LX Red Boxand Flarm interface for LX 5000
with optionally SD-card interface and IGC approved flight recorder
User manual
SD card and Flight recorder option (Firmware 3.05 or later) 13
Flarm is a collision avoidance system developed by Flarm Technologies from Switzerland. LX Navigation and Flarm Technologies signed a contract under which LX Navigation got rights to integrate Flarm technology into LX Navigation products.
A Flarm module consists of following main parts.
GPS receiver
Microcontroller unit
Radio Transceiver
Pressure altimeter
Flarm external indicator
The GPS receiver defines position of the glider, the microcontroller is responsible for collision prediction calculations and the transceiver is sending and receiving data.
Both units use the same electronic and are mechanically nearly identical. The only difference is power and GPS antenna connection. Red Box is a completely stand alone solution and LX 5000 interface uses LX 5000 485 bus for power. Already installed LX 5000 GPS antenna will serve both units.
Dimensions:50x27x97 mm aluminum housing
Weight: approximately 150 gr.
GPS connector: BNC female
RF connector: SMA female
RF range: max. 5 km, depends on antenna installation
Data interface 6P telephone type
Power : 8-16 V DC ,consumption ca. 60 mA by 12V DC
Pin 6 power input (8-16V), 4 and 1 GND (near to RF connector), 2 data in, 3 data out, 5 power for external display
Flarm red Box unit
RF antenna
GPS antenna
Flarm External display with cable (1x 60cm and 1x 150cm)
Flarm Interface for LX 5000 unit
RF antenna
GPS antenna
Flarm External display with cable (1x 60cm and 1x 150cm)
The unit will run immediately after power will be applied. With GPS antenna connected and visible satellites about three minutes will take to be operable. There are no commands or status indicators on the unit. All important statuses are be readable on External display, also all inputs will be done this way.
The unit consists of a 50x20 mm flat housing which has one push button and 16 LED’s. A 6P telephone type connector connects External display with Flarm unit. Each LED position is equipped with two LEDs, one red and one green.
10 radial positioned LED’s, defines direction to the near glider (top LED active means frontal collision risk)
2 additionally red light emitting diodes marked like above and below informs about vertical position of the glider, which is close.
Mode button is used to control the unit, see table below
5 status LED’s.
Description of LED statuses:
Power red flashing, no data from Flarm
Power green data received
GPS red GPS BAD, GPS green GPS OK/3D
Tx green flashing, data sent
Rx green , minimum one glider in range
Green circular , indication of near gliders
Red circular flashing, collision warning
Above below green by near
Above below red by warning
018˚, 054˚, 324˚ and 288˚ green and red flashing, obstacles in front The external display has two modes of operation:
WARNING Mode will activate a red blinking diode, if another glider equipped with Flarm will be close and a prediction for a collision risk will exist. An audio warning will be also executed. Higher collision risk will increase blinking frequency and the same is with audio. The warnings are classified into three levels (See Flarm manual for details)
-First level approximately 18 seconds before predicted collision
-Second level approximately 13 seconds before predicted collision
-Third level approximately 8 seconds before predicted collision
NEAREST Mode will show the direction to the nearest glider (always green) which position is inside of radio range. One green LED will light permanently and there will be no audio. The unit will change over to Warning Mode automatically, if warning criteria will be fulfilled and will continue in NEAREST after collision risk will disappear.
Pressing of MODE selector continuously for approximately 4 seconds will deactivate Flarm external display for next 5 minutes, no warnings and no near information will be displayed during this period. A very typical situation only Power LED on, will characterize this status.
Obstacles. Flarm electronic is capable to store coordinates of obstacles, which could cause a collision during flight. This data is available on www.flarm.com, use Flarm tools to update. The unit is factory loaded with actual obstacle database. An obstacle warning will be activated, if an obstacle is to be found in the front of the glider and a collision risk is predicted.
After a low level warning has been activated two upper LEDs will be active (such a situation will newer appear by glider collision risk). Medium and high risk will be indicated with more LED’s active and more frequent audio signal.
To change audio warning volume press short mode selector, each press will increase audio volume (three levels and mute available).
Using of mode selector button is possible to adjust some parameters of the display (baudrate and hierarchy). Disconnect
the unit, press mode selector and hold, power on and continue holding of mode selector for about 4 seconds.
The display parameter indication will change (see table below) after each press on mode selector for approximately 2 seconds. To change press mode short, the status will indicate circular LED’s.
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Table of possible settings
Example (color doesn’t matter)
If two units will work in parallel (double seater), one unit must be PIC (front seat) and another PAX.
It is obligatory that both units (Red Box and the display) have the same communication speed (baud rate). If there is any reason for another com speed, (using of Flarm as GPS source for other units…), the com speed of the Flarm unit can be any time adjusted after using of Flarm tools. Use option Settings. How to connect Flarm Red Box to PC see capture 4.
If another navigation device for instance PDA is intended to be used, a splitter should be inserted. LX Navigation offers a wide range of splitters.
Flarm software expires and therefore periodically firmware upgrades are necessary. Flarm original tools should be used, available on www.flarm.com. A cable set isn’t a part of delivery. Use IGC compatible cables, for instance Colibri/LX20 power and data adapter (COL-AC-PC).
The cable connecting PC and Red Box should consist of 3 wires, two data wires and GND. There are many solutions which enables communication and consecutive firmware update. Some cable configurations are listed below.
This cable set is a part of delivery of every Colibri unit and could be simple borrowed from some Colibri owner. The set can be also ordered at any time by LX Navigation. This is a completely plug and play solution which makes possible to arrange update without glider power, let say at your home. The set has an AC/DC converter and this also powers Red Box during the firmware update.
This cable is a part of delivery of every LX 7007 Flarm unit and can be also used for Red box update. In this case Red Box needs power via its power lines. The cable can be simple build by the Red Box owner or ordered by LX Navigation..
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Run actual Flarm tool on PC
Plug 6P RJ connnctor into Red box
Power ON Red Box
Wait (apr.30 seconds)
until Connect status on tools will appear
Click on Flarm
Select kind of transfer (Recover for firmware update)
Follow wizard
Wait until finish
Disconnect comport
Switch Flarm unit off and again on
Provide functional check
The Red Box may be installed wherever in the cockpit (doesn’t need manipulation during flight). Respect that periodically firmware update will be requested. The display should be good insight and also available for manipulation.
Find a convenient place in the cockpit, which offers a good viewing angle to the LED’s. LX Navigation offers a small housing which will make installation on the top of the instrument panel professional.
Two connection cables having different lengths are offered to ensure all possible installation solutions.
Two wires coming out of the unit (red + and blue -) are used for power supply.
Connect 9P SUB D to LX 5000 485system bus. Usually a free plug will be found on LCD Vario. In case of no free connector a 485 splitter should be used (available by LX Navigation).
All other details match LX Flarm red box specifications.
The RF antenna installation should be taken serious; a bad positioned antenna may reduce system parameters dramatically.
The antenna consists of three parts:
Radiator apr. 10 cm rubber coated
Back plane an aluminum plate having diameter 12 cm
Cable (60 cm) with SMA connector
The radiator should be vertical and the back plane horizontal. Use top positions on the instrument panel. Having no space to install the antenna, use a dipole variant, available by LX Navigation or Flarm dealers.
λ/4 antenna Dipole antenna
The GPS antenna which is a part of delivery (Red Box only) should be installed somewhere in the cockpit where a good satellite contact can be established. Never install the antenna close to another GPS antenna. Minimum 15 cm of space diversity is required.
After LX Flarm unit will receive power, the External display will pass initial routine which will take several seconds.
Power red flashing, no data from Flarm ERROR
Power green data received OK
GPS red GPS BAD, GPS green GPS OK/3D……OK
Tx green flashing, data sent OK
Rx green minimum one glider received OK
SD card and Flight recorder option (Firmware 3.05 or later)
Both versions (Red box and Interface) may be delivered with SD card interface and flight recorder option.
The SD card slot is connected via 50 cm flexible cable to the Flarm unit. One already formatted SD card is delivered with the unit. It is recommended to install SD card slot somewhere on the instrument panel. The functionality of SD card is as follows:
Storing of flights
Update of obstacle data base
Flarm firmware update
Update of flight recorder settings via flarmcfg.txt and SD card How to create easy flarmcfg.txt see www.segelflug-software.de/flarmcfg/
The configuration can be sent also after using of PC and SeeYou. PDA solutions are offered by ConnectMe and Strepla
Files for any update are available on www.flarm.com/support/updates/.
All files should be copied to the SD card (no folders permitted), also it is not allowed to change any file name.
-Insert the card and switch the Flarm unit off, for minimum 5 seconds
-Power on Flarm unit
-An update will follow after a file having extension .fw will be detected; the procedure will take approximately one minute and will run automatically.
-If an .obs file type will be detected, an update will follow. The update may take several minutes.
-The last 20 flights will be automatically copied to SD card after each power on. If some flights also exists, they will not be doubled. After a longer time flying without the card inserted the copy procedure may take some longer time because all 20 flights must be transferred to the card. To start copy to SD card remove power for apr. 5 seconds and power on again. The procedure will run automatically.
See Flarm manual for details.
LX Flarm Red Box is offered also with “diamond level” IGC approved flight recorder. Units having this option differ against to non approved units in following:
On the label you see a three character IGC designation code (for instance MR0)
The unit is protected with one safety label against non authorized opening of the box
The button on the top of the unit may be used as event marker activator
There are many ways to provide task declaration. The simplest way seems to be with SD card and flarmcfg.txt file. Immediately after Flarm will recognise mentioned file an automatic update will follow. To create files use FLARM- CONFIGURATION TOOL available on www.segelflug-software.de/flarmcfg/.
As a possible PC solution we suggest SeeYou and as PDA solution you can use:
ConnectMe ( a free ware program from Naviter)
Srepla
For details see also www.fai.org/gliding/system/files/lxnredbox.pdf
