Volkslogger woes

[Dan Rihn]

Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
clumsy and the logic is terrible.
I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
declared the task correctly.

Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
get lost just as fast and easily as I do.

Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
format.
I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
with the VL very well.
The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
hands down.

As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
into SeeYou.
Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
There has got to be a better way!

Thanks,
Dan Rihn

[Jim Vincent]

>As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
>into SeeYou.
>Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
>There has got to be a better way!

Get a Garmin hand held as your secondary navigation tool (pilotage is the
first) and use the VL as a dumb logger. If you're just working on badges, use
a written declaration to avoid any possibility of mis-declaring your task.

Jim Vincent
CFIG
N483SZ

[Ian Strachan]

In article >, Dan Rihn
> writes

snip

>I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
>declared the task correctly.

Don't forget that you can always make a good old-fashioned written
declaration before takeoff.

Just because you are using a GPS flight recorder with a declaration
facility, it does not mean that you HAVE to use an electronic
declaration.

The Sporting Code rule is that the last valid declaration before takeoff
is the one that counts. Declarations can either be written or
electronic.

Although I use a GPS flight recorder in the glider, I normally use a
written declaration that I get countersigned just before takeoff. I
find that easier than fiddling around with buttons on the field and
(sometimes) in full sun trying to read the recorder's LCD.

--
Ian Strachan
Lasham Gliding Centre, UK

[Richard Pfiffner]

Dan

WinPilot ADV or PRO makes declarations to the Volkslogger easy. All you
have to know how to do is put the Volkslogger in the PC mode. You can also
down load the Volkslogger log with WinPilot and put them on a SD card or
leave them on your PDA for view in you PC.

Richard
www.craggyaero.com


"Dan Rihn" > wrote in message
om...
> Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
> I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
> clumsy and the logic is terrible.
> I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
> declared the task correctly.
>
> Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
> get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
>
> Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
> communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
> format.
> I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
> seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
> with the VL very well.
> The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
> hands down.
>
> As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
> into SeeYou.
> Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
> There has got to be a better way!
>
> Thanks,
> Dan Rihn

[nyffeler]

In article >, (Dan Rihn) wrote:

Hi Dan,

It requires some training to deal with a Volkslogger. However once understood
it is not that complicate.

For our Club I wrote two short form manuals. Unfortunately they are written in
German.
The navigation Manual is on http://www.sgzuerich.ch/VL_ka_nav.pdf
and the DOS SW Manual on http://www.sgzuerich.ch/VL_ka_dos.pdf

The most important thing is to check whether that start, turnpoint and finish
sector settings are correct.

I just found a Volkslogger Simulator on
http://home.online.no/~ifp.hj/volkslog.htm , but haven't checked it yet.

Peter

>Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
>I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
>clumsy and the logic is terrible.
>I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
>declared the task correctly.
>
>Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
>get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
>
>Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
>communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
>format.
>I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
>seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
>with the VL very well.
>The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
>hands down.
>
>As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
>into SeeYou.
>Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
>There has got to be a better way!
>
>Thanks,
>Dan Rihn

[Tom Seim]

(Dan Rihn) wrote in message >...
> Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
> I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
> clumsy and the logic is terrible.

What would you rather have, a 72-key keyboard in your glider? I find
the 3 buttons are easy to press (w/o looking) while flying. The menu
select/modify logic is consistent for all items. I routinely select
turnpoints in flight for navigation.

> I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
> declared the task correctly.
>
> Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
> get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
>

I have entered tasks while waiting in the launch line w/o problems.
Once you get accustomed to button sequence it is actually pretty easy.

> Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
> communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
> format.
> I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
> seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
> with the VL very well.
> The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
> hands down.

So why aren't you using SeeYou, and if you are what seems to be your
problem (since that's the direction I'm going)?


Tom Seim
DG-400
Richland, WA

[Mark James Boyd]

Dan Rihn > wrote:
>Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?

I don't put any waypoints or declarations in it at all.
Once, I had one declaration in it, but declared a different
task on paper and had it signed. When I plugged
the VL in, it "auto-declared" the other task, and since this
"electronic declaration" was more recent than my
paper one, and could not be removed or modified from the .igc file,
my trace didn't show me finishing the task...
(thank goodness it was a 50k and not 300k!)

I just use it as a purely passive logger now. I plug it in,
ensure it is exposed to the sky (satellites), make sure
it was cleared before the flight, and then ignore it until
it's time to download.

For navigation I use a Garmin handheld. Since the VL and
the Garmin match within feet, I just round the Garmin turnpoints
and the VL so far has always shown the same trace...
--

------------+
Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA

[Mark James Boyd]

Oh, and once I'm done, I made sure to include the exact points
which were in the OZ on my claim form. That way, the State Record
verifier and TheBadgeLady had an easy time finding the
qualifying points in the .igc file...

In article <40626a7e$1@darkstar>, Mark James Boyd > wrote:
>Dan Rihn > wrote:
>>Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
>
> I don't put any waypoints or declarations in it at all.
>Once, I had one declaration in it, but declared a different
>task on paper and had it signed. When I plugged
>the VL in, it "auto-declared" the other task, and since this
>"electronic declaration" was more recent than my
>paper one, and could not be removed or modified from the .igc file,
>my trace didn't show me finishing the task...
>(thank goodness it was a 50k and not 300k!)
>
> I just use it as a purely passive logger now. I plug it in,
>ensure it is exposed to the sky (satellites), make sure
>it was cleared before the flight, and then ignore it until
>it's time to download.
>
> For navigation I use a Garmin handheld. Since the VL and
>the Garmin match within feet, I just round the Garmin turnpoints
>and the VL so far has always shown the same trace...
>--
>
>------------+
>Mark Boyd
>Avenal, California, USA


--

------------+
Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA

[Svein]

I wrote a quick start guide to using the VL when it was still using the
DOS program for data up/download. This is now done much better in Strepla
and I have never had any problems using it. The old DOS version only works
in true DOS mode. I also made up a one page menu tree that still remains
valid except for minor software changes in the logger since then. This
information is still found on the Winpilot website under compatible
harware - go right to the bottom of the page.
The logger is not difficult to use once the turnpoints are loaded, tasks
declared, options set and pilot data entered. All this goes into
non-volatile memory. For easy point to point navigation just bring up the
waypoint page and instead of trying to enter a waypoint name you just use
the enter button to set the first point in the database, then you can easily
scroll the databased either backwards or forwards with the up/down buttons
until you reach the point you wish to navigate to and then select it. The 3
buttons have 3 main functions - up or down the menutree and select. Once you
get used to this it is quite intuitive to use the nav functions.
Navigating to a waypoint once selected is just a matter of matching
track and bearing until the logger beeps your arrival. If flying a task -
just remember to set the turnpoint rules correctly as the logger will beep
your arrival in accordance with set rules (sector/beercan) - I missed a
sector once by about 10-15m because of it beer can set).

Svein

"Dan Rihn" > wrote in message
om...
> Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
> I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
> clumsy and the logic is terrible.
> I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
> declared the task correctly.
>
> Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
> get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
>
> Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
> communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
> format.
> I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
> seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
> with the VL very well.
> The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
> hands down.
>
> As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
> into SeeYou.
> Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
> There has got to be a better way!
>
> Thanks,
> Dan Rihn

[Bruno Ramseyer]

(Dan Rihn) wrote in message >...
> Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
> I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
> clumsy and the logic is terrible.
> I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
> declared the task correctly.
>
> Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
> get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
>
> Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
> communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
> format.
> I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
> seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
> with the VL very well.
> The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
> hands down.
>
> As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
> into SeeYou.
> Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
> There has got to be a better way!
>
> Thanks,
> Dan Rihn

The UK Agents for Volklogger wrote a neat litte Computer Programm for
use with the Volkslogger see www.crabb.biz

Bruno

[Dan Rihn]

"Svein" > wrote in message >...
> I wrote a quick start guide to using the VL when it was still using the
> DOS program for data up/download. This is now done much better in Strepla
> and I have never had any problems using it. The old DOS version only works
> in true DOS mode. I also made up a one page menu tree that still remains
> valid except for minor software changes in the logger since then. This
> information is still found on the Winpilot website under compatible
> harware - go right to the bottom of the page.
> The logger is not difficult to use once the turnpoints are loaded, tasks
> declared, options set and pilot data entered. All this goes into
> non-volatile memory. For easy point to point navigation just bring up the
> waypoint page and instead of trying to enter a waypoint name you just use
> the enter button to set the first point in the database, then you can easily
> scroll the databased either backwards or forwards with the up/down buttons
> until you reach the point you wish to navigate to and then select it. The 3
> buttons have 3 main functions - up or down the menutree and select. Once you
> get used to this it is quite intuitive to use the nav functions.
> Navigating to a waypoint once selected is just a matter of matching
> track and bearing until the logger beeps your arrival. If flying a task -
> just remember to set the turnpoint rules correctly as the logger will beep
> your arrival in accordance with set rules (sector/beercan) - I missed a
> sector once by about 10-15m because of it beer can set).
>
> Svein
>
> "Dan Rihn" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Anybody have any tips on using the Volkslogger?
> > I have found the manual to be very lacking, the three buttons very
> > clumsy and the logic is terrible.
> > I'm trying to up load tasksand turnpoints, and be sure that I've
> > declared the task correctly.
> >
> > Whe I ask for help at the gliderport I watch others push buttons and
> > get lost just as fast and easily as I do.
> >
> > Sure would be great to have a software that I could use to really
> > communicate withthe VL and see where and what I'm doing in a larger
> > format.
> > I have had a tough time with the included StrePla software, SeeYou
> > seems to be much better. But neither really commnicate back and forth
> > with the VL very well.
> > The StePla manual and help butons are very lacking. So far SeeYou wins
> > hands down.
> >
> > As a dumb logger the VL is great, no problems downloadig my flights
> > into SeeYou.
> > Reall using the functions of the VL is very frustrating.
> > There has got to be a better way!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Dan Rihn

Thanks Svein;
Your reply was most helpful. I agree with some of the other comments
about using paper declaration. I don't plan on using the VL for
navigation, just want a good log and want to be sure I've got it right
for getting my badges. I'm trying to do all my homework now getting
ready for the soaring season.

The menu tree Svein wrote is great. It would be great to have the
menu tree on the PC or PDA in a widows like environment. This would
be most helpful in knowing where you are within the VL. The three
buttons on VL are fine but a nice view of where you are within the VL
when on a PC or PDA would be much more user friendly.
I also see how buying WinPilot could be a great help. Seems to me
that the purchase of the VL should have been a stand alone product.

I was able to download a task and a few waypoints once but now how do
I enter more tasks, remove and old tasks and be sure I have the proper
task declared?


Thanks all for the help, but I think I will still need more guidance.
Dan Rihn