Xonix NX-Vario User Manual
DIGITAL VARIOMETER
NX-Vario
User’s manual
It’s rough
,
but it works
! J
Device, its firmware and this manual made by Iliushenko Andrei (nuclear_XONIX)
2
Variometer NX-Vario
is the beginner’s device. It has all necessary functions for
paragliding and hang gliding. Hardware is implemented on the Arduino platform.
Specifications
· Dimensions: 94x94x35mm;
· Main board – Arduino Nano (ATMEGA328P);
· Sensor BMP180;
· LCD screen 16x2 (white symbols, blue background);
· Power consumption 45mAh in standby mode (with backlight ON), 25mAh in standby
mode (with backlight OFF);
· Powered with one 9V Brick Battery;
· Estimated period of operation on one battery is not less than 10 hours of continuous
operation with the backlight ON, with backlight OFF up to 20 hours;
· The case is equipped with a leg fastener (Velcro 5 cm wide). Also the case has two lugs
for securing the safety rope.
Functions
Altimeters 3
Pressure setup (QNH) +
Climb threshold setup (for vario indication) +
Descent threshold setup (for vario indication) +
Light indication for climb/descent +
Mute for button beep +
Mute for vario +
Falling alarm +
Long beep for certain altitude pass on climb +
Long beep for certain altitude pass on descent +
Vario modes 2
Switchable LCD backlight +
Flight timer +
Max altitudes display +
Max and min vario display +
Temperature display +
3
Features
· Reliable height measurement in the range: 0-9999 meters;
· Accuracy of altimeter: 1 meter;
· Three independent nullable heights: absolute, relative to start point, relative additional;
· Possibility of manual entering pressure at sea level (QNH) to set the correct absolute
altitude;
· Measurement step of the variometer: 10 cm;
· Display of the ambient air temperature with accuracy up to 1/10 ⁰C;
Front panel
USB-port
The USB port is on the right side of the front of the device. It is required for the vario
firmware update. It can also be used to supply power in case of energy exhaustion by the main
battery. To power the device via USB-port you need to have the external power supply
(PowerBank), which has Mini-USB Type B (Male) plug.
WARNING! The use of external power is possible, but undesirable, since the port connector
may be damaged if careless handling.
ON/OFF button USB-port
16x2 LCD screen
Descent light
Climb light
Button 3
Button 2
Button 1
4
Key Assignment
•
ON/OFF button.
Located on the left side of the front of the device. To switch on the device, press the
button until it clicks and locks in the lower position. Press again to switch off;
•
Button 1.
In the main screen:
Short press
"MENU" on/off
Long press
restart the flight timer
•
Button 2.
In the main screen:
Short press
select the altitude (absolute , relative to start point , relative
additional )
Long press
zero the selected altitude
In "MENU" screen:
Short press
switching between menu items
Long press
Enable/disable pressure at sea level (QNH) input mode
("MENU 1")
•
Button 3.
In the main screen:
Short press
switch between the main screen, the maximum altitude screen
and the vario max/min screen.
Long press
enable/disable the vario sound
In "MENU" screen:
Short press
setting a value from the list of possible items for the selected
MENU item (except "MENU 1")
Long press
pressure at sea level (QNH) reset to the initial value
"760.00" mmHg (only for "MENU 1")
5
Operation with the device
To turn on, you need to press the red button on the left side of the front of the device.
After the power is turned on, the screen backlight will light up and the top line of the screen
will fill with rectangular symbols. There will be a boot and a self-test. During booting, the
device will consistently display the welcome screen ("nx-Vario; baro-sensor-test") and the
initial value screen of the pressure at the sea level ("def.pres, 760.00"). Also at boot time, the
relative to start altitude and the additional relative altitude are set to zero. If the device is
successfully loaded, it flashes twice with indicator LEDs and emits a short double beep. If the
sensor is defective or the communication line is broken, the inscription "Sensor error" appears
on the screen.
After loading the device you’ll see the main screen, which will display information about
the current value of the variometer, the selected altitude, air temperature, and also the flight
time (the flight timer automatically starts after the device is turned on).
Main screen
In this case, read the screen values as follows: the aircraft is climbing with vario value
+0.4 m/s, the vario signal is active, the buzzer is switched on, the flight time is 3 minutes, the
selected absolute altitude is 180 meters, the air temperature is +25.1 degrees.
Variometer value
Variometer sound ON/OFF indicator
Flight time value
Value of the selected altitude
Indicator of the selected altitude
CLIMB/DESCENT indicator
Indicator of the signal of the variometer
Air temperature value
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