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Old November 19th 20, 10:13 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Marotta
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Posts: 4,601
Default PowerFlarm offers new Version, PowerFlarm Fusion Includes Manynewstandard Features!

On 11/19/20 11:21 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Moshe Braner wrote on 11/19/2020 9:31 AM:
On 11/19/2020 11:12 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
On 11/18/20 4:41 PM, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
According to Flarm the New Fusion transmits and receives on both A
and B Flarm Antennas.

http://www.craggyaero.com/fusion.htm



Richard
www.craggyaero.com


That looks to me like you can buy a license to activate the "B"
antenna. Â*Â*Isn't that like buying a license to active the passenger
side seat belt in a car?Â* Or the rear brakes?


Maybe if you pay extra they'll sell you the feature where it keeps on
working after the firmware "expires"?Â* (As long as the data packets
are still compatible.)

Dan: We have no choice about seat belts and brakes, which are mandated
by law. Do you want to go there with PowerFlarm? :^(

Dan: Buying a license for an optional feature (also known as "buying an
optional feature") is like buying the "primo" optional interior for your
new car, except you can do it anytime, even years after the purchase,
unlike that fancy interior. Would you rather they included everything
that is now optional, and charged you for it, instead letting you pay
for only what you need?


Moshe: They give me the updates FREE anytime I want one. I'm not going
to whine about the 10 minutes it takes me to read the update
instructions and load it into the glider. The present system seems like
a good compromise: all units are no more than 1 year behind in
capability, at no $ cost, and very little time and effort. As pilots, we
are required to "update" our gliders every year with an inspection, to
"update" the pilot every two years with a flight review, to keep our
charts and database current yearly or less, to "update" our parachute
every 180 days - I think we should expect a pilot to also handle
updating Flarm!


Eric,

A lot is made of such features as IGC recording. But, since my glider
happens to have an engine, the IGC recording is useless unless I buy a
license for it. The firmware has all been written and is installed and,
with a few characters inserted during the "installation", it will function.

Fortunately, I knew that going in and did not need an ENL license. My
ClearNav and ClearNav vario each perform the engine noise recording
function and at zero extra cost. Now I suppose ClearNav could disable
the function, lower their price by $50 and then charge $50 to enable the
function but I think that would just **** people off.

--
Dan
5J