PowerFLARM Tips

Paul Remde www.cumulus-soaring.com

[email protected]

April 11, 2016

Configuration

The PowerFLARM must be configured before use! An incorrect setting may lead to false alarms, not only to you, but also to surrounding aircraft.

The best way to create a configuration file is to use the online configuration tools available here:

PowerFLARM Online Configuration Tool: http://flarm.com/support/tools-software/flarm-configuration-tool/ or http://www.flarm.com

- Then click on “Support”, “Tools & Software”, “FLARM Configuration Tool”

I recommend the following settings:

• Device Part No.: (Printed on the product label that is attached to the PowerFLARM unit.) o

FLAPFC11A (or similar) (PowerFLARM Core) o

FLAPFP24A (or similar) (PowerFLARM Portable)

• Configuration Method: Manual

• Show Advanced Settings: Checked

• Data Sentences (for all serial ports): “GPS and FLARM”

• Data Sentences Protocol (for all serial ports): “Version 7”

• Baudrates (for all serial ports): 19200

• FLARM horizontal range: Unlimited

• FLARM vertical range: 2000 m

• ADS-B horizontal range: Unlimited

• ADS-B vertical range: Unlimited

• PCAS (Mode-S/C) horizontal range: 10 km

• PCAS (Mode-S/C) vertical range: Unlimited

• Process Mode-C targets: YES

• Mode-C filtering method: o

If you have a Mode C transponder: Aggressive o

If you have no transponder or a Mode S transponder: Less aggressive

• PCAS antenna calibration value: o

PowerFLARM Core: 30? o

PowerFLARM Portable: 40?

• Transponder Type: (set to match the transponder in your glider)

• Use barometric altitude from Mode-S transponder:

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o

If you have a Mode-S transponder: YES o

If you don’t have a Mode-S transponder: NO

• Beep on PCAS alarms: YES (unless you are getting too many transponder alarms, then: NO)

• PCAS targets as PFLAU on RJ45: NO

• PCAS targets as PFLAU on D-sub: NO

• Enable Audio: o

If your setup is wired to send audio alerts to your aviation headset: YES o

Otherwise: NO

• Audio Volume (%): 100

• Remove obstacle database: NO

• Remove all IGC files: NO

• ICAO 24-bit address, hexadecimal: (six character Mode-S address available from FAA web site below)

• Aircraft type: Glider/motor glider

• Logging interval (seconds): 1

• Glide ID: (N number in the USA)

• Competition ID: (number on tail fin – if applicable)

• Stealth mode: Disable

• No-Track mode: Disable

Please refer to the PowerFLARM Manual for instructions for loading the configuration file into the

PowerFLARM unit.

Manuals

The latest PowerFLARM manuals are available here: http://flarm.com/support/manuals-documents/

Firmware Upgrades

The latest PowerFLARM Firmware Updates are available here: http://flarm.com/support/firmware-updates/

Antennas

Be very careful to you look at the antenna connectors very closely to ensure that you connect them to the correct ports on the FLARM unit. The longer antenna is the FLARM antenna. It should be connected to the

FLARM A port. The shorter antenna is the ADS-B antenna and should be connected to the ADS-B port. The

FLARM and ADS-B antennas must be mounted oriented vertically.

PowerFLARM Application Note RF Antennas (North America)

This is a great resource with tips for getting maximum range with your PowerFLARM antennas. http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/flarm/PowerFLARM_Application_Note_ANTENNAS1.pdf

or http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/flarm.htm

- Then click on the link near the top of the page.

Resources for Finding Your Sailplane's Mode S Address - to be entered in the PowerFLARM

USA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Inquiry.aspx

or http://www.airframes.org/

Canada: http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/RchSimp.aspx

FLARM Range Analysis Tool

This is a great resource. It allows you to upload a flight log that was recorded with any FLARM unit. The tool creates a top-view range analyzis plot showing the maximum distance to FLARM targets in all directions. The

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flight log contains data location of other FLARM units received during the flight. Flights to be analyzed must have at least a duration of 30 minutes and contact with 5+ other FLARM equipped aircraft during the flight.

Only FLARM traffic data is analyzed. ADS-B and Mode C/S transponder traffic is not analyzed. http://flarm.com/support/tools-software/flarm-range-analyzer/

FlarmNet.org

After you have configured your FLARM, I very highly recommend that you register your FLARM unit and glider at FlarmNet.org, and download and install the latest FlarmNet file into your FLARM traffic displays. FlarmNet is a great resource which makes it easy to identify your friends and competitors in flight. It is a database which connects FLARM unit ID numbers with the glider contest numbers. For example, when flying in a competition or soaring get-together, if you have registered your FLARM unit at FlarmNet.org and your friends and competitors are using the latest FlarmNet file, they will see your contest number on their FLARM displays and flight computers, instead of your FLARM’s internal ID number. Likewise, if you download and install the latest

FlarmNet file into your FLARM traffic display units (LXNAV FlarmView, Naviter Oudie, LXNAV LX9000, etc.), and your friends have registered at FlarmNet.org, you will see their contest number rather than their FLARM’s ID number. Note: The FlarmNet file is not loaded into the PowerFLARM Core, it is loaded into the FLARM traffic display. http://www.flarmnet.org

FLARM Antenna Grommet Mount Solution

A customer suggested this approach to mounting the PowerFLARM Core ADS-B and FLARM dipole antennas.

It is clever, simple and makes for a clean looking installation. 3 or 4 simple rubber grommets are used. I found the grommets at a local hardware store. The grommets have a hole diameter of ¼” and fit in a 3/8” hole.

They seem to hold the antennas quite securely. If I find that they are not tight enough I’ll put some shrink tubing on the end of the antenna to make the fit more snug. The installation was very easy. The only slightly tough part was getting the 2 SMA connectors through the center grommet (before it was installed). After the first SMA connector was pushed through the grommet its cable made it more difficult to get the 2 connector through. Another approach would be to use a total of 4 grommets so each cable would go through its own grommet. The PowerFLARM Core’s GPS antenna is mounted just under the instrument panel cover – on top of a variometer. nd SMA

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