Easy and affordable IGC logger

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Since my FLARM doesn't have an SD card slot, I'm looking for an easy to use IGC logger.

Right now, I can get the EW IGC-logger microRecorder for € 295, which has built in GPS, antenna, SD card and USB cable in the box.

An LX Nano (regular nano, no display) is also an option, which is € 399, but is from LXNav, so probably more support available, SD card, wall charger and requires no additional cables.

What would your suggestions be? Do you have experiences with any? All info is welcome, thanks!

[Nick Hill]

With the Nano the SD card is the internal storage and the recomendation
is you do not remove it to download traces. It is easy to do over USB
or bluetooth with the Nano config app on a phone. The config app also
alows you to configure the parameters, declare tasks etc on the Nano
from your phone.


--

Nick Hill

[clint....@gmail.com]

I used an old EW MicroRecorder (pre-SD card version) for a number of years. Always a bit of a hassle to have to do the declaration from a PC and having to have a laptop at the airfield etc. The aerial is also separate and so has to be stuck somewhere and then plugged into the unit prior to the flight. But the unit was generally reliable and easy to use.

I have just purchased a Nano4. Was looking at the Nano and Nano3 too - but liked the airspace warnings as well as final glide and climb optimiser which are now part of the Nano4. The NanoConfig App and Bluetooth connectivity mean declarations can be done from an android cellphone saving the hassle of having to connect any of the Nano units to a laptop for the declarations. Flights can also be downloaded using Bluetooth. I hate cables generally. The battery life is also far longer than the EW and its a far smaller unit overall. I personally think the extra Euro100 is worth the expense considering it is a far more modern unit. Both types are approved for all flights.

Clinton

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 11:27:17 UTC+2 schreef clint....@gmail.com:

> I used an old EW MicroRecorder (pre-SD card version) for a number of years. Always a bit of a hassle to have to do the declaration from a PC and having to have a laptop at the airfield etc. The aerial is also separate and so has to be stuck somewhere and then plugged into the unit prior to the flight. But the unit was generally reliable and easy to use.
>
> I have just purchased a Nano4. Was looking at the Nano and Nano3 too - but liked the airspace warnings as well as final glide and climb optimiser which are now part of the Nano4. The NanoConfig App and Bluetooth connectivity mean declarations can be done from an android cellphone saving the hassle of having to connect any of the Nano units to a laptop for the declarations. Flights can also be downloaded using Bluetooth. I hate cables generally. The battery life is also far longer than the EW and its a far smaller unit overall. I personally think the extra Euro100 is worth the expense considering it is a far more modern unit. Both types are approved for all flights.
>
> Clinton

Hmm, good points. I always used FLARM in our club's gliders to record flights and used my phone as a GPS, maybe the Nano4 would be a good replacement for both. Do you need any other connections to the Nano/Nano4? Vario for example, or can the GPS register the differences in altitude automatically? Thanks!

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 11:00:59 UTC+2 schreef Nick Hill:

That would be very handy, is it android/iOS only? Or both?

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 11:27:17 UTC+2 schreef clint....@gmail.com:

> I used an old EW MicroRecorder (pre-SD card version) for a number of years. Always a bit of a hassle to have to do the declaration from a PC and having to have a laptop at the airfield etc. The aerial is also separate and so has to be stuck somewhere and then plugged into the unit prior to the flight. But the unit was generally reliable and easy to use.
>
> I have just purchased a Nano4. Was looking at the Nano and Nano3 too - but liked the airspace warnings as well as final glide and climb optimiser which are now part of the Nano4. The NanoConfig App and Bluetooth connectivity mean declarations can be done from an android cellphone saving the hassle of having to connect any of the Nano units to a laptop for the declarations. Flights can also be downloaded using Bluetooth. I hate cables generally. The battery life is also far longer than the EW and its a far smaller unit overall. I personally think the extra Euro100 is worth the expense considering it is a far more modern unit. Both types are approved for all flights.
>
> Clinton

I have just found the apps, they look very easy and I'm able to use my phone as well. Getting the regular Nano without display, would that be possible to mount it to the side of my instrument panel? Does it require to be put in direct view of the sky?

[clint....@gmail.com]

The Nanos' are all totally self-contained. Have built-in antenna, battery, pressure sensor, GPS and noise sensors. Can literally slip it into a pocket and forget about it. Very long battery lives. They look like great little units.

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 12:39:50 UTC+2 schreef clint....@gmail.com:

> The Nanos' are all totally self-contained. Have built-in antenna, battery, pressure sensor, GPS and noise sensors. Can literally slip it into a pocket and forget about it. Very long battery lives. They look like great little units.

Does it matter where you place the Nano? For example, just like you said, in a pocket (side bag for example)?

[clint....@gmail.com]

Well - I plan to mount the Nono4 where it can be observed and have a suction-cup mount for it already (a suitable generic cellphone mount). However, my understanding of the Nano is it can be put into the pocket. That can be confirmed with LX Nav.


Clinton

[Martin Gregorie]

On Tue, 17 Apr 2018 10:00:57 +0100, Nick Hill wrote:

> On 17/04/2018 08:31, Senna Van den Bosch wrote:
>> Since my FLARM doesn't have an SD card slot, I'm looking for an easy to
>> use IGC logger.
>>
>> Right now, I can get the EW IGC-logger microRecorder for € 295, which
>> has built in GPS, antenna, SD card and USB cable in the box.
>>
>

I have one of these, which has always worked well for me.

It records on a 2GB SD card, which is easy to pop out when you're
downloading the log from it.

Its only drawback as far as I'm concerned is its power switch, which is
of the "always powered pushbutton" type. The problem here is that, during
the winter when the logger is not being used, is that the MicroRecorder
will flatten fully charged batteries in a bit over three months by
watching the switch for the 'turn on' press and, because these are NiMH
chemistry, letting them go flat for any length of time wrecks them.
However:

- All you need do to avoid this problem is to remember to charge the
Microrecorder every couple of months.

- The batteries are a set of four NiMH AA cells kept as a flat package,
with white shrink-wrap plastic and fitted with a connector on the end
of a short cable. They can be replaced without breaking the security
seal and, if you're happy to use a soldering iron, you can make up a
replacement pack rather than buying one from EW.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

[krasw]

Original Nano has nightmarish user interface, row of leds and fiddly microscopic switch that you can also press. Better to get one with display, you at least know if it's up and running without user manual to decode led colors.

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 13:49:12 UTC+2 schreef Martin Gregorie:

Would it be a problem to fix the GPS antenna of the EW MicroRecorder next to the FLARM antenna?

[Dan]

Why not just use a Memory Stick in the USB port of your FLARM? If you can't easily get to the USB port you can get a short USB extension cord and either panel mount the port end or set it up to be easily reached after your flight. I did this on my old glider it worked great. The FLARM is an excellent logger.

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 16:07:03 UTC+2 schreef Dan:

My FLARM is older and doesn't have an SD card slot yet.

[Dan Marotta]

I have a Replogle barograph with a fresh pack of pressure sensitive
thingies and camera plus mount that you can have for the cost of
shipping. :-D

--
Dan, 5J

[Tim Newport-Peace]

At 13:53 17 April 2018, Senna Van den Bosch wrote:
>Op dinsdag 17 april 2018 13:49:12 UTC+2 schreef Martin Gregorie:
>> On Tue, 17 Apr 2018 10:00:57 +0100, Nick Hill wrote:

>>=20

>> > On 17/04/2018 08:31, Senna Van den Bosch wrote:
>> >> Since my FLARM doesn't have an SD card slot, I'm looking for an easy

>t=
>o
>> >> use IGC logger.
>> >>=20
>> >> Right now, I can get the EW IGC-logger microRecorder for =E2=82=AC
>295=

>, which
>> >> has built in GPS, antenna, SD card and USB cable in the box.
>> >>
>> >

>> I have one of these, which has always worked well for me.=20
>>=20
>> It records on a 2GB SD card, which is easy to pop out when you're=20

>> downloading the log from it.

>>=20

>> Its only drawback as far as I'm concerned is its power switch, which

is=
>=20

>> of the "always powered pushbutton" type. The problem here is that,

>during=
>=20

>> the winter when the logger is not being used, is that the

MicroRecorder=
>=20
>> will flatten fully charged batteries in a bit over three months by=20

>> watching the switch for the 'turn on' press and, because these are

NiMH=
>=20
>> chemistry, letting them go flat for any length of time wrecks them.=20
>> However:
>>=20

>> - All you need do to avoid this problem is to remember to charge the
>> Microrecorder every couple of months.

>>=20

>> - The batteries are a set of four NiMH AA cells kept as a flat package,
>> with white shrink-wrap plastic and fitted with a connector on the end
>> of a short cable. They can be replaced without breaking the security
>> seal and, if you're happy to use a soldering iron, you can make up a
>> replacement pack rather than buying one from EW.

>>=20
>>=20
>> --=20

>> Martin | martin at
>> Gregorie | gregorie dot org
>
>Would it be a problem to fix the GPS antenna of the EW MicroRecorder next
>to the FLARM antenna?
>

It could be. You can get interferance between the two.

In answer to an earlier question, it you put any antenna in your pocket, it
could be masked by your body and inhibit receiving from some directions. A
clear view if the sky is always the ideal.

[Tango Whisky]

I have a Flarm 5 without SD card which I use as secondary logger. Flawless.

[Martin Gregorie]

What Tim said. I modified my battery box lid which, in a Libelle is a
convenient place to mount the Microrecorder and its GPS antenna. Here's a
picture:

https://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libelle/battery_lid.html

The battery box lid is a sandwich of 1.6mm epoxy-glass plate and 3mm
balsa sheet. The GPS antenna is on a 50mm high support: its a V-pylon
made from two pieces of 1.6mm epoxy-glass plate glued at 90 degrees to
each other with another piece of epoxy plate glued on the top. I use
Velcro patches to mount the GPS antenna on the pylon and heavy duty
Velcro patches to hold the Microrecorder in place on the battery box lid.
The enclosed structure to the right of the Microrecorder contains wiring
that powers my panel and the Microrecorder:

- The two SLA 7Ah batteries in the battery box are fitted with short
(150mm, 6") cables and XLR plugs. These go to XLR sockets under the
right edge of the box lid which connect the batteries to the fuses
marked A(vionics) and R(adio). Connections from them go to the XLR
socket (top front) which feeds my panel via a three wire cable.

- A diode connects to each battery to the left-most fuse. This supplies
external power to the Microrecorder via the rocker switch behind the
tiedown bolt and the socket that connects to it.

This arrangement lets the Microrecorder draw from the either or
both batteries depending on which has the most charge. The diodes
prevent the strongest battery from trying the charge the weaker
one.

The rocker switch is needed because of the way the Microrecorder's push-
on - push-off switch works:

- if external power is NOT connected the switch works as you'd expect and
turns the logger on and off

- if external power IS connected, the Microrecorder is automatically
powered on and running. It will automatically top up its internal
battery from the external power if needed.

If you disconnect the external power the Microrecorder will continue to
run until you turn it off using its power switch.

This is both a blessing and a curse. The good point is that the
Microrecorder will have a complete log of your flight even if your
electrical system has a total failure. The downside is that, if you land,
derig, put the glider away and drive off home without turning the
Microrecorder off, it will still be running and will continue to do so
until either you notice and turn it off or its battery goes flat.

[Martin Gregorie]

On Tue, 17 Apr 2018 07:11:33 -0700, Senna Van den Bosch wrote:

>
> My FLARM is older and doesn't have an SD card slot yet.
>

If you have an LX Red Box I think its worth getting an SD card reader
(and installing it in your panel if you have the space). Quite apart frpom
using the FLARM as a logger, the other two reasons for doing this are:

- it makes the mandatory annual firmware upgrade a lot easier

- FLARM logs can be downloaded and submitted to the FLARM website in
order to see how good the coverage round your glider is, and maybe
find a better position for the FLARM antenna if the coverage is only
short range or has a poor pattern.

[MNLou]

On Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 8:45:26 AM UTC-5, krasw wrote:
> Original Nano has nightmarish user interface, row of leds and fiddly microscopic switch that you can also press. Better to get one with display, you at least know if it's up and running without user manual to decode led colors.

I have to disagree. I turn the Nano on, make sure it has 2 blinking green lights, and I'm done until I turn it off at the end of the flight.

It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Lou

[christop...@gmail.com]

The Flarm manual advises you not to install the Flarm GPS within 30cm of the Flarm Antenna. It would be the same for your EW Antenna

I have an EW myself. It is connected to my Android phone via a IOIO box. I run XCSoar. I can declare a task to the EW with this setup but cannot download a file.

The Nanos can connect via bluetooth which is a bit easier. You can declare a task with bluetooth but cannot download a file.

Having used both, there is not a big difference other than the Nano has bluetooth.

[krasw]

Except when it spontaneously turns itself off on the grid (in WGC, of course), while auto-off setting was disabled. It is ok unit but you just cannot trust these toys.

[Nick Hill]

On 17/04/2018 20:47, christop...@gmail.com wrote:

>
> The Nanos can connect via bluetooth which is a bit easier. You can declare a task with bluetooth but cannot download a file.
>

The nano config app allows downloading of flights over bluetooth. I've
done this with the android version. See section 5.3 of the nano manual
which describes the process.


--

Nick Hill

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I have found the LXNAV Nano units to be extremely reliable. Usually when one shuts down when it shouldn't, it is because it was not properly charged.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op woensdag 18 april 2018 15:53:31 UTC+2 schreef Paul Remde:

Hey Paul, I have received my Nano and try to enter task data. I have a .cup file store in the system folder, but I can not open the file on my phone (or create one) and can't open the file in NanoConfig either. On my phone, adding a waypoint shows an error that I have to go to the menu button, but there is no menu button in the app. On PC it doesn't give any error at all, it just doesn't show up in the config.

Other question, for logging without that cup file and free distance, do I still need to configure start and finish waypoints? I'd like to upload all my files to OnlineContest.

[Senna Van den Bosch]

Op woensdag 18 april 2018 15:53:31 UTC+2 schreef Paul Remde:

I found out it "loads" a lot of waypoints without notice, in the name column I can select them :)

[youngbl...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 9:45:26 AM UTC-4, krasw wrote:
> Original Nano has nightmarish user interface, row of leds and fiddly microscopic switch that you can also press. Better to get one with display, you at least know if it's up and running without user manual to decode led colors.

I find the Nano extremely user friendly, compact and easily uploaded. Just press the button and confirm the on indication light. Both my wife and I use the Nano, it is a nice reliable unit.