On Dec 24, 4:32*pm, "PCool" wrote:
Is this hardware anything different from what I can find googling "rs232 to
bluetooth" ? There are similar products way much cheaper around now.
We are testing the eBay stuff for 45 euro and so far it does its work.
Moreover, the K6 has got no batteries and need external power supply. It
doesn't look like a bargain nor like the top of technology if compared to
what gridconnect.com does, or blue2bfree.com or many others.
Any experience on these matters?
paul

I'm playing with a K6-Bt now and will be installing in my glider soon.
I'm abusing it at the moment seeing how it goes, including driving
it's from Silent Wings with a simulated NMEA connection through a USB
to serial adapter on my MacBook pro into the K6 and out to some iPAQ
4700. So far so good.

It starts with what you want. If you want garden variety serial over
blue tooth there is a wide range of products. If you want one that
works reliably that narrows the field (let us know how you go).
Bluetooth can be awfully frustrating to get working *really* reliably,
and many issues are often software related. If you want easily
settable baud rate via DIP switch the K6 and others can do that. If
you want software adjustable baud rate that flight software vendor
(check with your vendor) will support and test with for changing baud
rate for downloading flight traces etc then K6 seems to be the thing
at the moment. Check with your soaring software vendor for what they
test with and will support. Other adapters support commands for
changing baud rates but it's what will work with your software that
matters. And if you find a problem I suspect the K6 folks care more
about your problem and are more likely to be able to answer technical
questions than most other vendors.

Not usuing an batrery in the K6 is an dvantage. As is the ability to
power from either 5V (PDA voltages) or 12 V. The last thing I want in
my glider is another device with a separate battery. I want the K6 and
similar devices powered by the ships power. No power there, no
Cambridge 302, so having no Bluetooth is not an issue. If you are
after a self powered stand alone system without a flight computer/IGC
logger being invovled then buy a cheap GPS receiver with bluteooth
built in since you probably don't need any of the features of the K6-
Bt. Right?


Darryl