LX20, DX50 protocol information
AeroSign
For different reasons, I want to build a program for our gliding club,
which can read the data from a LX20 or DX50 GPS logger. Can anybody
point me in the right direction, regarding useful information abort
the protocol, handshake etc?
Kind regards
Michael Nyrup
Ian Strachan
<Ny...@mailexcite.com> writes
> I want to build a program for our gliding club,
>which can read the data from a LX20 or DX50 GPS logger. Can anybody
>point me in the right direction, regarding useful information abort
>the protocol
The IGC data format is given in the Specification for IGC-approved GNSS
Flight recorders, through:
http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss
Where there are also some 20 software programs already listed that do
what you seem to be trying to do.
Good luck. If your program works OK, please email me the details in the
format used for the other 20 programs on the IGC GNSS web site, and
yours can be added to the list.
--
Ian Strachan
Chairman, IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee
Bentworth Hall West
Bentworth
Alton, Hampshire GU34 5LA
ENGLAND
i...@ukiws.demon.co.uk
Tel: +44 1420 564 195
Fax: +44 1420 563 140
AeroSign
clear enough.
What I seek is knowledge about how to make the LX20 establish a
connection, which characters to send etc. Actully off topic and rather
technical stuff but I thought it was worth a shot.
The reason is that we (the club) would like to be able to empty our
instruments in the glider with a Palm computer, and then read the data
from the Palm computer to a PC for normal use.
The goal is to avoid taking the instruments out of the glider each
time. We could use a laptop, I know but a Palm is more handy and will
(properly) survey a drop on the floor.
Regards
Michael Nyrup
Ian Strachan
<Ny...@mailexcite.com> writes
>Thank you for your reply, but unfortunately I did not make my self
>clear enough.
>What I seek is knowledge about how to make the LX20 establish a
>connection
The answer is similar to my previous one. It's available already
through the IGC GNSS web pages.
For all IGC-approved GPS Flight Recorders there are several freeware
files available in their latest versions through the gliding/gnss web
site. These "short program files" first download the flight data in the
recorder to a PC through a file DATA-XXX.exe on your PC. The data is
then converted to the IGC file format (if the downloaded data is in
another format such as binary) by the file CONV-XXX.exe. The XXX is the
FR manufacturers three-letter ident code. FIL for Filser, CAM for
Cambridge, LXN for LX Navigation (Colibri), and so forth. So for your
LX20 you should download the latest DATA-FIL.exe and CONV-FIL-exe to a
separate directory on your PC from the link on the IGC/GNSS web page.
Anyone can download these small programs to their own PC. This facility
has been available ever since the FAI web site was set up some years
ago.
This is mentioned in the IGC-approval document for all IGC-approved FRs,
with exactly how to use these short program files with the particular
type of recorder. This is checked out as part of the IGC-approval
process.
The short program files are continuously updated so if you look at the
IGC site every now and again, you should be able to get the latest
version of these small *.exe programs. If there is any problem with the
programs, please email me so that it can be sorted out and the latest
versions posted on the web for all to use.
These program files are entirely independent of FR manufacturers' larger
proprietary programs which may have additional functions but are not the
responsibility of IGC.
In my own use of GPS recorders I often find that the initial download to
a PC after flight is most conveniently done using the short program
files rather than the manufacturers' big program. Having got the flight
data into the PC I can then look at it in slow time and use one or more
of the 20 or so analysis programs also listed on the gliding/gnss web
site.
--
Ian Strachan
AeroSign
Sorry - I guess I did not do my homework good enough then.
Thanks for your help, I appreciate it
Regards
Michael Nyrup
Adrian Jansen
A Palm computer is NOT a DOS machine, and cannot run DOS type .exe files.
(MS)DOS is not the only operating system around.
--
--
Regards,
Adrian Jansen aqja...@oqzemail.com.au
Design Engineer J & K Micro Systems
Ph (07) 4639 4676 Microcomputer solutions for industrial control
Note reply address is invalid, remove q's from address above to reply.
Ian Strachan wrote in message ...
Bob Gibbons
.. text deleted ..
> Part of the original posting was related to downloading from a Palm
> Computer. I have never tried this but I am not sure that you can run DOS
> programs on a Palmtop. Even the LX Windows program
> (from http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/lxnav/sw.htm) may not run on a
> Palmtop.
>
> Has anyone ever tried this before?
>
You may want to look at Patric Nolle's GPS Logger program for the Palm
units. I have been using his program for the last several years with a
Garmin 89 and a PalmIII. The program simply records x,y, and z
(altitude) information from the Garmin every 2 sec. At the end of the
flight, the resulting data is downloaded from the Palm in IGC format
into what ever analysis program you desire. I use IGCView or
FlightDisplay.
I have been very happy with results. The combination of a Palm ($200)
and a low cost NMEA output GPS (say $200) means that for about $400
you can have a fully functional, but non-secure, flight recorder. If
you already have a suitable GPS and a Palm (my case), the flight
recorder is no cost. Sure beats $800-$1600 for the other
alternatives. And with the removal of SA, the GPS altitude information
is probably better than the barometric pressure. At the end of the
day, it allows you to compare IGC flight logs every bit as good as the
$1000+ system.
For Patric's program, see,
http://www.kawo2.rwth-aachen.de/~nolle/index2.html
While Patric does not have source code for download, he might be
persuaded to release portions for your LX20 needs.
Bob