USA PF Brick question

On Aug 11, 5:58*pm, Andy wrote:

Anyone else see this amber LED after loading? If so, do you have an explanation?

The amber led was caused by the command

$PFLAC,S,PCASRANGE,9656

This command is documented in the data port addendum which states its
max value is 65535m.

However, experimentation has shown that the max value is between 9250
and 9300. 9250 gives a green LED after loading but 9300 gives an
amber LED after loading.

It appears that the amber LED indicates that a command line was not
parsed correctly but that does not seem to be stated in the
documentation.

GY

On Aug 12, 1:02*pm, Andy wrote:
On Aug 11, 5:58*pm, Andy wrote:

Anyone else see this amber LED after loading? If so, do you have an explanation?

The amber led was caused by the command

$PFLAC,S,PCASRANGE,9656

This command is documented in the data port addendum which states its
max value is 65535m.

However, experimentation has shown that the max value is between 9250
and 9300. *9250 gives a green LED after loading but 9300 gives an
amber LED after loading.

It appears that the amber LED indicates that a command line was not
parsed correctly but that does not seem to be stated in the
documentation.

GY

Mine behaves differently (but good catch!).

If I set pcas and adsb range to 9600m, the file loads with ten or so
green flashes, one red flash, amber very briefly then steady green.
If I set both ranges to 9000m, I get only green flashes, amber
briefly, then steady green. Too bad I have no way to inspect the
settings.

I'm also wondering what "XPDR Alarm" and "Farm UI" options do in the
display setup.

The first, presumably, turns on the warning chime for PCAS (and ADSB?)
traffic. The default, oddly, seems to be "off". Up til now, all I've
gotten from pcas contacts has been a single chirp. Totally useless as
"warning". But I thought that perhaps I just hadn't been bold enough
to let a pcas contact close enough to trigger the warning alarm. Now
I have it turned on, I guess we'll see. I would like to know what the
warning algorithm is for adsb and pcas. The "Flarm UI" default is
also off. The docs make reference to this (flarm external display
instructions, pg 11) but give no clues as to what might happen if I
turn it to "on". I don't recall seeing this option before I did the
2.40 update. It may have been there... scratches head... there's
just so very much about this device that isn't (well enough)
documented.

Opinion: We should not be having to experiment with a device this
expensive (and this difficult and potentially hazardous to test in
flight) in order to figure out what it does and what the optimum
settings are.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

On Aug 12, 10:58*am, Evan Ludeman wrote:

If I set pcas and adsb range to 9600m, the file loads with ten or so
green flashes, one red flash, amber very briefly then steady green.
If I set both ranges to 9000m, I get only green *flashes, amber
briefly, then steady green. *Too bad I have no way to inspect the
settings.

Yes, you can inspect them with this command that continuously writes
a diagnostic file to the usb stick:

$debug_out,fat,scheduler|config|baro|rf|gps|pffsm, all

If you see the vertical bar symbol replace it with a forward slash

Andy

On Aug 12, 3:09*pm, Andy wrote:
On Aug 12, 10:58*am, Evan Ludeman wrote:

If I set pcas and adsb range to 9600m, the file loads with ten or so
green flashes, one red flash, amber very briefly then steady green.
If I set both ranges to 9000m, I get only green *flashes, amber
briefly, then steady green. *Too bad I have no way to inspect the
settings.

Yes, *you can inspect them with this command that continuously writes
a diagnostic file to the usb stick:

$debug_out,fat,scheduler|config|baro|rf|gps|pffsm, all

If you see the vertical bar symbol replace it with a forward slash

Andy

Ah, I thought that was just for portable. Yes this is much easier
than sifting through the dump file.

-Evan / T8

On Sunday, August 12, 2012 10:58:03 AM UTC-7, Evan Ludeman wrote:
On Aug 12, 1:02*pm, Andy wrote:

On Aug 11, 5:58*pm, Andy wrote:



Anyone else see this amber LED after loading? If so, do you have an explanation?



The amber led was caused by the command



$PFLAC,S,PCASRANGE,9656



This command is documented in the data port addendum which states its

max value is 65535m.



However, experimentation has shown that the max value is between 9250

and 9300. *9250 gives a green LED after loading but 9300 gives an

amber LED after loading.



It appears that the amber LED indicates that a command line was not

parsed correctly but that does not seem to be stated in the

documentation.



GY



Mine behaves differently (but good catch!).



If I set pcas and adsb range to 9600m, the file loads with ten or so

green flashes, one red flash, amber very briefly then steady green.

If I set both ranges to 9000m, I get only green flashes, amber

briefly, then steady green. Too bad I have no way to inspect the

settings.



I'm also wondering what "XPDR Alarm" and "Farm UI" options do in the

display setup.



The first, presumably, turns on the warning chime for PCAS (and ADSB?)

traffic. The default, oddly, seems to be "off". Up til now, all I've

gotten from pcas contacts has been a single chirp. Totally useless as

"warning". But I thought that perhaps I just hadn't been bold enough

to let a pcas contact close enough to trigger the warning alarm. Now

I have it turned on, I guess we'll see. I would like to know what the

warning algorithm is for adsb and pcas. The "Flarm UI" default is

also off. The docs make reference to this (flarm external display

instructions, pg 11) but give no clues as to what might happen if I

turn it to "on". I don't recall seeing this option before I did the

2.40 update. It may have been there... scratches head... there's

just so very much about this device that isn't (well enough)

documented.



Opinion: We should not be having to experiment with a device this

expensive (and this difficult and potentially hazardous to test in

flight) in order to figure out what it does and what the optimum

settings are.



-Evan Ludeman / T8

I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I sure hope this can be made louder in the future. I understand this has to do with the display and not the brick itself. I recall the midair flarm simulation video had a very distinct loud alert, not just chimes. Did anyone compare the audio alerts between the portable, rectangular display and panel display?
The other thing I find inadequate is the PCAS functionality. Even after moving the antenna around, I get significantly less alerts than my Zaon. I was hoping to remove my Zaon but so far it looks like I will need to keep both..
I understand that it is all under development still, but will be great if we could get updates of what is coming up, known issues etc.

On Aug 13, 1:00*pm, Ramy wrote:

I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I

Ramy - What display are you using? I have the "rectangular" display
mounted on a gooseneck just in front of my panel and find it to be
plenty loud (even at 85+ knots).

--Noel

On Monday, August 13, 2012 1:56:49 PM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:
On Aug 13, 1:00*pm, Ramy wrote:



I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I



Ramy - What display are you using? I have the "rectangular" display

mounted on a gooseneck just in front of my panel and find it to be

plenty loud (even at 85+ knots).



--Noel

I have the rectangular display. Not sure if the beep just not loud enough or too short to catch the attention. Perhaps I am not used to it yet, but was wondering what others are thinking, and if there is different between the various displays.

Ramy

On Monday, August 13, 2012 5:25:48 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
On Monday, August 13, 2012 1:56:49 PM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:

On Aug 13, 1:00*pm, Ramy wrote:







I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I







Ramy - What display are you using? I have the "rectangular" display



mounted on a gooseneck just in front of my panel and find it to be



plenty loud (even at 85+ knots).







--Noel



I have the rectangular display. Not sure if the beep just not loud enough or too short to catch the attention. Perhaps I am not used to it yet, but was wondering what others are thinking, and if there is different between the various displays.



Ramy

Ramy, I too have the rectangular display and only get a single short unsatisfying chirp for a PCAS alert. Useless!
-Jim

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012 4:47:38 PM UTC-7, Jim wrote:
On Monday, August 13, 2012 5:25:48 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:

On Monday, August 13, 2012 1:56:49 PM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:



On Aug 13, 1:00*pm, Ramy wrote:















I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I















Ramy - What display are you using? I have the "rectangular" display







mounted on a gooseneck just in front of my panel and find it to be







plenty loud (even at 85+ knots).















--Noel







I have the rectangular display. Not sure if the beep just not loud enough or too short to catch the attention. Perhaps I am not used to it yet, but was wondering what others are thinking, and if there is different between the various displays.







Ramy



Ramy, I too have the rectangular display and only get a single short unsatisfying chirp for a PCAS alert. Useless!

-Jim

Thanks Jim. I wonder if there is a place where we can post feedback for the Powerflarm folks? Last I checked the forum on their web site was not working yet. Anyone listens? Dave?

On Aug 13, 2:25*pm, Ramy wrote:
On Monday, August 13, 2012 1:56:49 PM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:
On Aug 13, 1:00*pm, Ramy wrote:

I find the audio alert to be inadequate, especially when the cockpit is noisy with wind noise and/or vario beeping. It is set to the high volume, but I

Ramy - What display are you using? I have the "rectangular" display

mounted on a gooseneck just in front of my panel and find it to be

plenty loud (even at 85+ knots).

--Noel

I have the rectangular display. Not sure if the beep just not loud enough or too short to catch the attention. Perhaps I am not used to it yet, but was wondering what others are thinking, and if there is different between the various displays.

Ramy- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I have the rectangular display. I have observed/heard a couple of
alerts for helicopters flying low over my house. The number of beeps
seems to depend on the treat level. The volume, at maximum, seems to
be far too low to useful in a glider cockpit.

There is a hole in the display close to the function knob. I thought
that this was the exit hole for the speaker but the alerter is no
quieter when that hole is covered.

In contrast my ZAON PCAS is so loud I have to tape over the alerter
hole when I use it in the glider. For equipment of this cost I would
expect the volume to be adequate and also to be automatically
compensated for the ambient noise level, either based on measured
noise level or ground speed.

No one else has commented on this yet, but my display has horrible
light leaks along the entire top and bottom edges of the display.


GY