Vega ASV-1 Operating Manual

Introduction

The ASV-1 is a 2 1/4” sunlight readable encoding altimeter, airspeed and wide range vertical speed indicator.

The altimeter contains an internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor which calculates altitude from -1000 ft up to
a maximum of 35000 ft. The ASV-1 outputs various formatted RS232 serial data protocols compatible with serial input
transponders such as that from Garmin, Magellan, Northstar, Trimble, Microair etc. The altimeter can display altitude in
feet or meters and local pressure can be set in millibars or inches of mercury

The VSI indicator can be displayed in either feet/minute (ft/min) or meters/second (m/s). The VSI can be calibrated by the
user once the instrument has been installed in the aircraft.

Airspeed is based on the pressure generated by a pitot tube system and a static port is provided as well for use by high
speed aircraft. The ASV-1 instrument measures airspeed from 16mph to 250mph and is well suited to slower aircraft due
to very good sensitivity and linearity at low air speeds. Airspeed can be indicated in statute miles per hour (mph),
kilometers per hour (km/h) or nautical miles per hour (kts). The ASV-1 also provides a programmable Vs and Vne
airspeed alarm output. ASI sensitivity can be calibrated by the user to cater for errors caused by pitot tube placement.

In addition, the ASV-1 provides an encoder test function, flight timer since takeoff and records the maximum airspeed
reached. The ASV-1 provides a parallel Gillham code interface when used in conjunction with the MGL Avionics CNV­ALT.

Vega ASV-1

Altimeter, Airspeed (ASI) and Vertical
Speed Indicator (VSI)

Operating Manual – English 1.00

Vega ASV-1 Operating Manual Page 2

1 Features

• Large 1.8” high resolution 160x128, sunlight readable, wide viewing angle, 1000 cd/m2 TFT LCD display

• An internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor calculates altitude from –1000 ft up to a maximum
of 35000 ft (-304m to 10668m)

• The ASV-1 outputs various formatted RS232 serial data protocols compatible with serial input
transponders such as that from Garmin, Magellan, Northstar, Trimble, Microair etc.

• Provides a parallel Gillham code interface for transponders when used in combination with the MGL
Avionics CNV-ALT

• Built in encoder test function

• The altimeter can display altitude in feet or meters

• Local pressure can be set in millibars or inches of mercury

• Contains a wide range VSI indicator from +/-20 ft/min to as high as +/-10000 ft/min

• VSI units can be in feet/minute (ft/min) or in meters/second (m/s)

• Measures airspeed from 16mph to 250mph and is well suited to slow aircraft due to very good sensitivity
and linearity at low air speeds

• Includes a flight timer since takeoff

• Airspeed units can be set to miles per hour (mph), kilometer per hour (km/h) or nautical miles per hour
(kts)

• Contains a programmable Vs and Vne airspeed alarm output

• Records maximum airspeed reached in permanent memory

• Standard 2 1/4” aircraft enclosure (can be front or rear mounted)

• Rotary control plus 2 independent buttons for easy menu navigation and user input

• Wide input supply voltage range of 8 to 30V DC with built in voltage reversal and over voltage protection
for harsh electrical environments

• 1 year limited warranty

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2 ASV-1 Layout

3 Main Display

F2 / Down Button:

Menu system: Softkey button
Normal display: Press to view the
Timers and Max Values display

Sunlight readable color
graphic display:

Backlight can be adjusted in the
menu system

Rotary Control (Up/Down) & Enter Button:

Press the rotary control during the normal display screens to access the menu system. Rotate anti/clockwise
for up/down menu scrolling. Rotate the rotary control during the normal display mode to adjust the local
pressure. Local pressure can be set in either mB or in “Hg.

F1 / Up Button:

Menu system: Softkey button
Normal Display: Start / Stop the
flight timer (Manual flight only)

2 1/4” enclosure.
Can be front or rear mounted

VSI scale indication

VS I (Vertical Speed Indication)

VSI unit

Altitude value

Local pressure readout (Either in mB or in “HG)

VSI value

Altitude unit

Airspeed unit

Airspeed value

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3.1 Maximum Airspeed display

This display can be accessed by pressing the F2/Down button during the normal display
mode. Press the F1/Up button when the max values display is showing to reset the
maximum values to the current airspeed.

3.2 Start / Stop flight display

Press the F1/Up button during the normal display mode
to manually start/stop a flight. This key is only active if
the ASV-1 is setup to select the manual flight option
under the “TIMERS” setup menu.

Note: The maximum airspeed is stored in non-volatile
memory and is recalled on power-up.

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4 Menu System

Press the rotary control button during the normal display mode to enter the menu system. Use the rotary control to
navigate through the menu system.

4.1 Exiting the menu system

Press the F1/Up button to exit the menu system when the “EXIT” soft key is shown. All changes made during navigation
of the menu system will be saved in non-volatile memory upon exiting. The instrument will not save any changes if you
remove power before exiting the menu system.

4.2 ALT Setup (Altitude Setup)

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Altitude Unit:

Select if you want the altitude displayed in ft (feet) or m (meters).

Pressure Unit:

Select if you want the local pressure displayed in mB (millibars) or “Hg (inches of mercury).

Resolution:

Select the resolution of the altitude value, a selection of 1,10,25 or 100 ft or m can be selected.

Position:

Select whether you want the altitude display on the top or on the bottom of the main display.

Cal:

On the rear of your ASV-1 instrument you will find the calibration factor that has been determined to ensure the most
accurate reading of your altimeter. This is the value that should be entered here. Should you have access to an accurate
reference you may use this function to calibrate your altimeter. Before you do this, ensure that your calibrated and
certified reference is set to the local pressure of 1013.25mB (29.92”HG). Your altimeter has been calibrated by the factory
to an accuracy of +/- one mB or approximately +/- 30 ft (10m) at sea level.

Serial Out:

Select “ON” to enable the RS232 serial altitude output. This formatted serial RS232 message can be directly interfaced to
various RS232 serial input transponders. If a parallel Gillham output is required then a CNV-ALT can be purchased from
your MGL Avionics distributor to convert the RS232 output to a parallel Gillham output.

Prot:

Select the protocol of the serial RS232 output message. The protocol can be selected between GARMIN AT, Magellan,
Northstar / Garmin, Trimble / Garmin, MGL Avionics and Microair UAV. Please note that the baud rate is automatically
adjusted according to which protocol is selected. The output format is as follows. The message contains the current
pressure altitude with a fixed reference to 1013.25mB (29.92 inches mercury). All protocols use 8 databits, no parity, and
1 stop bit. The message is outputted once a second.

Protocol Baud

Rate

Message format Example

Garmin AT 1200 #AL, space, +/-, five altitude digits right

justified zero padded, T+25, checksum,
carriage return

The checksum is a simple modulo 256 sum
of the binary values of the individual
characters. The checksum is sent as two
characters in hexadecimal format

#AL +02372T+25DF[CR]

Magellan 1200 #MGL, +/-, five altitude digits right justified

zero padded, T+25, checksum, carriage
return

The checksum is a simple modulo 256 sum
of the binary values of the individual
characters. The checksum is sent as two
characters in hexadecimal format

$MGL+02372T+2513[CR]

Northstar,
Garmin

4800 ALT, space, five altitude digits right justified

zero padded, carriage return

ALT 02372[CR]

Trimble,
Garmin

9600 ALT, space, five altitude digits right justified

zero padded, carriage return

ALT 02372[CR]

MGL Avionics 9600 ALT, +/-, five altitude digits right justified

zero padded ,1013.25mB (29.92”Hg)
referenced, C, +/-, five altitude digits right
justified zero padded (corrected to local
pressure), L, local pressure setting in

ALT+02372C+02372L1013+0000XCA[
CR]