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OPERATING MANUAL FLARM COLLISION WARNING UNIT 

    
 

Version 4.06E

 

Page 6 of 12 

March 28, 2009

 

Configuring the device  

If  at  power  up  on  the  microSD  card  a  file  named 

flarmcfg.txt

  is  detected,  it  will  be  processed  as 

configuration  commands.  The  syntax  is  the  same  as  on  the  serial  data  port  (see  ‘FLARM  Data  Port 
Specifications’ manual), except for 

PFLAC,,ID

. This feature is especially useful for batch configuration or a 

pilot’s individual configuration for shared aircraft.  

For easy task declaration, use the free online-tool 

FlarmCfg

 (

http://www.segelflug-software.de/flarmcfg/

 , 

using the microSD card), the corresponding offline-version (

http://www.segelflug-

software.de/prod_flarmcfgtool.php

), the free PDA software tools 

SeeYou ConnectMe

 

(

http://www.naviter.si/products/connectme.php

) or 

pocket*StrePla-Connect

 

(

http://www.strepla.de/StrePla4/english/pS_connect/

), and many of the other, partially commercial products 

on the market. Note that task declaration only works on IGC-enabled units. 

Basic  data  entries  and  the  SD-card  configuration  file  can  be  made  with  the  free 

FlarmTool

  software 

(

http://www.flarm.com/support/updates/

). 

 

7. 

Start-Up 

FLARM is always switched on if the unit is connected to an adequate power supply. 

Immediately  after  it  has  been  switched  on  there  follows  a  one-second  long  beep  while  a  start-up  pattern 
might be shown on the LED, followed by a binary presentation of the hardware-version installed during the 
system self-test. The self-test mode lasts from two to 20 seconds, depending upon the size of the obstacle 
data bank. The April 2008 data bank takes about twelve seconds. 

0x03 

Hardware Version 3 (only green) 

 

 

 

This  is  followed  by  another  one-second  beep,  followed  by  a  brief  binary  presentation  of  the  software-
version: The first six LEDs clockwise represent the minor  version in red, the other LEDs clockwise the 
major version in green. 

If the software version is not indicated and the beep sound is not emitted, the unit is not ready for operation. 

-

 

Software version 3.xx (operational only to March 2008) 

 

0x100

 

Software version 4.00 (operational till

 

March 01, 2011)

 

 

0x101

 

Software version 4.01 (operational till

 

March 01, 2011)

 

 

Software version 5.xx 
(available in October 2010, mandatory on March 02, 2011) 

 

 

Then FLARM shifts to normal operation and waits until it has acquired an adequate GPS position fix. When 
switching  on,  this  procedure  can  take 

several  minutes

.  Without  a  proper  GPS  position  fix,  the  unit  is  not 

ready for operation. 

Before departure the pilot must ensure that at least the Power-, GPS- and Send-

LED  are  all  continuously  on

.  This  state  must  be  preserved  during  the  whole  flight  to  ensure  correct 

operation. 

 

Summary of Contents for F4 series

Page 1: ...anual only covers hardware version 3 resp units with serial numbers F6 F7 F8 For legacy units with serial numbers F4 F5 Please also consult the legacy manual as well This is a translation of the German manual 2003 2009 FLARM Technology GmbH Hausen am Albis Switzerland www flarm com info flarm com ...

Page 2: ...a serial port or a suited USB serial converter plus a data power cable like the one used for most IGC flight recorders This cable connects the PC to FLARM and supplies FLARM with power Ensure you have configured the correct PC COM port only use the Power Data port on FLARM not the Extension port and know the printed device serial number After completion of the software update use the same PC softw...

Page 3: ... flight Allow more time after landing if the interval is higher When the memory is full the oldest data is overwritten Always download you flight data before you update the obstacle databank or the software FLARM applies for the radio communication between the units a proprietary and copyright protected protocol in regionally different frequency bands The radio communication is separately secured ...

Page 4: ...f other aircraft operating in the vicinity even though calculations indicate that they do not represent a threat The information displayed is limited to a configurable radius default is three kilometres and a vertical separation of 500 m When no aircraft was displayed so far but one is received now this is signalled with a click sound Only one single aircraft is indicated in green The optical sign...

Page 5: ...ve push the card with the finger into FLARM until it releases with a click sound then carefully pull it out No force should be required to insert or remove the card Updating the firmware Download flight records before updating the firmware otherwise data might be lost Firmware files for microSD card updates have the extension fw and are available on the FLARM webpage www flarm com support updates ...

Page 6: ...y after it has been switched on there follows a one second long beep while a start up pattern might be shown on the LED followed by a binary presentation of the hardware version installed during the system self test The self test mode lasts from two to 20 seconds depending upon the size of the obstacle data bank The April 2008 data bank takes about twelve seconds 0x03 Hardware Version 3 only green...

Page 7: ...t of date needs GPS reception No operation 0x12 Fault Software integrity violation No operation 0x21 Fault Low Voltage No operation 0x31 Fault Internal GPS communication No operation 0x32 Fault Faulty GPS configuration No operation 0x41 Fault Internal radio communication No operation 0x51 Fault General internal communication No operation 0x61 Fault Flash memory No operation 0x71 Fault Pressure sen...

Page 8: ...hts constantly during operation If the LED flashes then the power supply has dropped below 8 V FLARM will not operate below 8 V DC The Receive and Send LEDs give no indication of FLARM s transceiver range 10 Push Button The push button can be used to select the following functions Brief Push 0 8 s changes the volume from loud to medium to quiet to silent and loud again A short sound is emitted at ...

Page 9: ...hen two diodes light up if the threat is imminent less than 8 seconds three LEDs The threat is at the centre of the illuminated block The flash and beep frequency increases with the threat Moderate threat from ca 3 o clock less than 18 seconds to calculated collision Slow flash at 2Hz Moderate threat from 1 to 2 o clock less than 18 seconds Slow flash at 2Hz Medium threat from 1 o clock less than ...

Page 10: ...rom the obstacle The display is refreshed every second A warning is given if an aircraft flies under a cable or power line An acoustic warning beep is given at the same time as the flashing fixed obstacle warning The time between warning and possible collision is brief just a few seconds However warnings are given of fixed obstacles earlier than those for other aircraft Obstacles are indicated as ...

Page 11: ...nd there may be a substantial difference between aircraft heading and track leading to a distortion of the threat bearing If the wind speed is one third of True Airspeed TAS and the yaw free aircraft Heading is 90 out of wind then the threat indication displayed has an error of about 18 If the wind is very strong the Track can deviate up to 180 from Heading Under such circumstances and when circli...

Page 12: ... differences in frequency allocation and operating conditions between countries The aircraft commander and user are solely responsible for ensuring that their use of FLARM conforms with local regulations No radio licence is required for FLARM in Switzerland Germany and France The radio transmission protocol employed places no limit on the number of units that may be operated within a given range H...

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