New ARINC Module

[PhantomPholly]

Ok guys, spill the beans! You dropped a hint of a new ARINC module on the RV forum, but left out the details.

What's the scoop?

:D

[TrutrakTech]

I guess I did a good job of making it a teaser? :D

The new module will take the VOR/LOC info from the ARINC output of a 430/530 and transmogrify (I've been wanting to use that word for a long time) it into a serial signal that will be fed into the EFIS. This will allow any EFIS model to display the GS needle and VOR/LOC as outputted by the 430/530.

The AP IV EFIS module MIGHT ( ;) ) be able to use it for navigational purposes and not just display.

The EFIS has a button on it to activate display of the VOR/ILS instead of the GPS track feature. If it's receiving a signal for those, then a 2-second hold on the very left softkey will activate that mode.

[robjohnson]

How would/could this ARINC module work with the ADI Pilot II? Could I get it and wire it up to the ARINC output of my 430, use the serial output to the ADI Pilot II, and then have it fly GPS approaches that way (without overflying the course and not executing the turns)??? Please, please, please say this will work!!! :)

If this isn't the intent of this, is there anything in the works for an ARINC upgrade to the ADI Pilot II???

Thanks!

Rob

[TrutrakTech]

Hi Rob,

Unfortunately this little gem won't do anything for the ADI Pilot II. I wish I could help you there.

There is no upgrade to the ADI Pilot planned. Thanks!

[PhantomPholly]

All right, obviously need to be very specific with you Engineer types...

;)

I have a GNS 430, which PROBABLY puts out the same VOR/LOC/ILS data as a 430. I also have a Digiflight II VSGV.

- Will the ARINC unit deobfuscate (I can make up words, too...) the VOR/LOC/ILS signal into steering commands that my AP will fly?
- Will the ARINC unit enable transition from a GPS entry to an ILS approach?
- Will the ARINC unit allow me to specify route altitude in my GNS 480 and have the AP automatically climb / descend to the right altitude?

Ok, just kidding on that last one...

[TrutrakTech]

All right, obviously need to be very specific with you Engineer types...

;)

I have a GNS 430, which PROBABLY puts out the same VOR/LOC/ILS data as a 430. I also have a Digiflight II VSGV.

- Will the ARINC unit deobfuscate (I can make up words, too...) the VOR/LOC/ILS signal into steering commands that my AP will fly?
- Will the ARINC unit enable transition from a GPS entry to an ILS approach?
- Will the ARINC unit allow me to specify route altitude in my GNS 480 and have the AP automatically climb / descend to the right altitude?

Ok, just kidding on that last one...

Nice word!

-The ARINC unit will not do anything for the Digiflight II VSGV at this time. Who knows what the future holds for the interface of those two products...

-It will allow the transition, but you have to switch the modes manually on the 430. If you select the ILS approach, it will output to the ARINC module. If you select the GPS approach, it will output directly to the AP.

[PhantomPholly]

Nice word!

-The ARINC unit will not do anything for the Digiflight II VSGV at this time. Who knows what the future holds for the interface of those two products...

-It will allow the transition, but you have to switch the modes manually on the 430. If you select the ILS approach, it will output to the ARINC module. If you select the GPS approach, it will output directly to the AP.

Curiouser and curiouser. Now you have me completely stumped - what DOES the ARINC unit DO?

I was assuming it would read the input ARINC signal from a 430/530 VOR/LOC/ILS and output another ARINC signal simulating the GPS ARINC signal. If it does THAT, then it should also work with the Digiflight II series.

All right, this isn't a rocket-science request it is only parsing ARINC sentences. And, I have to say that it seems odd that you have not simply offered this parsing as a software upgrade (for a fee) on the Digiflight II series. How many people do we need to support this before you will do it?

Or, are there any embedded engineers out there who feel they could accomplish this translation in a small board with 2 wires in and 2 wires out plus +/- power?

:confused:

[TrutrakTech]

It will not output an ARINC signal. It converts it to an RS232 serial signal. I hope that helps. Thanks!

[PhantomPholly]

It will not output an ARINC signal. It converts it to an RS232 serial signal. I hope that helps. Thanks!

Helps explain it, but doesn't help me or others like me in the slightest...

:D

Why not build us a unit which can accept multiple input sources and let you switch between them, converting VOR/ILS steering signals into the same sentence format emulating a GPSS signal?

I know I would pay money for such a unit (but not as much as the difference for a Sorcerer, which has several features I don't need such as "altitude set" and "climb at speed").

How many customers would have to show interest in order for you to do that development, and at what price-point? I know you have hundreds, possibly thousands of the Digiflights in the field.

[TrutrakTech]

I know what you're thikning of. The problem is the Digiflight II doesn't have the capability to understand that input (like the EFIS does now). Thus it would require a pretty substantial update to the DII software, which just isn't in the cards right now. Once things calm down with the EFIS to a point where we can evaluate other products more closely, I'm sure this will be taken into consideration.

So, there may be light at the end of the tunnel!