RMI Pointers on D180

[PilotKris]

I have a SL30 as well as a 496 connected to my D180. I have a few questions.

1. Is it possible to display the GPS pointer when the SL30 is displayed on the CDI and visa/versa?
2. If yes, can we also show the VOR/RMI pointer (for the standby freq) too?
3. The RMI pointer is hard to see, how about a depiction like the Sandel 3308/3500? (that would also allow multiple pointers)
4. Occasionally, I loose the 496 display on the D180 (temp. loss of data stream?) and the HSI goes blank. I have to manually select GPS input to get it back. Is there a way it can come back automatically?

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, I'd suggest copying the depiction that Sandel uses for their EHSI products (MUCH better than King or Garmin). They've really done their homework cramming lots of info in a limited space and standardized nomenclature makes it easy for pilots moving from plane to plane.

 

[dynonsupport]

Allowing split source RMI's will be part of the HS34 project. When the software that supports the HS34 is released, all customers, with or without an HS34 will be able to change the sources of their RMI's to any available sources. You will also be able to turn them off. There are two RMI's, so yes, you could display one GPS and one VOR standby.

The RMI pointers have been revamped in the upcoming release of software. Check it out in a week or so and let us know what you think.

There's not currently a way to make the GPS come back on it's own since this would cause weird behavior. We're working more on keeping the data stable than doign a work around. I think this has been improved in the upcoming software as well. We now have a 396 in the office to do our own in-house testing.

 

[mcook]

The new Garmin firmware seems to help as well. I just updated to OS 3.10 for the 496 and it seems to be more stable.

--Marc

 

[PilotKris]

Since you're re-vamping the HSI, how about adding the GPS ground track indicator on the VOR/LOC HSI screen. That's a feature I wish the Sandel EHSI had.

My suggestion for how to handle a loss of signal would be the same approach Sandel uses, Put a big red X over the unreliable indication. When the signal returns, remove the "X". I'd use the same nomenclature for unreliable EMS indications too.

 

[dynonsupport]

The root of the current behavior, incidentally, exists as some customers use externally switched serial inputs (like a GPS and an SL30 coming into one EFIS-D100), a signal dropout may mean that the signal has genuinely gone away, or it may mean that it's been externally switched off.

 

[dynonsupport]

The GPS ground track is designed to be visible on the HSI page anytime the unit has a valid GPS signal. It doesn't matter if you're on the GPS page, VOR page, or just the straight DG page.

To do this on the VOR page, the unit needs to have BOTH VOR and GPS data at the same time. This means a D180 using both serial ports, or a D100 and a D120 hooked together with the HSI page on the D100.

If you have both GPS and VOR data available to your unit at the same time and aren't seeing the GPS ground track pointer, please let us know.

 

[PilotKris]

The GPS ground track is designed to be visible on the HSI page anytime the unit has a valid GPS signal. It doesn't matter if you're on the GPS page, VOR page, or just the straight DG page.

To do this on the VOR page, the unit needs to have BOTH VOR and GPS data at the same time. This means a D180 using both serial ports, or a D100 and a D120 hooked together with the HSI page on the D100.

If you have both GPS and VOR data available to your unit at the same time and aren't seeing the GPS ground track pointer, please let us know.

I have a D180 connected to a 496 and SL30 and NO, the ground track pointer does not show when the SL30 is displayed on the HSI. It only shows when the 496 is displayed on the HSI. It also does not display on the DG. (I'm looking for a pink triangle, right?)

2 more questions.

1. Does GPS ground track display on the heading tape of the PFD?
2. Does the heading bug display on the heading tape?

Thanks

 

[PilotKris]

The root of the current behavior, incidentally, exists as some customers use externally switched serial inputs (like a GPS and an SL30 coming into one EFIS-D100), a signal dropout may mean that the signal has genuinely gone away, or it may mean that it's been externally switched off.

Ah, I see how D100 programing would screw up the D180...

Can we modify the behavior for the D180 since it has 2 inputs? Say display a big red X over the CDI while it keeps looking for the lost signal and only switch HSI inputs or to the DG screen when the pilot selects that screen?

 

[dynonsupport]

Sorry, it turns out that it's the upcoming firmware release that shows the GPS track all the time, so you'll have this shortly.

The new firmware also adds GPS track to the heading tape.

The bug is already sync'd between the HSI and the heading tape and will remain that way. We've had a heading tape bug since day one in 2003.