+x

 

Alf - 6/4/2019 5:45:50 PM

+x

 

Sky Painter - 6/4/2019 5:05:28 PM

+x

 

Paul Guilbert - 6/4/2019 2:57:10 PM

+x

 

Daniel Sinn - 6/4/2019 8:11:26 AM

Unfortunately uAvionix has discontinued the announced support for Mode C/S targets. Please see the attached Mail.

Very disappointing. I have a TRX-1500 which  receives the exact 3D-position of FLARM® and ADS-B Traffic as well as distance and relative altitude of Mode-S transponders and presents the latter very helpfully. I thought Mode C and Mode S were quite distinct so I am not then sure why it is that uAvionix bundles them together as an insurmountable issue?  Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that ADS-B is now compulsory in the USA and Europe isn't worth the effort? I sit on the flight path into an airport in Europe. I am running the uAvionix box alongside the TRX-1500.  An overview of traffic into the airport daily (aircraft type and number of ins/outs):

Embraer 195          8

ATR 42/72             30

Dornier                  16*

Bombardier Q400 24

Other commercial 20 

G.A.                      lots

Only the Dorniers are picked up by uAVionix and about 10% of GA as they are more modern and have ADS-B out. That's a LOT of 'invisible' traffic. Quoting that nothing can replace mark 1 eye-ball raises three questions for me:

1 Has the quotee ever flown busy airspace looking for an airfield that is unfamiliar to them. How many eyes is the pilot supposed to have? Personally I only have 2.

2. IMC? 

3. How often is a pilot unable to spot traffic even when told where it is until it is very close?

 

Obviously this item is of very limited value until ADS-B becomes mandatory in the UK. Personally I hope that is soon for all of our safety.

1. SkyEcho has been developed specifically for the European market;

2. Simply put, Mode C and Mode S both report altitude. The only difference is that Mode S additionally reports the aircraft registration;

3. ADS-B is NOT mandatory in the USA until 1 January 2020, and then only for certain types of airspace (for now);

4. ADS-B will be mandatory in Europe from 7 June 2020, but only for aircraft that weigh more than 5,700kg OR have a maximum cruise speed greater than 250kts. I'm sure that it will eventually become mandatory for all aircraft as aviation moves away from radar based surveillance to position based surveillance.

If I am in error in respect of any of the above points, I stand to be corrected.

Hi all,

that is correct according to my information, thanks!

Just a question, as I am quite confused regarding the Mode C/S discussion (bearingless targets in SD) and the latest reply of Uavionix. According to the actual datasheet on the Uavionix support page, Revision F of the firmware removes the Mode C/S functionality. I still see firmware version 2.13 (WIFI) and 2.6.6 (Transceiver), both dated 02/08/2019 on their homepage, which seems to be an older firmware according to the datasheet. With this firmware installed on my SkyEcho 2, I see bearingless Mode C/S aircraft at the moment. Am I correct, if I stop upgrades in future and remain on this FW, will I keep the "bearingless target" functionality or will SkyDemon remove this in future SD updates?

If I am correct, I would vote for keeping this functionality, as I am quite happy with it in my vintage aircraft with no further electronic instruments installed. Even not perfect, it is a big step ahead in regards of a safer operation.

Many thanks,

Alf