SkyView 2.6 Adds Air Traffic Alerts, ARINC-429, and transponder support - November 2010

DYNON AVIONICS ADDS AIR TRAFFIC ALERTS TO SKYVIEW

Woodinville, WA, USA, November 1st, 2010 – Dynon has added the ability to alert and display air traffic graphically, TCAS-like, with the new SkyView version 2.6 upgrade. Traffic will show up on SkyView’s moving map and synthetic vision displays using standard TCAS I symbols. SkyView will identify the location, severity of threat, distance, vertical separation and heading of any aircraft within the traffic system range. Pilots will have immediate situational awareness of traffic that they can easily track.

Within the United States, SkyView displays TIS traffic when connected to Dynon’s SV-XNPNR-261 transponder, or a Garmin GTX 330 Mode-S transponder. TIS is a ground-based system available in all Class B and some Class C airspace where most traffic conflicts arise. It uses the same radar that is used by controllers.

SkyView is also capable of receiving traffic information from a Zaon XRX passive traffic receiver, a Navworx ADS-B receiver, a Trig ADS-B receiver, or any device that outputs the industry standard GTX 330 TIS traffic format. This capability allows SkyView’s new traffic feature to be used anywhere in the world, utilizing different traffic receiver technologies.
Dynon’s traffic feature is included in Version 2.6 software, which is now available on all new SkyView units and can be downloaded free by all SkyView owners.

Included in the new SkyView Version 2.6 firmware is support for the new SV-ARINC-429 Interface Module, which allows SkyView to take full advantage of certified GPS receivers like the Garmin GNS 430/530. And also included is support for the new SkyView SV-XPNDR-261 and SV-XPNDR-262 Mode-S transponders, including integrated transponder control and annunciation from the SkyView display.

More information about these new features and Software Version 2.6 can be found at http://www.dynonavionics.com.

Founded in 2000, Dynon Avionics is the leading manufacturer of avionics for Experimental and Light Sport Aircraft. Continuing a tradition started with the introduction of their first Electronic Flight Information System “glass panel”, Dynon is committed to developing innovative and high-quality avionics integrating the newest technology at affordable prices for all pilots.  

Dynon Releases SkyView 2.6 Software, Mode-S Transponder and ARINC Interface

The release of SkyView version 2.6 adds significant capability to SkyView on a number of fronts. First, 2.6 includes the release of three new pieces of hardware:

SV-ARINC-429 Module

The SV-ARINC-429 module allows SkyView to fully communicate to ARINC-429 enabled devices such as the Garmin GNS 430/530. For example, connecting a Garmin 430W to SkyView through the SV-ARINC-429 allows SkyView to display all VOR, ILS, and GPS WAAS (including VNAV) information on its HSI. Additionally, SkyView installations that have the Dynon Autopilot installed will also benefit from the GPS Steering commands that the devices like the 430W output. 

The SV-ARINC-429 costs $475.

SV-XPNDR-261 and SV-XPNDR-262 Mode S Transponders

SV-XPNDR-26X

SV-XPNDR-261 and SV-XPNDR-262 transponders are another exciting addition to SkyView, bringing Dynon closer to its ultimate goal of being able to supply your entire panel.

The SV-XPNDR-262 is a Class 2 Mode S transponder, which means that it is suitable for use in aircraft that are flown below 15000 feet and are slower than 175 knots. For aircraft that fly higher or faster, the SV-XPNDR-261 is available.

Both transponders feature the ability to receive TIS traffic (US only), and are capable of meeting the FAA's 2020 ADS-B Out mandate (note that this feature requires a future software upgrade, since the latest ADS-B rules and requirements have only recently been published by the FAA).

The SV-XPNDR-262 costs $1800, and the SV-XPNDR-261 costs $2200.

Traffic

SkyView can receive TIS traffic from the SV-XPNDR-26X transponders, and it can also receive traffic information from any device that outputs data in Garmin's TIS format. This enables compatibility with a variety devices, including the Zaon XRX, the Garmin GTX 330, and the NavWorx ADS-B receiver.

When traffic is being received, it can be displayed on both the PFD and MAP pages in SkyView!

Traffic on the map page (click image for full size)

Traffic on Synthetic Vision (click image for full size)

SkyView version 2.6 can be downloaded here.

Wiring Change for SkyView Software Version 2.6 Update

New in SkyView version 2.6 software, serial port outputs from multi-screen SkyView systems must be connected together. This change adds redundancy to the system when interfacing to serial devices.

Who this Affects

The changes are required for existing SkyView systems, and all new installations that:

have multiple SkyView displays AND
1. are transmitting to a serial device. (Today, this includes altitude output provided by SkyView for use with transponders, the Dynon SV-XPDR-26X mode-S Transponders, and other RS-232 outputs SkyView is capable of) AND
2. are running running 2.6 or later software
   

Background

In SkyView 2.5 and earlier, external serial devices that can transmit have their TX wires hooked to a serial RX on all SkyView displays in parallel. In the other direction, if an external serial device can receive serial data from SkyView, its serial RX is hooked to only one display's serial TX. This is how serial devices are classically set up: they can transmit to multiple receivers, but can only receive from a single transmitter. This limitation is necessary, otherwise a single receiver would hear only noise as the two competing transmitters essentially talk over each other. SkyView 2.6 overcomes this limitation by smartly turning each display's transmitters on and off as appropriate. This allows devices like the SV-XPNDR-26X, other transponders that receive altitude from SkyView, and other devices to have their serial RX lines connected to multiple SkyView displays simultaneously. SkyView, silently and seamlessly, picks a display to transmit from. Should that display fail, the other display takes over automatically. This allows these devices to continue to receive data, even in the event of a display failure. In SkyView 2.5 and earlier, if the single display that is set up as the serial transmitter fails, the device that is connected to it will no longer receive any serial data.

Action Required

This change means that slight wiring changes will be required in some systems. All devices that have the ability to receive serial data should have their serial RX wired in parallel to a serial TX on all SkyView displays in the system. Each display must then be set up to transmit to the device under the SETUP MENU > LOCAL SCREEN SETUP > SERIAL PORT SETUP. Dynon suggests using the same serial ports on each display, essentially connecting each device serial RX to the same serial X TX on every SkyView display. This makes it easier to duplicate the settings across screens by using exactly the same serial port setup.

The above changes are REQUIRED with SkyView version 2.6 and above. However, the wiring must not be made BEFORE the 2.6 update either, as SkyView will not be able to correctly transmit to devices connected per the above instructions until 2.6 is loaded. Therefore, the above wiring changes should be made at the same time the aircraft is being updated to 2.6.

If the above changes are not made with the 2.6 update, devices that receive serial data from SkyView will only receive serial data some of the time. To the pilot, this will appear like a random failure of the altitude encoding functionality of SkyView, or the failure of the SV-XPNDR-26X module (if installed).

World Record for Dynon Customer

Arnold Ebneter is a familiar face around Dynon - he lives here in Woodinville, WA, and sometimes stops by the office for support or just to chat.

It turns out Arnold had world record project up his sleeve. And it looks like his recent non-stop, coast to coast flight from Washington state to Virginia in his self-designed, scratch built airplane was (unofficially for now) a world record distance for the category of aircraft! See this EAA article for more details!

D10/D100 Series Firmware Version 5.4 Released

We're really excited to have D10/D100 firmware version 5.4 available for download. 

The major new feature in 5.4 is improved Autopilot pitch axis control algorithms for better performance. In addition to the improved control algorithms, 5.4 offers some new adjustments to fine-tune the Autopilot for your aircraft's unique flight characteristics. See the updated Installation Guide for details on new adjustments that can be used to tune pitch performance.

The 5.4 firmware update can be found here.

Improved Pitch Autopilot with Version 5.4 Software Release - September 2010

Dynon Rolls Out Version 5.4 

for D10/D100/D180 Series

September 1st, 2010

Woodinville, WA, USA, September 1, 2010 – Dynon Avionics continues to lead the Experimental and Light Sport Aircraft industry in new refinements for their EFIS products with the introduction of software version 5.4.

Designed for their EFIS-D10A, EFIS-D100 and FlightDEK-D180 units, the upgrade features enhanced autopilot pitch control. Included are new user-adjustable parameters to optimize autopilot performance for each aircraft. These improvements offer passenger comfort and expand the support to a wider range of airframes. “The autopilot now flies just as an experienced pilot would, with crisp, appropriate inputs that really seem to understand the airplane” said Ian Jordan, Chief Systems Engineer.

Dynon EFIS products have been in service for over seven years and continue to be upgraded by the company, including the free autopilot upgrade two years ago. “It’s all part of our commitment to support our customers,” said Robert Hamilton, Director of Marketing. “Ever since we introduced the first EFIS, we have provided a continuing series of free improvements to the software. With this latest upgrade, our autopilot system now leads the industry in performance.”

More information about these new features and Software Version 5.4 can be found at http://www.dynonavionics.com.

Founded in 2000, Dynon Avionics is the leading manufacturer of avionics for Experimental and Light Sport Aircraft. Continuing a tradition started with the introduction of their first Electronic Flight Information System “glass panel”, Dynon is committed to developing innovative and high-quality avionics at affordable prices for all pilots.   

Dynon Avionics Announces Jeppesen Partnership

Dynon Avionics is excited to announce a partnership with Jeppesen that will bring worldwide aviation and obstacle data to Dynon's SkyView system.The availability of worldwide, regionalized Jeppesen data will allow Dynon's customers all over the world to use the SkyView navigation capabilities.

Starting with SkyView version 3.0 - currently in development - all customers worldwide will have the option to purchase the SV-MAP-270 Navigation Mapping Software module ($500) to enable navigation functionality on SkyView. Once navigation mapping features are enabled, non-US customers will be able to purchase single updates or subscriptions directly from Jeppesen for use with their SkyView. US-based customers will be able to choose between Jeppesen data and the existing free FAA-derived data that is available from the Dynon website.

Dynon's US-based SkyView customers can currently enable a free trial version of the upcoming SV-MAP-270 Navigation Mapping Software product using free FAA-derived data that is available from the Dynon website.

Pricing and release dates for Jeppesen subscriptions and single updates will be published at a later date.