All,
I have been crabbing at you Dynon folks for several years to build an HSI. (Doug Medema can verify this) Finally you did it and I was peeved that, except for the SL-30, it only worked with the GPS output. I thought it was a step in the right direction but frankly I was not too excited about it.
I put the new firmware on my thumb drive but just never seemed to have time to get the RS-232 line hooked up to the D-100. Well with the holidays, I spent some time at the hangar and the WX was terrible so I thought what the heck, and I hooked it up. It was easy, I bought a DB-9 at Radio shack and soldered a single wire to pin #3 and the other end to the line that feeds my Tru-Trak AP. I uploaded the software, unpluged my laptop, and plugged in the new DB9 connecter and turned on the -430 and the Dynon. The DG page popped up when I pushed the button and when I hit OK on the -430, the Dynon said "no GPS Fix."
I was it was too simple. (under an hour total) Now I was getting itchy to fly, but the WX has been terrible until today. Today was beautiful, and I have 3 words ABSOLUTELY - AMAZING!!!!!! (Insert the missing word of your choice)
CONGRATULATIONS Dynon. What an amazing addition to a wonderful product. I have flown several glass airplanes and a few glass HSI's and you got it right!!!!! Everything you need without all the unnecessary clutter! And as if the HSI was not enough, you threw in an RMI for free. But then, the HSI was FREE!!! How can it be?????
Flying a GPS approach is just a breeze. it is too easy, the course line automatically rolls around to the new bearing at every fix, just as slick as the Sandel.
It is with some trepidation that I tell you, if you had charged $500 for the upgrade, I would not have bought it. But, if the software was free for 90 days with a $500 charge after that, I would pay the upgrade fee today. All this with only a GPS hookup. I guess the upgrade will really cost several thousand, because now I have to buy an SL-30 to take full advantage of the HSI capability.
The only thing I can knock so far is the winds aloft computation highlights the pitot tube installation error. I don't know if some Airspeed calibration adjustment can increase the accuracy of the winds aloft info, that will take some practice, but that is a small bugaboo, and clearly mine, not yours. However, I imagine that will be a common problem and some people who read data displayed in 1 kt resolution will expect to have 1 kt accuracy. This is not a reasonable expectation, and a problem shared by nearly all winds aloft calculators in GA airplanes.
A huge Attaboy to all involved to an amazing upgrade to a great product. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! BTW, how ya comin' on that Altitute Alerter???
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
F1 EVO Rocket
D100, G-430, & looking for an SL-30
I have been crabbing at you Dynon folks for several years to build an HSI. (Doug Medema can verify this) Finally you did it and I was peeved that, except for the SL-30, it only worked with the GPS output. I thought it was a step in the right direction but frankly I was not too excited about it.
I put the new firmware on my thumb drive but just never seemed to have time to get the RS-232 line hooked up to the D-100. Well with the holidays, I spent some time at the hangar and the WX was terrible so I thought what the heck, and I hooked it up. It was easy, I bought a DB-9 at Radio shack and soldered a single wire to pin #3 and the other end to the line that feeds my Tru-Trak AP. I uploaded the software, unpluged my laptop, and plugged in the new DB9 connecter and turned on the -430 and the Dynon. The DG page popped up when I pushed the button and when I hit OK on the -430, the Dynon said "no GPS Fix."
I was it was too simple. (under an hour total) Now I was getting itchy to fly, but the WX has been terrible until today. Today was beautiful, and I have 3 words ABSOLUTELY - AMAZING!!!!!! (Insert the missing word of your choice)
CONGRATULATIONS Dynon. What an amazing addition to a wonderful product. I have flown several glass airplanes and a few glass HSI's and you got it right!!!!! Everything you need without all the unnecessary clutter! And as if the HSI was not enough, you threw in an RMI for free. But then, the HSI was FREE!!! How can it be?????
Flying a GPS approach is just a breeze. it is too easy, the course line automatically rolls around to the new bearing at every fix, just as slick as the Sandel.
It is with some trepidation that I tell you, if you had charged $500 for the upgrade, I would not have bought it. But, if the software was free for 90 days with a $500 charge after that, I would pay the upgrade fee today. All this with only a GPS hookup. I guess the upgrade will really cost several thousand, because now I have to buy an SL-30 to take full advantage of the HSI capability.
The only thing I can knock so far is the winds aloft computation highlights the pitot tube installation error. I don't know if some Airspeed calibration adjustment can increase the accuracy of the winds aloft info, that will take some practice, but that is a small bugaboo, and clearly mine, not yours. However, I imagine that will be a common problem and some people who read data displayed in 1 kt resolution will expect to have 1 kt accuracy. This is not a reasonable expectation, and a problem shared by nearly all winds aloft calculators in GA airplanes.
A huge Attaboy to all involved to an amazing upgrade to a great product. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! BTW, how ya comin' on that Altitute Alerter???
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
F1 EVO Rocket
D100, G-430, & looking for an SL-30
