Contest Number on PowerFlarm (US)??

On Friday, August 24, 2012 6:02:49 PM UTC-4, Andy wrote:
On Friday, August 24, 2012 11:41:35 AM UTC-7, (unknown) wrote:

Recently got my powerflarm brick. I uploaded my Mode S transponder code per the instructions, but A - I haven't found a place to enter a contest number B - Has anyone else out there got their contest number loaded and visible to the rest of the PowerFlarm world? If so, how is that done. No mention in the "manual". Thanks, Gary



Your FLARM ID. or your ICAO ID if defined, is associated with your personal details such as contest number by means of the data you declare during FLARM Net registration.



That declared information, for all registed pilots, can be loaded to other pilot's systems as a FLARMnet file. It those other pilot's systems see your FLARM ID, or your ICAO ID, they will be able to display your personal information such as your contest number. (if the receiving system supports that capability)



You contest number can also be input to FLARM using the command



$pflac,s,COMPID,{contest number}



but this is likely only used in the logger function and is not for identifying your FLARM signal to other pilots.



Andy GY

I count 5 hurdles to make it happen, don't you just love electronics. The Flarm team should be supplying all the instructions to make this happen.

I count 5 hurdles to make it happen, don't you just love electronics. The Flarm team should be supplying all the instructions to make this happen.

First two steps can be combined if you use http://www.avionictools.com/icao..html; this gives both hex and octal (dunno why you'd need the octal for FLARM) addresses directly for N- and C- registrations. Stuff that into your PF - which you have to configure anyway to tell it it's in a glider - and register it on FLARMnet. Took a few seconds for me today.

Now, if I could only figure out where to put the flarmnet file for it to read into my Brick...

Dan

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but what I came up with is that you need the special cable and 3.3V power supply to upload the flarmnet file the butterfly display for the Brick version. Supposeably the next version of firmware for the flarm will allow you to put the flarmnet file on your thumb drive and insert it into the Flarm, The flarm will then transfer the file to the butterfly display.

I decided to just wait for the new firmware, if that doesn't happen I may look into making the cable to upload to the butterfly display.

Brian

Yes, that's correct.
The special cable is easy to manufacture from 2 boards, in case you want to go that route until the new firmware allows display updates through the USB stick.
See here for my cable.
https://sites.google.com/site/threeu...terfly-display
3U

Having just installed the Core with the BF display I can share that it is absurd.
1. I have tried several USB sticks trying to update firmware but I don't think it is updating.
2. There is also no way to confirm that the setup actually set up. So is it working or not?
3. The entire Hex conversion process could be so much better but what you get from the manual is a lot of arrogant blather. (FCC stupid, Microsoft stupid, Power Flarm creators are genius, hex is your problem because PowerFlarm geniuses can't be bothered, etc.)
4. inscrutable operating manual.

On Saturday, August 25, 2012 10:53:42 PM UTC-7, brianDG303 wrote:

2. There is also no way to confirm that the setup actually set up. So is it working or not?



It is easy to see if the parameters specifications that you uploaded has been accepted by the brick.

Include this command in you config file:

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

After power up has completed wait a couple of minutes then remove the USB device.

Plug the USB device into a computer and open the file PFCxxxxx.txt (where xxxxx is the serial number of your brick) with a text editor. Don't look for the file by date as the file date defaults to Jan 2010.

The configuration data is all there for your enjoyment.

Regarding HEX/Octal etc - There are 10 types of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that don't.

Andy, GY

On Sunday, August 26, 2012 11:53:49 AM UTC-7, Andy wrote:
On Saturday, August 25, 2012 10:53:42 PM UTC-7, brianDG303 wrote:



2. There is also no way to confirm that the setup actually set up. So is it working or not?







It is easy to see if the parameters specifications that you uploaded has been accepted by the brick.



Include this command in you config file:



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



After power up has completed wait a couple of minutes then remove the USB device.



Plug the USB device into a computer and open the file PFCxxxxx.txt (where xxxxx is the serial number of your brick) with a text editor. Don't look for the file by date as the file date defaults to Jan 2010.



The configuration data is all there for your enjoyment.



Regarding HEX/Octal etc - There are 10 types of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that don't.



Andy, GY

Hi Andy,
I appreciate your response, it is very helpful.

Question, can you clarify the following instruction from the CONFIG file:

# Write a debug log file to micro-SD card during flight.
# Brick ignores this if you remove USB stick (you must remove USB stick
# for flight)
$debug_out,fat,scheduler|config|baro|rf|gps|pffsm, all

I am having a difficult time understanding "Brick ignores this if you remove USB stick (you must remove USB stick for flight)" because that seems to say you have to have the stick in and the stick out during the flight. ??



Also a suggestion. An instruction in the CONFIG file says:

# Find your aircraft's "Mode S code".
# Unfortunately, FAA gives it in "Octal" notation.
# Since the late 1970's nobody in the world uses Octal. Except FAA.
# So, we didn't program Octal input support.
# So, you need to convert the FAA's foolish Octal into hex:
# - In LibreOffice, use the conversion function =OCT2HEX(0751243)
# - In Microsoft Excel, Tools AddIns enable Analysis Toolpak,
# and then use =OCT2HEX as in LibreOffice (its always harder
# with Microsoft - "Where do you want to waste time today ?").

OK, so I don't have LibreOffice and my version of Excel doesn't have the Toolpak. It took a bit longer to find a converter online than one would expect, but here is an example, perhaps PF-USA could just mention it or link to it from their website:

http://www.digitconvert.com/

Again, thanks for your help, I'll give it a try.

Brian

On Aug 25, 10:36*pm, wrote:
See here for my cable.https://sites.google.com/site/threeu...terfly-display
3U

Damn, that's complicated. No wonder people are shying away from doing
this.

All you need is a scrap 4 wire telephone lead, a 7pin D Sub connector
and a couple of AA cells.

If you want to take the power from the brick then add an RJ-11 coupler
and use the supplied RJ-45 / RJ-11 cable.

Even if your computer doesn't have a legacy serial port most pilots
probably have a USB to serial dongle to support their other toys.

The display data output is +/- approx 5 volts and the input accepts
the signal from a standard serial port. Butterfly display manual
indicates direct connection to the PC serial port is acceptable.

I made my cable more complicated by providing the abilty to switch the
display data lines between the PC port and the Brick but that's not
needed.

A similar simple cable, without the power source, can be used to talk
to the brick using a standard PC terminal emulation program.


Andy GY

On Aug 29, 9:21*am, Andy wrote:
All you need is a scrap 4 wire telephone lead, a 7pin D Sub connector
and a couple of AA cells.

9 pin of course. - I hope I fly better than I type.