On 03/11/2013 12:22 PM, wrote:
On Monday, March 11, 2013 10:13:55 AM UTC-5, waremark wrote:
I would recommend making a fairly quick choice between the software options and putting the time into studying the chosen version. They will all do your job well. If you spend too long choosing you will not only waste time but also end up confused.

So, Max, Paolo or US pilots:

Hi John, I've been using XCSoar in contests since 2008 in US and Canada.
I hope I can answer your questions below.

Is either of these two packages useable in a US contest? Do they depict US start, turnpoint and finish definitions, tell you if you're under the top for 2 minutes, help plan time completion for area and mat tasks, compute final glides to a finish cylinder with a minimum altitude, compute final glides around additional turnpoints (mat)? Can you input a task in less than 15 minutes? Is there a quick task A task B option (almost all in air task changes are now A to B)?


US Start - yes

turnpoints and finish - yes

2 minute count down below top - yes

AAT/TAT completion and optimal distance based on current MC setting
(automatic or manual imput) - yes

MAT - set up same as TAT with smaller cyliners, functionality could be
improved (automatic TP selection or some such)

compute final glides to a finish cylinder with a minimum altitude - yes

compute final glides around additional turnpoints (mat)? - if you are
above final glide the computer switches to final glide mode regardles of
how many turnpoints are ahead (even has built in safety based on current
altitude as per your excellent article)

Can you input a task in less than 15 minutes? - current task programing
is probably the simplest i have ever used, 1 minute is not an exaggeration

Is there a quick task A task B option (almost all in air task changes
are now A to B) - absolutely, I typically program task a and b on the
ground and save them, if we are given dump tasks at the beginning of the
contest i punch them in and save them as well, ready to be loaded in the
air at any time

As any other system there are nuances to get around, but if you want I
can show you my setup next month in Perry..

Cheers,
Luke Szczepaniak





I tried xcsoar many years ago. Charlie Spratt changed the task in the air. 15 minutes later on my second reboot, I swore it off. Is contest task entry any easier than back then?

If not, is anyone working on a "US contest" package for either program?

Please no flame wars on how stupid our rules are for using cylinders, 2 minute rules, in air task changes, etc. The rules are what they are. The question is, can this software help a pilot to deal with the rules as they are?

John Cochrane