Feedback on SL-30 and Usability

[jc2da]

Hi Dynon, i finally got a couple flights in and have some feedback on the SL-30 interface. i have been waiting for the auto-tune to SL-30 ability for quite some time, so i am happy to see it finally realized.

however, i hope the UI continues to see improvements to enhance its usability. the way it works now seems cumbersome to me to the point that i found myself manually tuning the SL-30 for frequencies i already knew. i can see why it was done this way, as it was the simplest path with the least amount of changes with the existing MAP menu page. however, i hope the COM functions are used often enough to deserve its own dedicated menu and/or more thought on its usability.

I. one issue is that the COM feature is buried in the MAP menu. thus, to manipulate the radio, you have to go thru the MAP page every time. thus, a typical sequence when approaching an airport goes like this:

1. BACK 0 or more times
2. MAP
3. FPL
4. scroll to highlight airport
5. INFO
6 - 7 or 8. tab 1 or 2 times to COM
9. scroll down to Tower
10. hit the TUNE button
11. now move hand back over to the radio to hit the swap button
12. done

that is a lot of button presses, joystick tabs, joystick scrolls, etc. just to tune in one frequency.

II. also, while in the MAP menu, i lose my MAP display on a single screen system. thus, i have to go back and forth from seeing the map to not seeing the map, just to tune the radio.

III. having the Dynon radio allows one to load the entire airport, but SL-30 users are left with only being able to load 2 freqs at one time. typically, that is ATIS and TWR initially. then on the runway or after landing, would i have to hit another 12 inputs just to tune to GND? clearly, there should be a better way.

IV. one thought is i can easily see a COM main menu button. thus, without having to go into the MAP, you can tune your radios. thus, in scenario III. above, i could just hit COM and choose among ATIS TWR GND quickly for the currently active airport. maybe a COM -> INFO page is appropriate here as well. here i could tune in an airport for freqs all contained in the top bar. this way, i dont lose the display of the map just to manipulate the radio.

V. is it possible to add a SWAP button, so i dont have to move my hand to the SL-30 to hit just a single button?

thanks,
Jae

 

[dlloyd]

If you are already navigating direct to the airport, press info, then select com and you have the frequencies.  If not navigating direct to the airport, press nearest, select the desired airport, then select com and you have the frequencies.  I find this much easier than going through the flight plan.
Sometimes it is easier to directly dial in the freq on the radio. Back in the day, I used to remember phone numbers rather than look them up. Speed dial, then on phone directories put an end to that. In another year you won't remember those frequencies

 

[mmarien]

There is an easier way. Check page 5 of the SL40 Pilots Guide. I have the iCOM A210 connected to my GPS495 and it works on the Garmin protocol the same as the SL30/40. If Skyview uses the Garmin protocol it should work the same.

I believe that unless you have an active DTO selected, the radio always has the nearest airport frequencies.

So all you have to do is press RCL on the radio, scroll the frequency list with the small knob and press RCL again the put the selected frequency in the STBY channel. The TUNE doesn't work on the iCOM A210 but I believe everything can be done from the RADIO without fiddling with the Skyview MAP. I could be wrong.  :-?

 

[dynonsupport]

We do not send the nearest airport list to the SL-30/40, only frequencies into the standby when you specifically ask it to tune.

 

[jc2da]

Hmm, mmarien is right! The SL-40 has a dedicated RCL button whereas the SL-30 does not. However, it still has the "Remote Com" feature by hitting the SEL button which defaults into the Remote Com channel list which is the same as RCL.

If radio frequencies could get fed to the SL-30's Remote Com channel list, it could be a satisfactory solution with fairly minimal changes in SV.

It would allow me to tune the radio fairly quickly without manually dialing numbers. I would not lose my MAP display. Instead of creating a fancy UI in SV, just use the dedicated knobs and buttons already on the radio itself. It would literally solve all of my issues.

Thus, a simple implementation would be to use the APT->COM button (which didnt seem to do anything with an SL-30) to load all the airport frequencies into the Remote Com list. One could then just hit SEL->scroll the list for TWR GND ATIS, etc. -> ENT -> SWAP. That would be fantastic!

Remote Com Channel Lists is described on page 12 of the SL-30 user guide.