At 08:48 20 March 2015, John Galloway wrote:
So, as I understand it, the current situation with the Open Glider
Network is that:
It relies on tracking Flarm collision data against Flarm's wishes.
It relies on using the Flarmnet database (which is encoded so that
the database can't be downlosded and be easily human readable)
against their wishes.
It relies on a free-to-OGN network of ground receivers that have been
voluntarily set up and funded by glider pilots (including myself who
has funded one) to receive Flarm transmissions.
Now the OGN want to sell us commercial transmitters
Hmmmm.
Flarm radar has been extremely useful and fun in the last year in
Europe but we glider pilots collectively own the vital ingredient which
is the ground receiver network and I for one wont be buying a tracker
from the OGN in those circumstances.
John Galloway
O my dear god...
What FLARM has to say about how what I do with device I bought?
OGN were using OPEN (until now) flarmnet DB, so they do not rely on it
anymore. The data in this database was put voluntarly by pilots to be
visible, then flarmnet (founded by FLARM), just decided that it is their DB
and explicitely said that OGN is not welcomed. They took this action in
name of all those who put their data in. All of them are ok with this?
John, I founded 3 stations, helped quite significantly with one more
(donating my antenna and time), and I am setting up another one soon too. I
am not expecting for medal though.
People involved in OGN developed software without which your hardware is no
god for tracking. Found good source of cheap good quality antennas, and
involved in making orders from China. No big deal, just put your money
first, deal with the order, collect money later and distribute among
people. Their time has no value for you?
And then FLARM is changing a protocol and encryption for sole purpose
making OGN useless and make you to force use their tracking server (when
they make it eventually), and you blame OGN?
Question for FLARM owners: how many of you are happy that FLARM company is
making things this way: either you update software or you device which you
paid not such small amount for a archaic hardware which is inside or your
device is useless?
FLARM radar were extremely useful, you say, but hey, no what flarm did good
for it? Just don't say they made a device, because it is not a rocked
science. Have you heard about DSX?
And then OGN proposed their open protocol and made a device using this
protocol. Whoever will make a device using this protocol is not is not
forcing you to buy it by any means. Just accept the blackout.
Or wait, you know what you can do? Buy PowerFlarm for 700 euro + VAT and be
happy with 15km maybe 20km range. TV dongle (R820T chip) sensitivity is
superior to nRF905.
John, OGN didn't switched FLARM protocol to make some people create OGN
tracker and use it for tracking.
Anyway, what price are they going to ask? What do you think?
Oh you can say, I'll wait for FLARM to make their software for my receiver
and they will make their tracking server and be happy that some community
project just died. Be happy with limited range, be happy with closed
protocol, be happy with 700 euro device (+VAT), be happy with that there is
no alternative, be happy with dubious "anti-collision" on 8 bit
architecture which is in pre PowerFlarm devices. How many packets per
second those old FLARMs are able to cope? DSX claims that their device with
16 bit microcontroller running at 25MHz is able to cope with up to 50
tracks. Do you think 8bit microcontroller with slower clock can do better
job?
Oh, BTW, you can make your own tracker. The protocol is open, so there is
no need for buying anything from anyone.
Here are my two cents.
Regards
Wolf
http://youtu.be/aQUB7erVIKw