LXNAV Flarm LED User Manual

Flarm LED indicator

Version 1.1

LXNAV d.o.o. • Kidričeva 24a, 3000 Celje, Slovenia • tel [phone] fax [phone]

[e-mail] • www.lxnav.com

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 2 of 15

1 Important Notices 3

1.1 Limited Warranty 3

2 Packing Lists 4
3 Basics 5

3.1 LXNAV FlarmLed display at a Glance 5

3.1.1 LXNAV FlarmLed display features 5

3.1.2 Interfaces 5

3.1.3 Technical Data 5

4 System Description 6

4.1 Description of Flarm Led Display 6

4.1.1 Status LEDs 6

4.1.2 Horizontal direction LEDs 6

4.1.3 Vertical direction LEDs 6

4.1.4 Push Button 6

4.2 Normal operation 7

4.2.1 WARNING Modus: 7

4.2.2 NEAREST Modus: 7

4.2.3 Obstacle warning 7

4.2.4 Undirected PCAS warning 7

4.3 Powering up FlarmLed display 8

4.4 Setting up FlarmLed display 8

4.5 Other indications 8

4.5.1 Copying the IGC-file onto SD-card: 8

4.5.2 Running Flarm firmware update from SD-card 8

4.5.3 Copying the obstacle database from SD-card 9

4.5.4 Error codes from flarm 9

4.6 Wiring 13

4.6.1 FlarmLed pinout 13

4.6.2 FlarmMouse - FlarmLED 13

4.7 Cutout 14

5 Revision History 15

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 3 of 15

1 Important Notices

The LXNAV FlarmLed display is designed for VFR use only as an aid to prudent navigation.
All information is presented for reference only.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. LXNAV reserves the right
to change or improve their products and to make changes in the content of this material
without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or improvements.

A Yellow triangle is shown for parts of the manual which should be read carefully
and are important for operating the LXNAV FlarmLed display

Notes with a red triangle describe procedures that are critical and may result in
loss of data or any other critical situation.

A bulb icon is shown when a useful hint is provided to the reader.

1.1 Limited Warranty

This LXNAV FlarmLed display product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or
workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. Within this period, LXNAV will, at its
sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Such repairs or
replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts and labour, the customer
shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not cover failures due to
abuse, misuse, accident, or unauthorized alterations or repairs.

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF
ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY
LIABILITY ARISING UNDER ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU
SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL LXNAV BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR
INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. Some states do
not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may
not apply to you. LXNAV retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or software,
or to offer a full refund of the purchase price, at its sole discretion. SUCH REMEDY SHALL
BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY.

To obtain warranty service, contact your local LXNAV dealer or contact LXNAV directly.

May 2013 © 2013 LXNAV. All rights reserved.

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 4 of 15

2 Packing Lists

• FlarmLed display

• cable

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 5 of 15

3 Basics

3.1 LXNAV FlarmLed display at a Glance

FlarmLed display Flarm® compatible device, able to indicate horizontal and vertical direction
of a threat. Nearby traffic is displayed visually and acoustically. It’s extremely small size, low
power consumption, and has very bright bicolor LED’s.

3.1.1 LXNAV FlarmLed display features

• extremely bright bicolor LEDs

• pushbutton, to adjust beep volume

• near mode function

• adjustable baud rate

• slave mode

• Low current consumption

3.1.2 Interfaces

•

Serial RS232 input/output

•

pushbutton

•

12 bicolor LEDs for direction

•

5 LEDs for vertical angle

•

3 LEDs for GPS, Rx and Tx indication

3.1.3 Technical Data

• Power input 3.3V DC

• Consumption 10mA@12V (120mW)

• Weight 10 g

• 42mm x 25mm x 5mm

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 6 of 15

4 System Description

4.1 Description of Flarm Led Display

Flarm led consist of 5 main parts:

• Status LEDs

• Horizontal direction LEDs

• Vertical direction LEDs

• Push button

• Beeper

4.1.1 Status LEDs

Status LEDs indicates if flarm receiver receives any data, transmits data and GPS status.
GPS status led has 3 different modes:

• Fast blinking mode, means, that FlarmLed does not receive anything over serial bus
(probably needs to set correct baud rate)

• Slow blinking means, that GPS status is BAD

• Solid light means, that GPS status is OK.

4.1.2 Horizontal direction LEDs

12 horizontal LEDs are indicating the direction of threat.

4.1.3 Vertical direction LEDs

5 LEDs are describing vertical angle of threat divided by 14°

4.1.4 Push Button

With push button we can adjust volume of beep, turning on/off near mode or adjust initial
settings of FlarmLed display.

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 7 of 15

4.2 Normal operation

In normal operation with short press, we can cycle between three different volumes (Low,
Medium and High). With long press, is enabled or disabled near mode. Switching of mode is
also visually supported with moving light around circle. Red moving light means, that near
mode is enabled, yellow moving light means, that near mode is disabled.

4.2.1 WARNING Modus:

WARNING Mode will activate a red blinking diode, if another glider equipped with Flarm

will be close and a prediction for a collision risk is calculated. An audio warning will be also
executed. Higher collision risk will increase blinking frequency and audio beep rate. The
warnings are classified into three levels (See Flarm manual for details)

o First level approximately 18 seconds before predicted collision
o Second level approximately 13 seconds before predicted collision
o Third level approximately 8 seconds before predicted collision

4.2.2 NEAREST Modus:

Will show the direction to the nearest glider, which´s position is inside of radio range. One
yellow LED will light permanently and there will be no audio. The unit will change over to
Warning Mode automatically, if warning criteria will be fulfilled and will continue in
NEAREST after collision risk will disappear.

4.2.3 Obstacle warning

An obstacle warning will be activated, if an obstacle is to be found in the front of the glider
and a collision risk is predicted. The warning is shown with two red LEDs, symmetrical
around the 12 o´ clock LED at 10 and 2, they alternate with those at 11 and 1. As we
approach to the obstacle the frequency of the alternation increases.

4.2.4 Undirected PCAS warning

Is the FlarmLED connected to a device, which also translates transponder signals with ADS-B
data into Flarm warnings, you will receive them in the same logic as above. Transponder
signals without ADS-B data contain no direction for the thread therefore you will get an
undirected warning with the following alternating signals:

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 8 of 15

4.3 Powering up FlarmLed display

LXNAV FlarmLed is powered directly from flarm device with 3.3Volts. When gets power it
passes boot up sequence with test of all LEDs and short beep, shows version of FlarmLed
display firmware (yellow led indicated major version, red indicates minor version).

4.4 Setting up FlarmLed display

If we hold push button, during power on, LXNAV FlarmLed will go in setup mode, where is
possible to adjust following settings:

• Communication speed

• Master/Slave mode

• Enable7disable PCAS warnings

Yellow led indicates mode that we are setting, Red LEDs indicates setting of each mode.

Red 12 Red 1 Red 2 Red 3 Red 4 Red 5
Yellow 12 Baud rate 4800bps 9600bps 19200bps 38400bps 57600bps 115200bps
Yellow 1 Master/Slave Master Slave / / / /
Yellow 2 PCAS Enabled Disabled

This setup is prepared because some FLARMs are set to different baud rates, so it’s
necessary also to set FlarmLed to same baud rate. Normally Flarm default baud rate is
19200bps, on that setting is also set FlarmLed display.
Master/Slave option is usable only if we have connected to flarm more than one Flarm led
display. In that case display can interfere each other. Only one can be set to Master, all
other must be set to slaves.
Last setting enables or disables PCAS warnings, which might be sometimes very annoying.

4.5 Other indications

The FlarmLED Display can indicated some further statuses:

4.5.1 Copying the IGC-file onto SD-card:

4.5.2 Running Flarm firmware update from SD-card

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 9 of 15

4.5.3 Copying the obstacle database from SD-card

4.5.4 Error codes from flarm

Error

code

Description

Functionality

Display

0x11

Fault: Software

out of date
(needs GPS
reception)

No operation

0x12

Fault: Software

integrity violation
(only on IGC­units)

No operation

0x21

Fault: Low

Voltage

No operation

0x31

Fault:

Internal GPS
communication

No operation

0x32

Fault: Faulty GPS

configuration

No operation

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 10 of 15

0x41

Fault: Internal

radio

communication

No operation

0x51

Fault: General

internal
communication

No operation

0x61

Fault: Flash

memory

No o

peration

0x71

Fault: Pressure

sensor

No operation

0xF1

Fault: Other fault

No operation

0x81

Indication: No

obstacle data
bank

Operation

possible

0x91

Indication: Flight

recording not
possible

Operation

possible

0x93

Indication:

Engine-noise
recording not
possible
(only on IGC­units)

Operation

possible

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 11 of 15

0xA1

Indication: Error

with SD-card
configuration file

Operation

possible

0x2a

Indication:

Transponder
receiver mode
C/S/ADS-B
unserviceable.

Operation

possible

82 Indication:

Obstacle
database out of
date (alarms are
still
generated).

Operation

possible

B1 Indication:

Invalid

obstacle database
licence.

Operation

possible

B2 Indication:

Invalid

IGC feature
licence.

Operation

possible

B3 Indication:

Invalid

AUD feature
licence.

Operation

possible

B4 Indication:

Invalid

ENL feature
licence.

Operation

possible

B5 Indication:

Invalid

RFB feature
licence.

Operation

possible

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 12 of 15

B6 I

ndication:

Invalid

TIS feature
licence.

Operation

possible

100 Indication:

Generic error.

Operation

possible

101 Indication:

Flash

File System error.

Operation

possible

110 Indication:

Failure

updating
firmware of
external display
(e.g.,Butterfly).

Operation

possible

120

Indication:

Device

is operated
outside
designated
region. Radio
performance may
be degraded.

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 13 of 15

4.6 Wiring

4.6.1 FlarmLed pinout

Pin number Description

1 N.C.

2 (output) Transmit from LXNAV FLARM LED RS232 Level

3 (input) Receive to LXNAV FLARM LED RS232 Level

4 Ground

5 3.3V power supply (input)

6 N.C.

4.6.2 FlarmMouse - FlarmLED

Flarm Power

Supply Cable

FlarmLED

V7 Flarm

Splitter

FlarmMouse

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 14 of 15

4.7 Cutout

Front view

FlarmLed display Version 1.0 October 2013

Page 15 of 15

5 Revision History

May 2013

Initial release of owner manual

October 2013

Added chapters 4.2 and 4.

March 2014

Modified chapter 4.4

May 2014

Added error codes