On 26/04/2012, at 9:10 AM, Mike Borgelt wrote: > At 08:35 PM 25/04/2012, you wrote: >> Or you can use XCSoar and configure all those items to your own preference >> :-) >> >> Scott >> > > There is a new PNA device available shortly called a V1. Essentially the same > as the new Oudie with the same screen (you can get your old Oudie upgraded). > 950 nits brightness and non glare coating so the thing is sunlight readable. > > About $300. > > If SeeYou Mobile is your thing, buy a new Oudie. That or a V1 make custom > hardware very questionable on any price/performance comparison. > > If you want the same sort of device able to run any of the glide computer > software then get a V1 and run your choice of WinPilot, XCSoar or LK8000 or > SeeYou Mobile. I've got a couple on order for me and Ron.
Sound great. Tell us how it looks. > > The 5"Dell Streak isn't in production and the 7"devices are too large for > comfortable use in glider cockpits. There certainly is a problem with those > in the US where Smartphones are banned in contests because the new ones can > be used for instrument flight in cloud and to collect data for outside help. So annoying of Dell. The 5" with tansflective screen really was the best model out there. You can still get them second hand and old stocks, but will run out soon. > All of the glide computer software will converge. Any really good ideas will > be requested by users for their particular software and as there is an active > development group for XCSoar, Paolo is actively developing LK8000 and Jerry > sells WinPilot and has a commercial interest in upgrading it, I doubt any of > these really useful these features will be missing from those programs for > very long. Yes the other reason the V1 you talk about is good is for choice. Currently WinPilot, SeeYou and LK8000 only run on Pocket PC (Window Mobile pre 7), and XCSoar runs too so you get lots of choices. Where as the Android device gives you less choices. > There is extra information available on all these programs if they receive > not just GPS data but air data and settings like MacCready, bugs and ballast > from the vario system. This also makes operating the whole system easier as > these only require changing in one place then. AFAIK our B50 was the first > vario that implemented this back in 1995 when I realised that the vario and > glide computer only required connection by a simple well defined serial data > stream. We have carried this over to the B500 and now B800 and have > distributed a B800 simulator (it is also on our website now) that runs on > Windows PCs to help developers of glide computers. The B800 main unit is also > capable of accepting MacCready, bugs and ballast from the glide computer > program so hopefully, soon, this will be implemented in the major glider > computer programs. I put in MacCready etc externally, through switches on my grip to XCSoar. You can put through any flight commands to XCSoar from external instruments. My glider is pretty simple, I just have buttons on stick for next waypoint (in case I want to skip), MacCready (if not using Auto, which is getting lots better now), marker etc, then I have my Wheel, Airbrakes and Trim going through. The trim is useful for switching screens. Instead of waiting for a circle to change from Cruise to Climb screens, it changes as soon as I use the last part of my trim. If you have flaps you can use that instead. > > Getting hung up on vario average data etc is probably a mistake. The real > question always is "should I leave now and try for something better"?" Of > course there's always that little voice saying "are you feeling lucky? Well > are ya, punk?" :-) > We've tried to make that decision as easy as possible in the averager display > in both the B700 and B800. Look it up. No need to clutter the glide computer > display with this. One thing the complex devices get wrong is simplicity. I have not used a B700/B800, but I have used ilec and a few others. And viewing essential information by uncluttering the screen is better. There is a project in XCSoar to develop a few new optional views to do something similar. My desire would be to have a screen that only has a few important info boxes instead of moving map etc. I should explain that I don't have a vario needle - only sound and what I can see on the screen. This means that when I want to look at the actual numbers, I need to look at the screen. If I could have, especially when struggling low, a simpler view it would be good. I think the dedicated devices like yours do that better. > We're also working on a new Total Energy system that is insensitive to > horizontal gusts and should be very easy to install with little to no tuning. > A test flight a few weeks ago showed that our sensor package is up to the job. > > You will likely want to blend Flarm data with the data stream for display on > the PNA and there are various devices on the market to do this including > ours. > > BTW there's been another mid air in Europe between Flarm equipped gliders > where the Flarms allegedly were working. Fortunately the damage was > relatively minor (loss of 0.5m of wingtip and hole in D nose of wing of other > glider) and there were no physical injuries and both pilots landed safely. > Can't say any more. Thanks Mike Scott _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
