Compare MRX with PF Portable

Now that my PowerFlarm PCAS performs as well or better than my Zaon (thanks to the latest firmware and the shorter antenna)

Just last weekend I flew another side by side comparison between the ZAON MRX and my Power FLARM portable.

For about half of the flight the Power FLARM indicated a spurious warning of my own mode C transponder. (Yes, I do have it configured so it knows I have a transponder)

I am using the antennas supplied with the portable but have them extended away from the unit with about 12 inches of RG58U. That allows me to get everything on the glareshield of my PA28.

As I reported earlier, the detection range of the PFP is much improved with the latest firmware update. Hovever, the spurious alerting of ownship tranponder is a signicant issue as this alert will take priority over any other transponder targets. I don't know if it also inhibits FLARM and ADS-B warnings.

My MRX won't be for sale for a while yet.

Andy

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013 1:24:46 PM UTC-4, Andy wrote:
Now that my PowerFlarm PCAS performs as well or better than my Zaon (thanks to the latest firmware and the shorter antenna)



Just last weekend I flew another side by side comparison between the ZAON MRX and my Power FLARM portable.



For about half of the flight the Power FLARM indicated a spurious warning of my own mode C transponder. (Yes, I do have it configured so it knows I have a transponder)



I am using the antennas supplied with the portable but have them extended away from the unit with about 12 inches of RG58U. That allows me to get everything on the glareshield of my PA28.



As I reported earlier, the detection range of the PFP is much improved with the latest firmware update. Hovever, the spurious alerting of ownship tranponder is a signicant issue as this alert will take priority over any other transponder targets. I don't know if it also inhibits FLARM and ADS-B warnings.



My MRX won't be for sale for a while yet.



Andy

I have mod S transponder and I experience the same issue but not as frequently probably once every 10-15 min sometimes only sporadic sometimes more often. I get an alert and the altitude difference would be jumping around +/- 75 feet but eventually the thing settles and goes away. I was debating if I should not put my ZAON back in.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013 7:38:19 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, August 6, 2013 1:24:46 PM UTC-4, Andy wrote:

Now that my PowerFlarm PCAS performs as well or better than my Zaon (thanks to the latest firmware and the shorter antenna)







Just last weekend I flew another side by side comparison between the ZAON MRX and my Power FLARM portable.







For about half of the flight the Power FLARM indicated a spurious warning of my own mode C transponder. (Yes, I do have it configured so it knows I have a transponder)







I am using the antennas supplied with the portable but have them extended away from the unit with about 12 inches of RG58U. That allows me to get everything on the glareshield of my PA28.







As I reported earlier, the detection range of the PFP is much improved with the latest firmware update. Hovever, the spurious alerting of ownship tranponder is a signicant issue as this alert will take priority over any other transponder targets. I don't know if it also inhibits FLARM and ADS-B warnings.







My MRX won't be for sale for a while yet.







Andy



I have mod S transponder and I experience the same issue but not as frequently probably once every 10-15 min sometimes only sporadic sometimes more often. I get an alert and the altitude difference would be jumping around +/- 75 feet but eventually the thing settles and goes away. I was debating if I should not put my ZAON back in.



I sent a dump file to FLARM months ago because I was having some issues with less than optimum PCAS. Included were some alerts which appeared suddenly and it appeared that the PowerFlarm was detecting my own transponder. Within the dump file were a number of comments which said something along the lines of "failed to detect own transponder signal or reply" I sent this with a polite note asking for help to Flarm. Month or so later, I again asked for help. Month or so later I sent an email to the US rep I purchased from to see if he could muster some help. Reply from Flarm to date... NONE.....NONE....NONE...and more NONE....

In contrast, I sent a note to Winter asking for a couple of ASI dials with a change to the orientation to the zero position. They shipped them the next day , the price was a bargain, and were super awesome to deal with. THAT's customer service! Thanks Winter!

I also have a ModeS transponder (Trig TT21).
My "Own Transponder" issue was resolved with the update to the core FirmWare 3.31.
I know that this FW update particularly resolved the ModeS "Own Transponder" issue. I am not sure if it also addressed the ModeC "Own Transponder" issue.
(ModeS has the ICAO code encoded in the datastream which helps with recognition)

While I had less than optimal PCAS reception with my powerflarm until recent firmware upgrades and antenna replacement, I had zero false alarms during the 300 hours I flew with it, not even once. I have a Becker mode C transponder.
My experience so far with both Powerflarm and Butterfly support was very positive. I found both Gerhard and Marc to be very responsive. Just need to know who to contact instead of sending emails to the official email address which may be clogged...

Ramy

On Wednesday, August 7, 2013 12:43:30 AM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
While I had less than optimal PCAS reception with my powerflarm until recent firmware upgrades and antenna replacement, I had zero false alarms during the 300 hours I flew with it, not even once. I have a Becker mode C transponder.

My experience so far with both Powerflarm and Butterfly support was very positive. I found both Gerhard and Marc to be very responsive. Just need to know who to contact instead of sending emails to the official email address which may be clogged...



Ramy


Ramy,

I sent all the above mentioned emails to direct individual email addresses. Including the dealer. It appears that FLARM has chosen not to reply/help.

Mark

On Wednesday, August 7, 2013 12:21:18 AM UTC-4, wrote:
I also have a ModeS transponder (Trig TT21).

My "Own Transponder" issue was resolved with the update to the core FirmWare 3.31.

I know that this FW update particularly resolved the ModeS "Own Transponder" issue. I am not sure if it also addressed the ModeC "Own Transponder" issue.

(ModeS has the ICAO code encoded in the datastream which helps with recognition)

I only see Core Firmware 3.00 on the website. Where is 3.31 available?

Had a number of aircraft fly near me today - a military KC135 (I think), a light twin, a Boeing 767 inbound for Tucson and a SWA 737. I saw all of them pass by me within a couple of miles and PowerFlarm never made a peep or displayed anything! This seems quite different form its performance on gliders.

Mike

On Saturday, August 10, 2013 12:40:32 AM UTC-4, Mike the Strike wrote:
Had a number of aircraft fly near me today - a military KC135 (I think), a light twin, a Boeing 767 inbound for Tucson and a SWA 737. I saw all of them pass by me within a couple of miles and PowerFlarm never made a peep or displayed anything! This seems quite different form its performance on gliders.



Mike

Mike, I flew today in a busy area and I would have to say the PCAS worked Okay, not as good as MRX but I got all warnings I needed to get. If only the thing could stop beeping on my own transponder I would be happy. It seems the display constantly shows me my own transponder with +/- (0 to 50 feet or so). I got used to that the only time it freaks me out is when it beeps twice.

Please describe your PCAS (especially the brand). My ZAON MRX does not
alert on my own transponder. And it does a good job of alerting to other
traffic, some of which I never see.

Is this possibly a configuration issue?

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, August 10, 2013 12:40:32 AM UTC-4, Mike the Strike wrote:
Had a number of aircraft fly near me today - a military KC135 (I think), a
light twin, a Boeing 767 inbound for Tucson and a SWA 737. I saw all of
them pass by me within a couple of miles and PowerFlarm never made a peep
or displayed anything! This seems quite different form its performance on
gliders.



Mike

Mike, I flew today in a busy area and I would have to say the PCAS worked
Okay, not as good as MRX but I got all warnings I needed to get. If only the
thing could stop beeping on my own transponder I would be happy. It seems
the display constantly shows me my own transponder with +/- (0 to 50 feet or
so). I got used to that the only time it freaks me out is when it beeps
twice.