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View Full Version : Product review of SN-10 USB adapter and Garmin 16X GPS


JJ Sinclair
January 20th 10, 10:14 PM
I have been waiting for the SN-10 USB "stick" to come out and it came
just in time for Santa to stuff it in old JJ's sock. Installation was
straight forward, but when I tried to enter the latest software (2.34)
using the stick, it wouldn't take it. Paul Remde answered my e-mail
right away and indicated I would have to enter it the old way using
the DB-9 cable, then future software changes could be uploaded using
the stick. He was right and it took 2.34, but when I tried to change
the soaring site I got an error message "this stick is using too much
power, try another one". I replaced the Verbatim 4GB stick with a
Toshiba 4GB. and it worked as advertised.

Next I installed the Garmin 16X GPC to drive my SN-10. Garmin didn't
provide the mounting screws and the lay-out template wasn't full
scale, so I couldn't use it to make a hole template. Made my own
punching through a sheet of paper held over the mounting surface. When
I turned it on, nothing happened! Another e-mail to Paul and he said I
must hook the remote on/off wire to ground if I wasn't turning on the
GPS through the SN-10. I soldered the yellow wire to ground and the
GPS cranked right up. It doesn't have an indicator light as in the
model 20, but the GPS page on the SN-10 shows (no power, searching,
tracking)

This "stick" setup is soooooo much better than the old system where
you had to download a new site, move the file, change the name, take
your lap-top to the sailplane, plug it in, open an umbrella so's you
could read the screen.........................then do it all again
when down-loading the flight! Both good products, well worth the
price, $295 for USB and $110 for GPS.
Cheers,
JJ

Dave Nadler
January 21st 10, 01:14 AM
On Jan 20, 5:14*pm, JJ Sinclair > wrote:
> I have been waiting for the SN-10 USB "stick" to come out and it came
> just in time for Santa to stuff it in old JJ's sock. Installation was
> straight forward, but when I tried to enter the latest software (2.34)
> using the stick, it wouldn't take it. Paul Remde answered my e-mail
> right away and indicated I would have to enter it the old way using
> the DB-9 cable, then future software changes could be uploaded using
> the stick. He was right and it took 2.34, but when I tried to change
> the soaring site I got an error message "this stick is using too much
> power, try another one". I replaced the Verbatim 4GB stick with a
> Toshiba 4GB. and it worked as advertised.
>
> Next I installed the Garmin 16X GPC to drive my SN-10. Garmin didn't
> provide the mounting screws and the lay-out template wasn't full
> scale, so I couldn't use it to make a hole template. Made my own
> punching through a sheet of paper held over the mounting surface. When
> I turned it on, nothing happened! Another e-mail to Paul and he said I
> must hook the remote on/off wire to ground if I wasn't turning on the
> GPS through the SN-10. I soldered the yellow wire to ground and the
> GPS cranked right up. It doesn't have an indicator light as in the
> model 20, but the GPS page on the SN-10 shows (no power, searching,
> tracking)
>
> This "stick" setup is soooooo much better than the old system where
> you had to download a new site, move the file, change the name, take
> your lap-top to the sailplane, plug it in, open an umbrella so's you
> could read the screen.........................then do it all again
> when down-loading the flight! Both good products, well worth the
> price, $295 *for USB and $110 for GPS.
> Cheers,
> JJ

Thanks JJ ! I don't know what is up with the upgrade not working
the first time from the stick. Probably because the stick is junk
and taking too much power. Can I have it ? I don't have a test
stick that draws excessive power ! See you in Little Rock ?
All the best for 2010,
Best Regards, Dave

PS: I make the GPS (& etc) mounting templates using paper
and rubbing over the holes with pencil - makes a good clear
pattern (kinda like a gravestone rubbing) - easy to drill.

JJ Sinclair
January 21st 10, 09:32 PM
When I turned everything on I got bad redio interference on 123.3,
123.5 and 122.8. Just about drove me nuts looking for the source,
turned both GPS's off.........no change, turned the SN-10 off and the
interference went away. Started grounding things and moving wires and
then I thought, what has changed? The USB adaptoter was added, so I
plugged in a stick and the interference got worse! I had located the
USB adapter within an inch of the radio antenna cable (RGU-58) where
it exited the instrument panel.....................moved it away and
the interference went away!
Recommend you place the USB adapter a good 4" away from rour radio
antenna cable.
Cheers,
JJ

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