USB Serial Converters - Reliable one for SN10 and Volkslogger

WaltWX

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Jun 16, 2012, 7:09:32 PM6/16/12

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FYI, recently I upgraded my notebook to Windows 7 64bit. I've found a good reliable USB serial convertor that works "out of the box" on Windows 7 even the 64 bit version.

USB to Serial Adapter - Mini PRO - $27.50

http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=244

Another one almost identical but with a cable

USB to Serial Adapter - Professional - $34.95

http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=325

This convertor has a very well written device driver that is maintained and kept up to date. My older Belkin convertor stopped working when I changed to Windows 7 64bit. Also, it wouldn't work on my Volkslogger, so I had to use a PCMIA serial card with WinXP (the PCMIA card doesn't work anymore in Windows 7 64bit).

These USB serial convertors from usconverters.com work just fine on everything I need (Volkslogger and SN10B software/waypoints loading). With the Volklogger, download used to be extremely slow. Now, I've found a driver setting on the Mini PRO which speeds up the download! It was a "Latency Timer" (msec) changed from 16 to 1.

So... if your're having problems with USB to RS232 convertors, give these a try.

Walt Rogers, WX

Dave Nadler

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Jun 17, 2012, 12:00:41 AM6/17/12

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Thanks Walt !
I'll try to update the SN10 resources pages,
maybe on the rest day...
Best Regards, Dave "YO electric"

kirk.stant

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Jun 17, 2012, 10:54:00 AM6/17/12

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Walt, do yourself a favor and get the SN10 USB adapter.

No more lugging a PC to the gliderport, making sure you have the right cable (Ilec, what were you thinking?), or playing with weird pseudo-DOS software on an iPaq to download your files.

And software upgrades become a snap.

Seriously - I land, get out of the cockpit, stick the USB thumbdrive into the adapter in my panel, then by the time I've pushed off the runway to my tiedown or trailer, the flight is downloaded.

Worth every penny...

Kirk
66
Happy SN10 user since 2001

Wade

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Jun 18, 2012, 1:11:41 AM6/18/12

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On Saturday, June 16, 2012 4:09:32 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:

> FYI, recently I upgraded my notebook to Windows 7 64bit. I've found a good reliable USB serial convertor that works "out of the box" on Windows 7 even the 64 bit version.
>
> USB to Serial Adapter - Mini PRO - $27.50
>
> http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=244
>
> Another one almost identical but with a cable
>

I just bought a good one as well on radio shack's website: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2292430

Works with windows 7 32 and 64 bit OS

WaltWX

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Jun 19, 2012, 1:28:57 AM6/19/12

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On Sunday, June 17, 2012 7:54:00 AM UTC-7, kirk.stant wrote:
> Walt, do yourself a favor and get the SN10 USB adapter.
>

I rarely download igc files from the SN10B. The reason is that for OLC League, a certified igc file is required. Only the Volkslogger is igc certified.

I'm tempted to just replace the VL with a Nano... or just wait for the PowerFlarm people to certify their recorder.

Walt, WX

kirk.stant

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Jun 19, 2012, 8:31:08 AM6/19/12

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On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 12:28:57 AM UTC-5, WaltWX wrote:

> I rarely download igc files from the SN10B. The reason is that for OLC League, a certified igc file is required. Only the Volkslogger is igc certified.
>
> I'm tempted to just replace the VL with a Nano... or just wait for the PowerFlarm people to certify their recorder.
>
> Walt, WX

My SN10 files (blue V) show up in our club's OLC League flights. Not sure what that means in terms of OLC League score - I've never even looked at that part of OLC before - and a quick read of the OLC League scoring rules did not leave me with any burning desire to try to figure it out!

Nano is a nice little bit of kit.

Cheers,

Kirk
66

kirk.stant

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Jun 19, 2012, 9:59:25 AM6/19/12

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On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 7:31:08 AM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:
>
> My SN10 files (blue V) show up in our club's OLC League flights. Not sure what that means in terms of OLC League score - I've never even looked at that part of OLC before - and a quick read of the OLC League scoring rules did not leave me with any burning desire to try to figure it out!
>
> Nano is a nice little bit of kit.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound all snarky about OLC League. Not sure what kind of contest it is, and the explanation on the OLC site isn't much help!

It does seem odd that an SN10 file is OK for a lowly OLC classic score, but not good enough (?) for the OLC League...

But that has been argued to death on RAS before! ;^)

Cheers,

Kirk
66

WaltWX

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Jun 20, 2012, 1:25:31 PM6/20/12

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Follow up on PF Brick install:

Photos of Discus 2A PowerFlarm antenna install on panel cover. ADS-B is forward antenna; FLARM is rear most one. The hook forward on panel cover is where I locate my SPOT tracker. GPS antennas are under cover between two PF top antennas (Volkslogger and PF GPS).

ADS-B and FLARM antennas are taped to a piece of "L" shaped plexiglass (2x2x3 inches) all velcroed to panel top. Got the plexiglas from Staples Office and "hacked" it from the original purpose of displaying 81/2x11inch announcements.

No compass to worry about. Interestingly enough, Discus 2A ops manual didn't require one nor did the FAA when I got my experimental certificate.

RAM mounted Butterfly is also visible.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/463771/MyGliderCockpit_Gaisford/PFlarm_Discus2A_Antenna_SideView.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/463771/MyGliderCockpit_Gaisford/PFlarm_Discus2A_AntennaButterfly.JPG

Walt Rogers, WX

Piet Barber

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Jun 20, 2012, 1:29:30 PM6/20/12

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On Sunday, June 17, 2012 10:54:00 AM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
> Walt, do yourself a favor and get the SN10 USB adapter.

Yes!
The only problem is that you'll have to upload a modern enough version of the operating system on the SN-10 to use the USB adapter in the first place. So simply buying the new piece of equipment might not relieve you from using the SN-10 over Serial interface one-last-time.

Dave Nadler

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Jun 20, 2012, 1:38:09 PM6/20/12

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No, read the USB adapter manual...

Bob Gibbons

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Jun 20, 2012, 9:19:43 PM6/20/12

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Walt, interesting mount for the display. Looks like the standard
Butterfly backplate and Ram ball, but with a custom mount from the Ram
ball to the siderail.

Can share some information about your display mount installation?

Bob

On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:25:31 -0700 (PDT), WaltWX <wrog...@gmail.com>
wrote:

Brad

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Jun 20, 2012, 9:26:07 PM6/20/12

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On Jun 20, 6:19 pm, Bob Gibbons <rcgibb...@ieee.org> wrote:
> Walt, interesting mount for the display. Looks like the standard
> Butterfly backplate and Ram ball, but with a custom mount from the Ram
> ball to the siderail.
>
> Can share some information about your display mount installation?
>
> Bob
>

> On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:25:31 -0700 (PDT), WaltWX <wroger...@gmail.com>

> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >Follow up on PF Brick install:
>
> >Photos of Discus 2A PowerFlarm antenna install on panel cover. ADS-B is forward antenna; FLARM is rear most one.
> >The hook forward on panel cover is where I locate my SPOT tracker. GPS antennas are under cover between two PF
> >top antennas (Volkslogger and PF GPS). ADS-B and FLARM antennas are taped to a piece of "L" shaped plexiglass
> >(2x2x3 inches) all velcroed to panel top. Got the plexiglas from Staples Office and "hacked" it from the original purpose
> >of displaying 81/2x11inch announcements.
> >No compass to worry about. Interestingly enough, Discus 2A ops manual didn't require one nor did the FAA when
> >I got my experimental certificate.
>
> >RAM mounted Butterfly is also visible.
>

> >https://dl.dropbox.com/u/463771/MyGliderCockpit_Gaisford/PFlarm_Discu...
>
> >https://dl.dropbox.com/u/463771/MyGliderCockpit_Gaisford/PFlarm_Discu...
>
> >Walt Rogers, WX

Pardon the dumb question.............but does Power Flarm have a
logger function at all right now? if so, is the mini SD the way to
access the file?

I bought the stand-alone unit and it is installed in my glider right
now...........I have a cable on order to replace the Garmin puck that
I am using to feed GPS to my Ipaq310.......the interface will be via a
Goddard PS-5a, hope to just remove and replace the puck with the PF
and make a change to LK8000 baud rate.

Brad

Bob Gibbons

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Jun 20, 2012, 10:00:33 PM6/20/12

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On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:26:07 -0700 (PDT), Brad <apis...@gmail.com>
wrote:

The IGC logger function is currently listed as a future upgrade (via
software upload) for both brick and portable.

For the portable, yes, the miniSD will be the access point.

Bob

... text deleted.

Paul Remde

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Jun 21, 2012, 8:22:33 AM6/21/12

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Hi,

I believe Walt make his own RAM mount for the FLARM remote display.

I sell a very nice one from Butterfly here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/butterfly.htm#Mount-Disp-Rect-RAM

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
_____________________________________

"Bob Gibbons" <rcgi...@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:cgt4u7tqsfvagj147...@4ax.com...

Darryl Ramm

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Jun 21, 2012, 10:42:23 AM6/21/12

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I would also expect PowerFLARM to support standard FLARM style downloading
of the IGC file via its serial port to PDAs/computers etc. Widely supported
in existing 3rd party applications (SeeYou, ConnectMe, XCSoar, etc.) and in
FlarmTool.

Darryl

WaltWX

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Jun 22, 2012, 2:32:55 AM6/22/12

to Paul Remde

Here a picture of the attach point for the RAM mount (9/16inch ball).

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/463771/MyGliderCockpit_Gaisford/Cockpit_PNA_Mount.JPG