New Skyview Transponder and Traffic

[RudiGreyling]

Gents I need a bit education on Transponders and Traffic please!

I read the blog about traffic http://blog.dynonavionics.com/
I also searched the web, and read a lot! but I am still confused, so decided to ask here, because I can't get me head wrapped around all the acronyms and standards.

I am interested in the Skyview Screens and ALSO the Skyview Transponders for my new RV10 Airplane.
I live OUTSIDE the USA in South Africa (SA).
I want to SEE TRAFFIC on the panel, but we dont have ground stations in SA to relay traffic info.

If I understand it correctly?
1) ZOAN PCAS (portable collision avoidance system) mimic and trick the GARMIN DISPLAYS in thinking it is receiving TIS (which is only USA based) so it works everywhere in the world.
2) Dynon says the new transponders support TIS (USA) and they can show TIS on the skyview screens. Does this mean Skyview will be able to show the ZOAN mimicked TIS as well and work everywhere in the world?
3) Would a Garmin 327 or a 330 transponder get me traffic information on the panel everywhere in the world (without ground stations)...and could that display be a Skyview?
4) How does TCAS fit into the picture?

Thank you very much for the education in advance,
Kind Regards
Rudi

 

[dynonsupport]

TIS traffic is USA only, period. It is also only on Mode-S transponders. This means a Garmin 330 or the Dynon Transponder will only get traffic in the USA. As a Mode-C transponder, the Garmin 327 gets no traffic anywhere.

We do expect to support the Zaon device directly, and it will be a good way to get traffic outside the USA.

In the future, a 1090ES receiver (this is different than a Mode-S transponder) will allow you to see all Mode-S targets around you. In Europe and the USA, a Mode-S is mandated in a few years so this works well. Not sure about SA.

Finally, any system that displays traffic to the pilot is a TCAS I system. So what we have is considered TCAS I. TCAS II is the system that actually tells the pilot to climb or descend and tells the other pilot to do the opposite. I don't know of anyone in general aviation working on TCAS II, and we're not for sure.

As an FYI, the Garmin TIS protocol stinks. It only allows resolution of 45 degrees on targets, even if the device knows them down to a degree. Because of this, things like the Zaon and our Transponder don't use the Garmin TIS protocol when talking to SkyView.

 

[RudiGreyling]

Thank you for the quick reply!

Let me look at the info and let it sink in a bit, do a bit more research and then I might ask another question or 2...

Kind Regards
Rudi

 

[mmarien]

PCAS doesn't work everywhere. My interpretation, correct me if Im off base.

Transponders are just radios that respond when triggered by ground based or airborne radar. If you are too far or too low for ground based radar to see you, but your transponder flashes, then you have an airplane overhead with radar that is quering your transponder. The light flashes when your transponder replies to a query otherwise it sits there and does nothing.

Transponders just sent the squawk code (Mode A - friend or foe) or squawk code plus altitude (Mode C) when queried.

TIS is ground radar based. When it identifies an object (by radar) and the object replies (transponder A or C (altitude)) the ground based radar distributes the information (TIS). The ground based radar knows the position from radar (direction and range) and gets the altitude from the mode C transponder. A mode S transponder can query TIS and get traffic information. The device you connect to the mode S transponder (eg: GPS495 or Dynon) displays the traffic on it's screen.

TIS only works when the ground based radar can see the traffic. It can't distribute what it doesn't know about.

The Zaon is a passive (PCAS) parasitic device that interprets transponder relpies. It guesses the direction and range that the signal is coming from and displays that information. The altitude is embedded in the Mode C signal so the altitude is relatively accurate. PCAS only works if a ground based or airborne radar triggers a transponder. PCAS can't make a transponder reply. So you can see that PCAS only works if other transponders are replying to ground based radar or airborne radar. If your transponder isn't flashing, PCAS can't see you.

 

[dynonsupport]

This is true. The Zaon PCAS systems will only work in areas that have radar coverage. It's far from perfect, but it's all you have in some areas of the world.

Mode-S transponders do spontaneously emit signals, which is how ADS-B works when you are not in a radar service area.

 

[dbuds2]

Re: New Skyview Nav/Com

Hope to order Skyview systems this year, including the new Mode S TPX (Thanks again Dynon).

Should I not buy a SL radio soon, hoping for the Dynon Nav/Com radio (any guess on availability)?

Will it also include a stereo intercom I don't have to buy???

 

[dynonsupport]

Sorry - though we have ambitions of more radio-oriented products, we don't have anything to talk about at this point.

 

[cperry]

Any ideas as to when a wiring diagram for the transponder unit might be available (or if it is, where I missed it lol)?

 

[dynonsupport]

We should have the full diagram for the transponder early next week.

 

[trevpond]

Can we use the Zaon units yet to show traffic information on Skyview?

regards



Trevor

 

[dynonsupport]

As of today, there's NO traffic on SkyView. Traffic from the Dynon transponder modules will be supported in the next firmware release, and other devices will follow. Zaon is a device likely to be supported, but we're not promising any timing on that yet since we're simply not that far along in the planning.

 

[apkp777]

So, when is the Dynon transponder going to be available for purchase?

 

[dynonsupport]

We are expecting they will be for sale in October of this year. We are also hoping we will have Zaon traffic support at the same time.

 

[apkp777]

If I buy the Dynon Transponder, I won't need the Zaon, correct?

 

[dynonsupport]

The Dynon Transponder is a TIS device that only picks up traffic in the USA when in a Mode-S service volume that also has TIS support. Basically all Class B and most Class C airspaces. You can see the 8 most threatening targets in the same way ATC sees them.

The Zaon is a passive device that can pick up any aircraft that has a transponder and is being interrogated, but has less distance and direction accuracy.

So the answer is "it depends"

 

[timfwalsh01]

So, is the Dynon Xponder more like the GTX-330?  Tim

 

[dynonsupport]

Yes. Like the GTX-330 it can receive TIS traffic when in a terminal area that supports it.

 

[cperry]

Any updates on that wiring diagram?

 

[dynonsupport]

Here is the wiring diagram for the transponder.

Note that in many installs, only power, ground, and two serial wires up to SkyView are needed. You do need to make two jumpers at the transponder's D25.

If you have a TSO'd GPS then you'll want to wire one wire up as well.

The rest of the stuff is optional.

 

[skysailor]

What is the function of the squat switch? If this is what starts the transmission in air mode, I have a question. Larger airports with ASDE-X ground radar require transponders active with altitude reporting for all aircraft taxiing. Does the transponder send out the appropriate signal without the squat switch in the air mode or do I need to make this a panel mounted switch so as to cause the transponder to transmit and be in compliance with requirements for ASDE-X equipped airports?