IGCDroid : A new android glider tracker

[kiwiindenver]

Hi All,

I would like to announce IGCDroid, an Android near real-time Glider Tracking App.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ajw.igcdroid

Description
IGCDroid, partnered with GlidePort.aero (aka www.SSA.org's Sailplane Tracker) will change the way you record and track your flights.
Now your Android device can automatically record your flight and keep ground crew and friends updated in near real-time.
Perfect for all pilots
* Students recording their training flights
* Weekend pilots keeping their partners informed where and when they land
* Competition pilots with followers on the ground.
The free trial version is limited to 30 minute flights. One time purchase of $10 to upgrade to the unlimited version.
Features
* Simple set and forget operation
* Track your flight in near real time
* Record OLC validated IGC files
* Simple post flight statistics
* Email notify crew and friends of your flight progress
Enjoy.

Alan


PS. I would like to send a public thanks to the pilots and friends who helped test and improve IGCDroid over the last few months.

[adv23...@gmail.com]

I used the IGCDroid for six currency flights yesterday in snow-less Iowa, and it worked perfectly. As the instructions say, turn it on while pre-flighting, then forget it. At the end of the day the IGCDroid presented six separate flight traces, with a maximum altitude gain of 16 feet (a feature of midwest winter weather, not the app) IGCDroid could not have been easier to use. Thanks for the hard programming work.

[Dan Marotta]

Does it generate an igc file acceptable to OLC?  If not, look at XCSoar, it's free on the Play Store, has a moving map, and generates an OLC acceptable file.

On 1/28/2015 7:45 AM, adv23...@gmail.com wrote:

I used the IGCDroid for six currency flights yesterday in snow-less Iowa, and it worked perfectly.  As the instructions say, turn it on while pre-flighting, then forget it.  At the end of the day the IGCDroid presented six separate flight traces, with a maximum altitude gain of 16 feet (a feature of midwest winter weather, not the app)  IGCDroid could not have been easier to use.  Thanks for the hard programming work.

--
Dan Marotta

[kiwiindenver]

On Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 8:54:53 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Does it generate an igc file acceptable to OLC?  If not, look at
> XCSoar, it's free on the Play Store, has a moving map, and generates
> an OLC acceptable file.
>

Hi Dan,

Yes it does create a OLC valid IGC file. Being Android it can't create an FAI valid IGC file.

I'm not trying to compete with XCSoar, I have XCSoar installed on my phone as well.

My goal was to create a simple tracker, similar to Spot/InReach, that requires almost zero setup and notifies my family about my flights.

Rather than paying Spot an annual fee I will use IGCDroid for tracking and a PLB for real emergencies.

I agree it isn't the same as Spot/InReach, a cell phone solution never can be. It is both better and worse.

Alan

[Ramy]

Any plans for an iOS Version?
I currently using the glideport iPhone app which also generates valid OLC file, but it is missing a notification functionality. An option to automatically and periodically send links to your glideport trace via email and sms will be a big benefit.

Ramy

[kiwiindenver]

Are you sure GlideTrack creates valid OLC files? I didn't think it did, but I haven't used it much.

Sorry, I don't have the tools (Apple Mac computer) or the money ($100 per year for a developer account) to create an iPhone version.

Alan

[XXL]

Glidetrack does create a valid IGC file - I've uploaded quite a few flights from students, just can't get the OLC to recognize the HK36 TTC. I know the app does not have an ENL feature, but that's a mute point.

Cheers,
Roderick

[Ramy]

Same here. Uploaded a glidetrack IGC fike successfully to OLC.

Ramy

[Ramy]

Correction to my previous post. I did not post glidetrack igc file to OLC. I posted it to crosscountry.aero. So I cant tell if it creates valid OLC file.

Ramy

[Daniel Dyck]

Thanks a bunch! I will definitely make good use of this!

[Morgan]

Does IGCDroid (or Glidetrack for that matter) buffer status messages and send them when it has a data connection?

I haven't flown with Glidetrack yet, but often when I take a picture I will see No Service on the phone. So I may weave in and out of service on a flight. I'm just curious if the reported track is like a SPOT in that a missed message is gone forever or if the reportings are backfilled once a data connection is available.

Thanks,

Morgan

[kiwiindenver]

Yes, both programs buffer data. They use very similar algorithms internally.

When cell coverage is good, GPS positions are buffered and blocks of data are sent to the GlidePort.aero server approx every 1 minute.

In areas of bad coverage data continues to be buffered and the send attempts slow down to not drain the phone battery trying to contact non existant cell towers. All the data is sent when you regain coverage.

The end result is you can get sending delays which depend upon cell coverage but you always get full detailed position data sent to the server.

There is also some delay in getting server data out to your web browsers.

What I typically saw watching my tester's fly was 5m delays. The delay stretched to 30mins at time.

Alan

[Ian]

On 26/01/2015 20:55, kiwiindenver wrote:

> Now your Android device can automatically record your flight and keep ground crew and friends updated in near real-time.

I have been doing this for over 2 years years with XCSoar + Skylines
Live Tracking.

http://www.xcsoar.org/
https://www.skylines.aero/tracking/

Both free services running on GPL software. XCSoar also records an IGC
file that is accepted by OLC.

Ian

[Morgan]

Thanks for the details Alan. As I don't have an android device with a data plan I'll have to give Glidetrack a try, but I like the simplicity approach you've gone with. I'll forward your link to our club. We have a number of people running Android phones that would probably use this.

Morgan

[Barry Hendy]

I have loaded it up and would like to try it, but it consistently crashes when I try and enter my email account name for GlidePort.

I use Real-time GPS for live tracking sarwatch but having live tracking and igc in one would be nice.

Hopefully just a teething issue...

Barry.

[kiwiindenver]

Hi Barry,

Sorry you had this issue. I want to fix any issues ASAP.

I will send you some debug instructions offline.

Alan

[kiwiindenver]

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at 1:56:45 PM UTC-7, Barry Hendy wrote:

Hi Barry,

Google sent me a crash report.

It is complaining that the OS function to pick an email address is not found.

Do you have email setup on your phone? IGCDroid is trying to open your email contacts to select the GlidePort.aero email address.

Alan

[joesimmers]

So if I am reading this correctly, I can pay a $10 one time fee to activate this on my android.

This gives me full tracking on glideport.aero for safety in an emergency.

By doing this I can keep my Inreach year round on the $12 a month safety package so I
will still have 2 way satellite messaging if necessary.

How "often" do traces update on glideport.aero via this app? The package I subscribed to with inreach was every 10 minutes as it became very expensive for the 5 and 1 minute data packages.

[kiwiindenver]

Yes. That is correct.

IGCDroid updates every minute provided you have cell coverage. Typical server delays result in a 5 min delay. No annual service fee. The update is also a full trace not just a single position.

InReach and spot use satellite coverage, so can send status in remote areas with no cell coverage. I can't.

As I said earlier, better AND worse.

As others said, xcsoar+skylines is totally free. Your choice.

My plan is to use IGCDroid for everyday comms and a PLB for real emergencies. PLB is better than spot for real search and rescue.

What I loose not having spot is casual comma in non cell coverage areas.

Alan

[Ramy]

The cell based solutions are great but I see them complimentary to spot/inreach, and not a replacement. Spot/inreach are pretty consistent in sending updates in fix intervals, typically 10 min, while cell based may have long gaps especially if you fly high or in the desert such as in western US. More importantly, in the event of a crash where the pilot is incapacitated, spot/inreach may continue sending your location, or at least show your last location shortly before the crash.

Ramy

[kiwiindenver]

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at 10:44:25 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
> The cell based solutions are great but I see them complimentary to spot/inreach, and not a replacement. Spot/inreach are pretty consistent in sending updates in fix intervals, typically 10 min, while cell based may have long gaps especially if you fly high or in the desert such as in western US. More importantly, in the event of a crash where the pilot is incapacitated, spot/inreach may continue sending your location, or at least show your last location shortly before the crash.
>
> Ramy

This is a great discussion, I think everybody should understand the advantages and limitations of the technologies they use.

Ramy, if you are worried about incapacitation in a crash then shouldn't you have an ELT that will auto activate when you crash. (see http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html) Using spot/inreach will mean a long delay before anybody knows something is wrong. The delay is critical if you are incapacitated. Granted, the cell solution isn't any better.

The choices I see (in cost order comparing apples/oranges)

ELT
Spot/Inreach
PLB
Cell solution
Smoke signals
Nothing

Alan

[Ramy]

I have ELT although I think it should be listed second after Spot/Inreach. Even modern ELTs are known to not be very reliable in crashes. They often either don't get activated, break, or their antenna break. A spot/Inreach will at least provide approximate location. Also with spot/Inreach chances are that your crew/friends/club/FBO will be the first to notice an issue and can use better judgement than SAR who may just get an ELT signal.

Ramy

[MNLou]

Any idea if this app uses a lot of data? That might be an issue for those with limited data phone plans.

Lou

[kiwiindenver]

On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 1:52:49 PM UTC-7, MNLou wrote:
> Any idea if this app uses a lot of data? That might be an issue for those with limited data phone plans.
>
> Lou

The data sent is the content of your IGC file. It is just sent piece by piece.

I would add 10-20% to cover data transmission overhead.

The default position recording rate is a variable sample rate which is equivalent in data size to a 5 second sample rate. You can choose the data sample rate, from 1sec to 5mins.

The bottom line is a typical selfie is going to use a lot more than a typical flight. Probably more than your longest ever flight.

Alan

[MNLou]

On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 3:33:28 PM UTC-6, kiwiindenver wrote:
>
> > The bottom line is a typical selfie is going to use a lot more than a typical flight. Probably more than your longest ever flight.
>
> Alan

Great response Alan! Thank you. I will be downloading the app this evening.

Lou