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Introduction

The ALT-6 is a 3 1/8” (80mm) sunlight readable encoding altimeter and a wide range vertical speed indicator.

The altimeter contains an internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor which calculates altitude from -1500 ft up to
a maximum of +35000 ft. The ALT-6 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.

The ALT-6 also features a user settable altitude bug and an encoder test function. Please see the Blaze ALT-7 if you re-
quire a parallel Gillham code interface. Alternatively the ALT-6 provides a parallel Gillham code interface when used in
conjunction with the MGL Avionics CNV-ALT.

1 Features

Large 2.6” high resolution 320x240, IPS (fully viewable in all directions), sunlight readable color LCD dis-
play

• An internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor calculates altitude from –1500 ft up to a maximum

of +35000 ft (-457m to +10668m)

• The ALT-6 outputs various formatted RS232 serial data protocols compatible with serial input transpon-

ders 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. Please also see the Blaze ALT-7 if a parallel Gillham code interface is required.

• 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)
• User settable altitude bug with deviation band alarm
• Standard 3 1/8” (80mm) aircraft enclosure (can be front or rear mounted)
• The LED backlight can automatically adjust to the ambient light, or it can be manually  adjusted in the

menu system

• Rotary control plus 2 independent buttons for easy menu navigation and user input
• Wide input supply voltage range of 8 to 30V DC
• 1 year limited warranty

Blaze ALT-6

Altimeter and Vertical Speed Indicator 
with a transponder compatible serial 
RS232 output

Operating Manual – English 1.06

Summary of Contents for ALT-6

Page 1: ... LCD dis play An internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor calculates altitude from 1500 ft up to a maximum of 35000 ft 457m to 10668m The ALT 6 outputs various formatted RS232 serial data protocols compatible with serial input transpon ders such as that from Garmin Magellan Northstar Trimble Microair etc Provides a parallel Gillham code interface for transponders when used in combinat...

Page 2: ...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 Enable disable altitude bug 3 1 8 80mm en...

Page 3: ...e rotary control to exit and save Press the F1 Up button during the normal altitude TAPE display to enable or disable the altitude bug The bug will be yellow when in the display screen and cyan when either above or below the limits of the display 3 4 Deviation Band Use the rotary control to adjust the altitude deviation band Press the F2 Down key to change the increment decrement unit to 50 or 100...

Page 4: ...ry control to navi gate 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 re move power before exiting the menu system ...

Page 5: ...ate This section allows for the calibration and fine tweaking of the altitude value Before you begin ensure that your calibrated and certified reference is set to the local pressure of 1013 25mB 29 92 Hg The ALT 6 altitude value in ft referenced to 1013 25mB 29 92 Hg is displayed in the top right hand corner of the display All calibration must be done in feet The combined adjustments cater for bot...

Page 6: ...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 ad justed according to which protocol is selected The output format is as follows The message contains the current pres sure altitude with a fixed reference to 1013 25mB 29 9...

Page 7: ...03 CR 0x0D Infiniteq protocol format STX Address Message type Length Data payload Checksum ETX STX Start of text 0x02 Address unsigned char 8bit 0x01 Message Type unsigned char 8bit 0x05 Length unsigned char 8bit Length of the data payload does not include the STX Address message type checksum or ETX 0x06 Data payload Altitude Signed Long 32 bit Altitude in feet Referenced to 1013 25mB Vertical Sp...

Page 8: ... C2 C4 1000ft 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 900ft 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 700ft 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 400ft 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 200ft 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 800ft 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 2800ft 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 6800ft 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 14800ft 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 30800ft 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Each altitude reporting code line must be tested for integrity of connection if at any time the aircraft connections to the tr...

Page 9: ... calibration method After you have installed the instrument perform a calibration flight This should be done in very calm conditions Turbulence and thermal activity will make accurate calibration impossible Many areas have ideal conditions during early mornings or late afternoons Place the instrument in ft min for ease of calibration Take your aircraft to a few thousand feet above ground and start...

Page 10: ...when using the automatic backlight mode The display will set the backlight to the dim setting if the ambient light is less then the threshold setting alternatively the display will set the backlight to the bright setting if the ambient light is greater then the threshold setting The ambient light received is shown as the ADC value in the top header Use this value to set the threshold value Securit...

Page 11: ...is menu option to reset all the settings to factory defaults 5 Loading factory default settings Press and hold the F1 Up button and rotary control during power up to load the pre programmed factory default settings The following screen will be displayed Factory default settings can also be loaded in the Miscellaneous setup menu ...

Page 12: ...will then have to be returned to the factory Internal flash CRC error The instrument does a firmware check on the program when power is applied to the instrument If the program is corrupt in any way then the internal flash CRC error will be displayed Reload the instruments firmware and load default settings If the error message still persists then it could possibly be an internal flash memory fail...

Page 13: ...memory storage 100000 write cycles Altitude sensor ADC resolution 24 bit Altimeter range 1500ft to 35000ft 457m to 10668m Altitude units ft or m Baro Correction Range inHg 28 00 to 31 00 Hg Baro Correction Range mB 946 to 1050 mb Pressure units Hg or mb VSI range 20ft min to 10000ft min VSI units ft min or m s Serial Port RS232 voltage levels Calibration interval 1 Year 8 Operating the alarms The ...

Page 14: ... air or suction effects This may lead to a false indication of altitude Often these effects are dependent on the current angle of attack of the airflow around your pod You will need to install a suitable static port in these cases The ALT 6 static pressure port takes 4mm ID tubing Use hose clamps to fasten the hose onto the ALT 6 static port 10 1 Connection Diagram The use of an external 1A fuse i...

Page 15: ...nit Female Cable Male D15HD Pin Color Function 1 Red 8 30Vdc power via power switch circuit breaker and fuse 2 Black Ground 3 White Blue Stripe RS232 Transmit data Firmware upgrading RS232 Altitude output 4 RS232 Receive data Firmware upgrading 15 White Alarm Output Open collector Inches Millimeters A 0 157 4 B 0 197 5 C 0 63 16 ...

Page 16: ...Blaze ALT 6 Operating Manual Page 16 11 Dimensions ...

Page 17: ...nd relevant pilot s license This person has to make themselves familiar with the operation of this instrument and the effect of any possible failure or malfunction Under no circumstances does the manufacturer condone usage of this instrument for IFR flights IMPORTANT NOTICE You must make your own determination if the products sold by MGL Avionics are safe and effective for your intended ap plicati...

Page 18: ...rspeed ASI and Vertical Speed Indicator VSI EMS 2 Engine Monitoring System FF 5 Fuel Computer FLIGHT 3 Primary Flight Instrument INFO 2 Information Display G Force meter UTC and Local Time Slip Indicator Outside Air Temperature OAT Battery Voltage Current and charge display Flight Timer Flight Log Stopwatch Countdown Timer and Alarm MAG 2 Magnetic Compass Indicator MAP 4 Manifold Pressure and RPM ...

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