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Re: Europa-List: Trutrak AP with Garmin GPS 18x 5Hz

Subject: Re: Europa-List: Trutrak AP with Garmin GPS 18x 5Hz
From: Alan Burrill <alanb@dpy01.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2022 19:15:05

Not familiar with the Skymap but worth checking if it has a srail port and the
ability to send the NEMA message set then worth investigating. 

If that doesnt work then borrow a Garmin 196 or 295 with a data cable and that
will certainly get you the data you need to set up the AP so it can then default
to the internal magnetometer. 

The internal magnometer needs the initial GPS output, with the track data, to 
allow
it to set up the compass cardinals after which it will then allow AP to follow
input track on front panel without the need for the GPS data   If you follow
the setting up in the manual you dont need a route in the GPS. 

One of the many reasons I dont use a tablet GPS inflight is that I have the 
ability
to display traffic, Drive the AP and also input frequencies direct into the
Com without fiddling though the 8.33 knob twiddling. 

You could just buy a second hand GPS to replace the skymap which would at least
let you use the AP how you want. Plenty old Garmin stuff around at not much 
money.


When you have it fitted let me know and I could fly over and assist, I have an
old 196 which would get you sorted if you cannot find one.  I fly out of 
Brimpton.


Alan

Sent from my iPhone

> On 7 Nov 2022, at 18:48, Dpc <dpc@knightonweb.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Alan. 
> 
> Thank you very much for the detailed reply. You clearly know a lot about this!
> 
> I was not planning to link the AP to follow a flight track which I had 
> pre-programmed
into a GPS as I only use SkyDemon on an iPad for GPS navigation, and
that has no output capability (as far as I know). However I was planning to use
the APs controller display to manually input the GPS track I wanted and for
the AP to get its reference about whether to turn or not, from a dedicated GPS
feed, which is where the idea of the puck came in (since the pucks looked small
and neat). I hadnt planned to get it to follow a magnetic heading using the
APs own magnetometer (unless Im missing something here - why would it then need
a GPS if its just controlling to a magnetic heading that it senses itself ?)

> 
> However, it seems that the pucks wont (easily) give me what the AP needs to 
> steer
a manually inputted GPS track. 
> 
> Do you think my not-currently-used-and-rather-clunky Skymap IIIC might give 
> the
GPS output required for the AP to follow a manually inputted desired track?

> 
> Many thanks for all your advice.
> 
> David 
> 
>> On 7 Nov 2022, at 17:29, Alan Burrill <alanb@dpy01.co.uk> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> I think its more fundamental than that.
>> 
>> I have a DigiTrack TruTrack fitted to mine and connected to a Garmin 796, 
>> previously
a AVMAP EKP V, and it needed the RMB and RMC data from these to work.
Id have to check but I dont think the GPS Pucks give out those messages.
>> 
>> If you have the manual then the 4800 baud is recommended so as not to overrun
the input processing of messages and giving false steering.
>> 
>> The Pucks can be programmed as you say but you need to make sure that the new
settings are retained, usually with an internal battery which if not retaining
its change will lose the almanac and any changes over time as the battery 
deteriorates.
>> 
>> The TrueTrack needs RS232 at +/- 12v most pucks are 5v logic levels and wont
drive it.
>> 
>> f you are only using a puck I guess you are not using the track following 
>> from
a GPS mode but wish to use the internal Magnetometer to steer a magnetic track
and you will need the RMB and RMS messages from the GPS to set it up to start
with after that it should just work from the internal magnetometer.
>> 
>> Alan
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>> On 7 Nov 2022, at 17:06, Davidcripps <dpc@knightonweb.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I have a pre-used Digitrak Trutrak AP that I plan to fit to our Europa. Are
there any experts out there that can tell me whether the Garmin GPS 18x 5Hz puck
that I have been offered, will work as a feed to it? As far as I can understand
---From the various manuals, the Trutrak can only be set up to 9600 baud, 
whereas
the default baud in the 18x 5Hz is 19200. It seems possible to reprogram
the 18x 5Hz to 9600 baud but the process looks very complicated for those of
us not used to Garmin code (and who also don't have a PC with serial port!)!
Alternatively, are there any simpler 'plug and play' GPS 'pucks' that have been
found to work well with the Trutrak? Thanks!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Read this topic online here:
>>> 
>>> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=508531#508531
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 



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