Hi All, Yes the system does have a software date encoded that stops the operation on a certain day and year. The main reasoning was to synchronise all worldwide systems with the same firmware. All purchasers of Ozflarms are aware of this so it is no surprise. The current update was due 16th of February but it will run till the 29th. The guys at FLARM are busy implementing some other features as well as improving the FLARMtool P.C based application. The next mandatory update timeout will be in 2008. There has been a lot of criticism of this procedure and I guess if you feel strongly about this you should send me a private email and I will forward your comments. I have suggested rather than stopping the unit from functioning we can simply add an annoying start up sound that requires you to hit the acknowledge button and maybe have it do it 2 or 3 times in flight so as to make you update the software just to keep it quiet - sort of like what SeeYou mobile does if you have a trial version.
As for the GPS versus pressure altitude, the physics of how they do this is proprietary at this stage but the hardware chosen from day one is probably the best transducer for the job. I know of 3 companies using them, they have an onboard temp sensor, their drift over time is excellent and they have a 10 bit ADC onboard. As I have said the details of how they achieve this is not relevant so long as it works. The team at FLARM are a group of dedicated engineers with extensive software background and a full knowledge of DSP techniques and modern software tools such as MATLAB at their disposal - I think they are quite qualified at sorting out the Baro aiding issues , just to keep Mike happy. Also FYI one of the FLARM engineers also works for a sensor company - developing sensors! Cheers all Nigel Nigel Andrews Managing Director RF Developments Pty Ltd "A Queensland Company devoted to Research and Development in aviation electronics" Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web www.rf-developments.com Ph: (61) 7 54635670 Fax: (61) 7 54635695 **************DISCLAIMER************ The information contained in the above e-mail message or messages (which includes any attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the addressee any form of disclosure, copying, modification, distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on the information is unauthorised. If you received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your computer system network. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Armistead Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 6:52 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] FLARM mandatory update news. Nigel Are you saying that the OzFlarms have some sort of software time-bomb that renders them useless or partially so after the 28th February ? Jason At 08:25 AM 17/02/2006, you wrote: >To all Ozflarm owners, > >The Feb 16th update has been delayed a week due to some last minute >changes. Your Ozflarms will continue to run until the end of February, >the updates will be available before then so flying this weekend is ops >normal for Ozi flarm persons. > >The downloads can be via our web site or flarm or we will be sending a >CD with the flarmtool software , our downloading software , current >update , manuals and some utilities for those that want to see their >GPS running on a P.C etc. This might arrive a few days after the end of >Feb shutdown so if you need you unit running then go to the downloads >on the net. > >Cheers all , thanks for the great support over the last few months. > >Nigel > > > > >Nigel Andrews > > >RF Developments Pty Ltd > >"A Queensland Company devoted to Research and Development in aviation >electronics" > >Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Web www.rf-developments.com > >Ph: (61) 7 54635670 Fax: (61) 7 54635695 > >**************DISCLAIMER************ > >The information contained in the above e-mail message or messages >(which includes any attachments) is confidential and may be legally >privileged. It is intended only for the use of the person or entity to >which it is addressed. If you are not the addressee any form of >disclosure, copying, modification, distribution or any action taken or >omitted in reliance on the information is unauthorised. If you received >this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and >delete it from your computer system network. > > > >_______________________________________________ >Aus-soaring mailing list >Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >To check or change subscription details, visit: >http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
