Power Flarm Problems

After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

On Monday, August 22, 2016 at 9:30:07 AM UTC-5, Charlie Flagg wrote:
After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

Are you leaving a USB thumb drive installed in the PF when you start it up everytime? Is there a "default" config file in the USB drive?

You could post your config file here (minus identifying data, of course); there may be something in it...

Kirk
66

On Monday, August 22, 2016 at 3:51:48 PM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
On Monday, August 22, 2016 at 9:30:07 AM UTC-5, Charlie Flagg wrote:
After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

Are you leaving a USB thumb drive installed in the PF when you start it up everytime? Is there a "default" config file in the USB drive?

You could post your config file here (minus identifying data, of course); there may be something in it...

Kirk
66

Are you using FLARM version 6.06? If you post the header (minus identifying data) of one of your .igc files (the part above the B records), it will also help sort it out.

Has your FLARM firmware been updated with 365 days? According to manual 3.41, it must be....

It may be a mis-match between FLARM firmware and Butterfly display firmware. Both must be updated to function correctly...

Dan

I think Kirk and Dan hit the nail here. Make sure you have the latest version firmware in all of your equipment (And Database if you want to team fly).. I once dug up an old thumb drive to download a flight at a contest and the next day nothing worked. Turns out there was an old generic config file on the drive I randomly picked out of my flight kit. I was using the PF for my primary logger at the time so it was a scramble to figure out what happened and fix it on the grid.

At 03:27 23 August 2016, K m wrote:
I think Kirk and Dan hit the nail here. Make sure you have the latest
versi=
on firmware in all of your equipment (And Database if you want to team
fly)=
.. I once dug up an old thumb drive to download a flight at a contest and
th=
e next day nothing worked. Turns out there was an old generic config file
o=
n the drive I randomly picked out of my flight kit. I was using the PF
for
=
my primary logger at the time so it was a scramble to figure out what
happe=
ned and fix it on the grid.


Thanks for the suggestions. The PF was definitely updated this spring but
not the Butterfly. I'll check all the system updates this evening and see
what happens.
Charlie, C

At 03:27 23 August 2016, K m wrote:
I think Kirk and Dan hit the nail here. Make sure you have the latest
versi=
on firmware in all of your equipment (And Database if you want to team
fly)=
.. I once dug up an old thumb drive to download a flight at a contest and
th=
e next day nothing worked. Turns out there was an old generic config file
o=
n the drive I randomly picked out of my flight kit. I was using the PF
for
=
my primary logger at the time so it was a scramble to figure out what
happe=
ned and fix it on the grid.


Thanks for the suggestions. The PF was definitely updated this spring but
not the Butterfly. I'll check all the system updates this evening and see
what happens.
Charlie, C

Thanks for the suggestions. The PF was definitely updated this spring but
not the Butterfly. I'll check all the system updates this evening and see
what happens.
Charlie, C

I do the club FLARMs - 5 so far, and my own. I had one setup that wouldn't work until I updated the associated Butterfly twice (second time with correct flarmnet file). Even if you don't like flarmnet, once one is in your Butterfly, you have to keep it current to the newest specification (FLARM and Butterfly talk when a new version comes out. 2017 will be a big FLARM update year). I've had difficulty with flarmnet files if I download them with my Macbook, and now just use the club PC.

If you select notrack in your flarmcfg.txt file, you won't be tracked by OGN receivers. From the latest flarm spec:

3.1.8 NOTRACK
Description:
Instructs third party receiving stations that (regardless of stealth mode setting) the received ID and position data must neither be stored nor made accessible in any time dimension (real-time, delayed, or archived) for any purpose. It is recommended NOT to enable this option! If enabled, it will impair logging service functionality and make Search and Rescue (SAR) impossible.
1 is notrack...

To find the specification, google FTD-14-FLARM-Configuration-Specification-1.02 .

Updating the flarm is a lot better since version 6; you just put the flarm firmware, the butterfly firmware, and the new flarmnet file at the highest level of a USB (CORE) or SD card (Portable). Turn on the flarm, and it updates each in the correct order, and leaves a file saying what it has done. It makes troubleshooting a lot easier. Once you've updated, move the firmware files to a folder on the drive, and the flarm won't see them there (but they are there if you ever need them).

Hi Charlie,

What is your source of information that tells you that the configuration
data has been lost?

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Charlie Flagg" wrote in message ...

After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

Paul,
I have gotten the PF to work briefly in the past but no longer. The
indication that the configuration was lost has been that neither the LX9000
nor the Butterfly show the presence of the PF data. The Butterfly shows
two red squares while the LX9000 shows the correct PF serial number and
firmware version, 6.06, but no nearby aircraft tracks.

On unloading the configuration file, the PF creates a CVS and a TXT file.
Both of those look reasonable with no obvious error flags. The Butterfly
has firmware version 3.3 and took the updated flarmnet file, ...4978.bfn.
But still no flarm activity from either the LX9000 or the Butterfly.

Thanks, Charlie


At 00:40 24 August 2016, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi Charlie,

What is your source of information that tells you that the configuration
data has been lost?

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Charlie Flagg" wrote in message
...

After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned
the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three
times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when
I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering
the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 9:15:05 AM UTC-4, Charlie Flagg wrote:
Paul,
I have gotten the PF to work briefly in the past but no longer. The
indication that the configuration was lost has been that neither the LX9000
nor the Butterfly show the presence of the PF data. The Butterfly shows
two red squares while the LX9000 shows the correct PF serial number and
firmware version, 6.06, but no nearby aircraft tracks.

On unloading the configuration file, the PF creates a CVS and a TXT file.
Both of those look reasonable with no obvious error flags. The Butterfly
has firmware version 3.3 and took the updated flarmnet file, ...4978.bfn.
But still no flarm activity from either the LX9000 or the Butterfly.

Thanks, Charlie


At 00:40 24 August 2016, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi Charlie,

What is your source of information that tells you that the configuration
data has been lost?

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Charlie Flagg" wrote in message
...

After addressing other issues with a new ship, I tackled the Power Flarm
early this summer. I read the manual, talked to folks and generated a
configuration file using the online flarm configuration tool on the
flarm.com site. After some hesitance, the configuration loaded and the
Power Flarm and Butterfly worked as I expected. A week later I turned
the
system on and the configuration was gone. I have done this now three
times
in the past couple of months and the configuration always disappears when
I
check it a day or two later. The system consists of an LX9000 powering
the
Power Flarm which, in turn, powers the Butterfly. Batteries are fully
charged. Any suggestions as to what is going on?


From the manual:
A red GPS-Indicator means that the connected collision warning unit does not have sufficient GPS reception to determine the current position.

Also, current version according to the manufacturer's webpage ( http://www.air-avionics.com/air/inde...erfly-displays ) is 3.4. According to the changelog, the format of the flarmnet file was changed.