarm display.

Tom

Any pictures, please?

Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Tom

2G wrote on 12/13/2019 8:11 AM:

Yeah, it's a quagmire out there, for sure. I went to a full glass cockpit in my new ASH31Mi. I simplified the problem by sticking to three instrument manufacturers: LXNAV, Garmin and Trig. LXNAV provided the glide computer (LX9070), which has a good user's group. I will add their wi-fi adapter next year so I don't have to deal with SD cards. Garmin provided the PFD (primary flight display), which replaced all of the old steam gauges. Trig provided the radio and transponder, and solved the ADS-B out issue. I also had Schleicher install all of the instruments, and they did a GREAT job. This isn't an option for you, so it is either a DYI job or find an avionics shop.. I also switched to LFP batteries with a total of 32 AHr of capacity. This is a MUST for a glass cockpit as my typical current draw is 1.9 A. BTW, I also have PowerFlarm, but I don't call that an instrument.

I have flown with this setup for an entire season and LOVE IT! About the only thing I might add is a dedicated Flarm display.

Tom

Any pictures, please?

Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Looks different! Is the lower vario (S8?) operating independently of the 9070,
what do you usually have displayed on it, and why is it in m/s?

Are you using ADSB-in for anything?

Can you control the radio from the 9070?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 8:11:31 AM UTC-8, 2G wrote:
On Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 7:31:22 AM UTC-8, Tom BravoMike wrote:
On Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 11:47:35 PM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 8:13:31 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
Updating files/firmware on my avionics should be easy. Then why is it so hard?

Heck, I am an electrical engineer. I have been around computers since high school (early 70's). I was in Information Technology for MANY years and still do this on a volunteer basis. I should be able to handle this!

I think that the answer is in several parts;

- There are multiple files for each device to upload/download; firmware, waypoint databases, FLARM databases, obstacle databases, SUA databases, IGC files, etc, etc.
- What is the URL to find these much needed files?
- Each device seems to need its own specifically formatted file - just look at the turnpoint database! Some instruments are mentioned there by name but others use a "generic" format of a file - but which one to use?
- There are multiple methods to upload/download. With a cable? Via a memory stick? Then where does the file go on the stick (root or a folder)? Does the install happen when the device is booted or when the device is already on? Does the install happen automatically or do you have to manually do something?
- While the avionics manufacturers create wonderful devices it is a fact of life that their manuals seem woefully inadequate for the task at hand and/or become obsolete from lack of updating.
- Is my recorder's re-calibration due so I don't miss getting credit for my epic flight?
- And critically, I only perform this task about once a year and I FORGET the magic steps of what to do!

HELP!

As my own panel evolved from "steam gauges" to a "glass cockpit" I kept my sanity by creating a spreadsheet of the how-tos, where-froms and the tricks-of-the-trade.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are interested in using my spreadsheet as a template for your own cockpit it can be found here = http://aviation.derosaweb.net/forms/

Comments welcome.

Best of Luck,
John OHM Ω

Yeah, it's a quagmire out there, for sure. I went to a full glass cockpit in my new ASH31Mi. I simplified the problem by sticking to three instrument manufacturers: LXNAV, Garmin and Trig. LXNAV provided the glide computer (LX9070), which has a good user's group. I will add their wi-fi adapter next year so I don't have to deal with SD cards. Garmin provided the PFD (primary flight display), which replaced all of the old steam gauges. Trig provided the radio and transponder, and solved the ADS-B out issue. I also had Schleicher install all of the instruments, and they did a GREAT job. This isn't an option for you, so it is either a DYI job or find an avionics shop. I also switched to LFP batteries with a total of 32 AHr of capacity. This is a MUST for a glass cockpit as my typical current draw is 1.9 A. BTW, I also have PowerFlarm, but I don't call that an instrument.

I have flown with this setup for an entire season and LOVE IT! About the only thing I might add is a dedicated Flarm display.

Tom

Any pictures, please?

Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Tom

Thank you, very cool.

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 10:11:31 AM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
On Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 7:31:22 AM UTC-8, Tom BravoMike wrote:
On Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 11:47:35 PM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 8:13:31 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
Updating files/firmware on my avionics should be easy. Then why is it so hard?

Heck, I am an electrical engineer. I have been around computers since high school (early 70's). I was in Information Technology for MANY years and still do this on a volunteer basis. I should be able to handle this!

I think that the answer is in several parts;

- There are multiple files for each device to upload/download; firmware, waypoint databases, FLARM databases, obstacle databases, SUA databases, IGC files, etc, etc.
- What is the URL to find these much needed files?
- Each device seems to need its own specifically formatted file - just look at the turnpoint database! Some instruments are mentioned there by name but others use a "generic" format of a file - but which one to use?
- There are multiple methods to upload/download. With a cable? Via a memory stick? Then where does the file go on the stick (root or a folder)? Does the install happen when the device is booted or when the device is already on? Does the install happen automatically or do you have to manually do something?
- While the avionics manufacturers create wonderful devices it is a fact of life that their manuals seem woefully inadequate for the task at hand and/or become obsolete from lack of updating.
- Is my recorder's re-calibration due so I don't miss getting credit for my epic flight?
- And critically, I only perform this task about once a year and I FORGET the magic steps of what to do!

HELP!

As my own panel evolved from "steam gauges" to a "glass cockpit" I kept my sanity by creating a spreadsheet of the how-tos, where-froms and the tricks-of-the-trade.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are interested in using my spreadsheet as a template for your own cockpit it can be found here = http://aviation.derosaweb.net/forms/

Comments welcome.

Best of Luck,
John OHM Ω

Yeah, it's a quagmire out there, for sure. I went to a full glass cockpit in my new ASH31Mi. I simplified the problem by sticking to three instrument manufacturers: LXNAV, Garmin and Trig. LXNAV provided the glide computer (LX9070), which has a good user's group. I will add their wi-fi adapter next year so I don't have to deal with SD cards. Garmin provided the PFD (primary flight display), which replaced all of the old steam gauges. Trig provided the radio and transponder, and solved the ADS-B out issue. I also had Schleicher install all of the instruments, and they did a GREAT job. This isn't an option for you, so it is either a DYI job or find an avionics shop. I also switched to LFP batteries with a total of 32 AHr of capacity. This is a MUST for a glass cockpit as my typical current draw is 1.9 A. BTW, I also have PowerFlarm, but I don't call that an instrument.

I have flown with this setup for an entire season and LOVE IT! About the only thing I might add is a dedicated Flarm display.

Tom

Any pictures, please?

Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Tom

Nice, thanks. What I especially like is the altitude flown/shown. Good for you!

Tom BravoMike wrote on 12/13/2019 2:23 PM:
Any pictures, please?
Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Tom
Nice, thanks. What I especially like is the altitude flown/shown. Good for you!

What is altitude flown/shown, and where is it in the picture?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 5:29:35 PM UTC-6, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Tom BravoMike wrote on 12/13/2019 2:23 PM:
Any pictures, please?
Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Tom
Nice, thanks. What I especially like is the altitude flown/shown. Good for you!

What is altitude flown/shown, and where is it in the picture?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

I don't care whether it's 10200 - 10357 or 10364 ft (GPS? pressure? - don't know what the settings are), but anything above 7-8k ft is for us flying in the Midwest something to dream about.

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 11:24:51 AM UTC-8, Eric Greenwell wrote:
2G wrote on 12/13/2019 8:11 AM:

Yeah, it's a quagmire out there, for sure. I went to a full glass cockpit in my new ASH31Mi. I simplified the problem by sticking to three instrument manufacturers: LXNAV, Garmin and Trig. LXNAV provided the glide computer (LX9070), which has a good user's group. I will add their wi-fi adapter next year so I don't have to deal with SD cards. Garmin provided the PFD (primary flight display), which replaced all of the old steam gauges. Trig provided the radio and transponder, and solved the ADS-B out issue. I also had Schleicher install all of the instruments, and they did a GREAT job. This isn't an option for you, so it is either a DYI job or find an avionics shop.. I also switched to LFP batteries with a total of 32 AHr of capacity. This is a MUST for a glass cockpit as my typical current draw is 1.9 A. BTW, I also have PowerFlarm, but I don't call that an instrument.

I have flown with this setup for an entire season and LOVE IT! About the only thing I might add is a dedicated Flarm display.

Tom

Any pictures, please?

Here you go:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/765972...57712179805181

Looks different! Is the lower vario (S8?) operating independently of the 9070,
what do you usually have displayed on it, and why is it in m/s?

Are you using ADSB-in for anything?

Can you control the radio from the 9070?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

The upper vario is the S8, the lower one the S10.

Everything is now in kts (this was the 2nd flight). The S8 is slaved to the 9070. I could control the radio from the 9070, but that requires a $240 bridge (LXNAV-Bridge-Trig).

I don't have ADS-B In.

Tom

On 12/13/2019 9:25 PM, 2G wrote:
The upper vario is the S8, the lower one the S10.

Everything is now in kts (this was the 2nd flight). The S8 is slaved to the 9070. I could control the radio from the 9070, but that requires a $240 bridge (LXNAV-Bridge-Trig).

I don't have ADS-B In.

Tom
Really???Â* How much have you got invested in that well set up ASH-31?Â*
What's $240 as a percentage of that, 0.1%?

How could anyone claim that glider pilots are notoriously cheap? :-D
--
Dan, 5J

Dan Marotta wrote on 12/14/2019 8:18 AM:


On 12/13/2019 9:25 PM, 2G wrote:
The upper vario is the S8, the lower one the S10.

Everything is now in kts (this was the 2nd flight). The S8 is slaved to the
9070. I could control the radio from the 9070, but that requires a $240 bridge
(LXNAV-Bridge-Trig).

I don't have ADS-B In.

Tom
Really???* How much have you got invested in that well set up ASH-31? What's $240
as a percentage of that, 0.1%?

How could anyone claim that glider pilots are notoriously cheap? :-D

I really like the ADSB-in on my Phoenix. The radar and TFRs are worth it; also,
getting the winds and weather at airports out of AWOS range.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

I get all that from Foreflight on my iphone