Help requested with Soaring Flight Software Comparison Table

Hi,

I'm taking on the tough task of creating a comparison table for soaring
flight software. Of course I can't mention every single features found in
every product, so I'm trying to hit the unique features found in each
product.

You can view the very preliminary table he
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/software-ppc.htm

The table also shows levels of compatibility with several flight recorders.

Both parts of the table are in need of review. I have done my best first
shot but I'm sure I've missed some key features and may have some of the
compatibility data wrong.

Please review the table and e-mail suggestions or corrections to me.

I sincerely want the table to be a useful resource for glider pilots.

Thank you,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

What about soaringpilot?

Price: free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: yes
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: not yet
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): ~4
Differential Final Glide: yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: no, but if needed could be added
as SUA
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50&Colibri, IQue, Tasman

Some more features not mentioned in the table: thermal average, distance
done on task, avg speed, estimated time of arrival, elapsed time, speed
to flt, MC calc. etc-etc
Some screenshots can be found on my page:
http://bauerj.fw.hu/soarpilot
Regards,

/Janos

Hi Janos,

That is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. I have added
Soaring Pilot to the comparison table.

However, the list of supported devices is not useful because the table gets
into specifics as to what features are supported with each device.

How can it support a Tasman? Tasman varios don't connect to external
devices.

What is a ReCo?

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Janos Bauer" wrote in message
...
What about soaringpilot?

Price: free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: yes
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: not yet
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): ~4
Differential Final Glide: yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: no, but if needed could be added as
SUA
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50&Colibri, IQue, Tasman

Some more features not mentioned in the table: thermal average, distance
done on task, avg speed, estimated time of arrival, elapsed time, speed to
flt, MC calc. etc-etc
Some screenshots can be found on my page:
http://bauerj.fw.hu/soarpilot
Regards,

/Janos

I was looking through your features list and have a couple of answers
that may be helpful.

The tasman t1000 has support for an additional vario so I presume this
is where they are retreiving the altitude info. Just a guess though.
I am not sure what a ReCo is.

The program will parse pressure altitude information from Volkslogger,
C302 Garmin, Colibri Reco and Tasman. At least there is a dropdown
list in one of the setup pages for altitude selection. I do know it
works with a Volkslogger as this is what I use.

It will also read information from several flight computers. I am
unsure of their level of support as I have not used any of them. I am
guessing that the promram retrieves information such as bugs setting
MC setting and bugs potential. Only a guess though. The computers in
the dropdown list are B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50/Colibri combo,
Ique and Tasman.

Additionally with a C302 it can be used to transfer waypoints,
glider/polar information, pilot information and transfer flights from
the logger to removeable memory card. It also has support for task
declaration for firmware version 2.63 in the 302.

There is also support for a terrain database. It can with this
information tell elevation AGL. Although there was discussion about
FGA over terrain, I am uncertain if this has been implemented or not
and if there are plans to do it in the future.

Although it will not display a top down view of an IGC file or
playback a flight, it will show a profile view of the baro over
terrain.

Hopes this helps a little.

SEE YA!!!

Matthew Hoover


"Paul Remde" wrote in message news:RYoZc.14863$_g7.8912@attbi_s52...
Hi Janos,

That is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. I have added
Soaring Pilot to the comparison table.

However, the list of supported devices is not useful because the table gets
into specifics as to what features are supported with each device.

How can it support a Tasman? Tasman varios don't connect to external
devices.

What is a ReCo?

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Janos Bauer" wrote in message
...
What about soaringpilot?

Price: free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: yes
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: not yet
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): ~4
Differential Final Glide: yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: no, but if needed could be added as
SUA
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50&Colibri, IQue, Tasman

Some more features not mentioned in the table: thermal average, distance
done on task, avg speed, estimated time of arrival, elapsed time, speed to
flt, MC calc. etc-etc
Some screenshots can be found on my page:
http://bauerj.fw.hu/soarpilot
Regards,

/Janos

I think Henryk is talking about RICO (Redwood Instrument Company)who made
varios in the San Francisco bay area some years ago. The company was owned
and operated by Pete and Eunice Newgard (EP). AFAIK they now only make
medical equipment, in the Seattle area. I'll bet it's more profitable,
too...
-Bob

"Matthew Hoover" wrote in message
m...
I was looking through your features list and have a couple of answers
that may be helpful.

The tasman t1000 has support for an additional vario so I presume this
is where they are retreiving the altitude info. Just a guess though.
I am not sure what a ReCo is.

The program will parse pressure altitude information from Volkslogger,
C302 Garmin, Colibri Reco and Tasman. At least there is a dropdown
list in one of the setup pages for altitude selection. I do know it
works with a Volkslogger as this is what I use.

It will also read information from several flight computers. I am
unsure of their level of support as I have not used any of them. I am
guessing that the promram retrieves information such as bugs setting
MC setting and bugs potential. Only a guess though. The computers in
the dropdown list are B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50/Colibri combo,
Ique and Tasman.

Additionally with a C302 it can be used to transfer waypoints,
glider/polar information, pilot information and transfer flights from
the logger to removeable memory card. It also has support for task
declaration for firmware version 2.63 in the 302.

There is also support for a terrain database. It can with this
information tell elevation AGL. Although there was discussion about
FGA over terrain, I am uncertain if this has been implemented or not
and if there are plans to do it in the future.

Although it will not display a top down view of an IGC file or
playback a flight, it will show a profile view of the baro over
terrain.

Hopes this helps a little.

SEE YA!!!

Matthew Hoover


"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:RYoZc.14863$_g7.8912@attbi_s52...
Hi Janos,

That is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. I have added
Soaring Pilot to the comparison table.

However, the list of supported devices is not useful because the table
gets
into specifics as to what features are supported with each device.

How can it support a Tasman? Tasman varios don't connect to external
devices.

What is a ReCo?

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Janos Bauer" wrote in message
...
What about soaringpilot?

Price: free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: yes
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: not yet
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): ~4
Differential Final Glide: yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: no, but if needed could be
added as
SUA
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

B50, C302, Colibri, EW, ReCo, B50&Colibri, IQue, Tasman

Some more features not mentioned in the table: thermal average,
distance
done on task, avg speed, estimated time of arrival, elapsed time,
speed to
flt, MC calc. etc-etc
Some screenshots can be found on my page:
http://bauerj.fw.hu/soarpilot
Regards,

/Janos

Paul Remde wrote:

I'm taking on the tough task of creating a comparison table for soaring
flight software. Of course I can't mention every single features found in
every product, so I'm trying to hit the unique features found in each
product.

You can view the very preliminary table he
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/software-ppc.htm

Copying the list from Janos, what about Cumulus?

Price: free, open source
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: not yet
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: yes
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): configurable in upcomming version
Differential Final Glide: ?
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: yes
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

Every one that outputs NMEA.

Some more features not mentioned in the table: estimated time of arrival,
elapsed time, speed to flt, terrain elevation, speech interface (in
upcomming version)

Note: Cumulus runs only on PDA's running linux with Qtopia or OPIE. Sharp
Zaurus series PDA's have this by default, and it can be installed on a lot
of other windowsCE/PocketPC PDA's.

Note: Cumulus has nothing to do with Cumulus Soaring, inc.

Some screenshots can be found on our page:
http://cumulus.kflog.org

Regards,

André
Cumulus project leader

André Somers wrote in message news:ch1k2s$j66


Supported Flight computers, loggers:
Every one that outputs NMEA.


Full support for a Cambridge 302 requires MC exchange, ballast
exchange, use of airspeed for wind calculation, task declaration, log
download etc.

When completing the matrix let's not assume that the ability to
receive GPS data from a logger implies "support".


Andy

Andy Durbin wrote:

Supported Flight computers, loggers:
Every one that outputs NMEA.
Full support for a Cambridge 302 requires MC exchange, ballast
exchange, use of airspeed for wind calculation, task declaration, log
download etc.

When completing the matrix let's not assume that the ability to
receive GPS data from a logger implies "support".
OK, you are right. For a part of this data there is support or support
underway, and part of it will never be implemented but is implemented in
KFLog/Embedded. But at the moment, there is just support on the PA and Pr
level.

André

Hi Andy,

That is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the table - it shows exactly
how well each software supports each hardware type. But the data is not
perfect yet - I need help!

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Andy Durbin" wrote in message
m...
André Somers wrote in message
news:ch1k2s$j66


Supported Flight computers, loggers:
Every one that outputs NMEA.


Full support for a Cambridge 302 requires MC exchange, ballast
exchange, use of airspeed for wind calculation, task declaration, log
download etc.

When completing the matrix let's not assume that the ability to
receive GPS data from a logger implies "support".


Andy

Hi,

Thanks for the data. I added it to my web site.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"André Somers" wrote in message
...
Paul Remde wrote:

I'm taking on the tough task of creating a comparison table for soaring
flight software. Of course I can't mention every single features found
in
every product, so I'm trying to hit the unique features found in each
product.

You can view the very preliminary table he
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/software-ppc.htm

Copying the list from Janos, what about Cumulus?

Price: free, open source
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map: yes
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints: not yet
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling: yes
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes: yes
Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst): configurable in upcomming version
Differential Final Glide: ?
Turnpoint Area Task Support: ?
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map: yes
Topographical Maps roads, lakes, etc.: yes
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts: no
In-flight optimization of OLC flights: no
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight: no
Thermal Histogram: no
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once: no
Climb Maximizer: no

Supported Flight computers, loggers:

Every one that outputs NMEA.

Some more features not mentioned in the table: estimated time of arrival,
elapsed time, speed to flt, terrain elevation, speech interface (in
upcomming version)

Note: Cumulus runs only on PDA's running linux with Qtopia or OPIE. Sharp
Zaurus series PDA's have this by default, and it can be installed on a lot
of other windowsCE/PocketPC PDA's.

Note: Cumulus has nothing to do with Cumulus Soaring, inc.

Some screenshots can be found on our page:
http://cumulus.kflog.org

Regards,

André
Cumulus project leader