Something that may not have been considered, is that Stealth mode for flarms isn't 100% bulletproof. My understanding is that stealth mode is basically a flag in the RF protocol that tells other flarms that it wants to be treated as a stealth mode aircraft. This then relies on the receiving flarm to implement the stealth mode rules, when transmitting the data to the serial port. All the data required for full tracking is still transmitted by the flarm radio.
A few seconds on Google shows that someone managed to reverse engineer an earlier version of the RF protocol (which probably hasn't changed much since) a while back. The nature of the RF protocol being simplex, means that any encryption they implement will need pre-shared keys. This means every flarm has the keys (password) pre-installed. The firmware updates would contain them if they changed them. The upshot is that if someone wanted to spend the time and effort, they could reverse engineer the RF protocol, build a custom flarm receiver unit, and get full tracking capabilities no matter how the flarms are configured. There really isn't much the Flarm guys can do to prevent it. Something to consider including if the rules are changed. Luke On 14 March 2015 at 21:12, <terrycub...@bigpond.com> wrote: > There was much discussion at the IGC meeting about proposed changes to > flarm. > > There is a growing discussion about the use of flarm in competitions. Its > use in safety improvement – alerting pilots of potential conflict, appears > to be at odds with its use as a tactical tool. > > Pilots now have the capacity to obtain data from the flarm signal to > identify which glider is visible, its height and rate of climb. This causes > two problems: Firstly, pilots are spending a lot of time staring at their > flarm screen which reduces time looking out of the window. Secondly, > pilots are turning off their flarm so that other pilots cannot see what > they are doing, so the safety benefit is removed. > > The other issue is the increased use of tracking receivers which takes > flarm data and then uploads this onto a web display. This is providing real > time data on tracks and location of the various gliders, and many pilots > are now turning off their flarm to protect their data. > > Flarm manufacturers are rolling out a new software version which attempts > to provide a solution to these issues. The stealth mode is being improved > to provide better safety features, and to introduce a No tracking setting > which ensures tracking is only available via official flarm > receivers/transmitters. > > Terry > > ---- Gary Stevenson <gstev...@bigpond.com> wrote: > > Mike, > > > > You are probable right on the mark here. > > > > However, in this instance, I have no argument with their approach. > > > > The record shows that this device has saved lives (just as parachutes > have > > saved lives). Do we begrudge Parachute Manufacturers’ making an honest > > living from their enterprise? > > > > Limiting entry of competition, where possible, has always been a valid > > business principle. > > > > I am almost certain that the guys from (FLARM, Switzerland), monitor this > > forum. Perhaps they might like to make comment? > > > > Gary > > > > > > > > From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net > > [mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Mike > > Borgelt > > Sent: Saturday, 14 March 2015 7:41 PM > > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] FLARM update > > > > > > > > At 05:54 PM 14/03/2015, you wrote: > > > > > > > > FYI: > > FLARM has now published it's latest update - v6. > > It's available here:Â http://flarm.com/support/firmware-updates/ > > > > The protocols in the current version (v5) and new version (v6) are > > supposedly totally incompatible, so please update your FLARMs before next > > flight or you won't be able to see pilots with the other version. > > > > <soapbox opinion> I think it's very irresponsible of FLARM to publish a > > backwards incompatible upgrade like this. I am glad I am not flying in > the > > Alps this weekend. </opinion> > > > > > > > > I gather it is to prevent competitors from producing compatible hardware > > without paying royalties to Flarm. > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >
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