OPERATING MANUAL FLARM COLLISION WARNING UNIT
Version 4.06E
Page 8 of 12
March 28, 2009
Software-versions 4.x will only operate until March 01, 2011. Before this date, you must update the device in
order to use it in the air. An update with the same functionality can be downloaded free of charge, and will be
available in October 2010. Users will be able to load the software with the aid of a suitable power supply/data
cable (not supplied). This operation requires the user to have the unit’s serial number to hand. Software
validity has to be time-limited to ensure that all FLARM units are mutually compatible and that updates
include the latest obstacle data.
9.
Status-Display
The green Status Display LEDs operate as follows; normal operating mode is underlined:
•
Receive
: Lights up when a signal is detected from another aircraft less than the configured range
(default is 3 km) away, with a height separation of less than 500 m; otherwise the LED is dark. If the
warning is temporarily suppressed (see below) but signals are still received from other aircraft, then the
LED flashes.
•
Send
: Lights constantly during operation and indicates that the on-board FLARM is transmitting.
Transmission requires GPS reception.
•
GPS
: Lights constantly during operation (with very brief interruptions once per second). If the LED is
constantly dark and flashes briefly once per second, then there is no GPS reception. When switching on
this condition can take several minutes.
•
Power
: Lights 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 the new volume selected. The default setting is
<loud>
.
•
Longer Push
(2 s) changes mode between <
Nearest
> and <
Collision
> when airborne. Visual
confirmation. Default setting
<Nearest>
.
•
Longer Push (5 - 8 s, only on the ground)
activates the receiver self-test: Two seconds after the
button is released, FLARM will show how many other FLARM are received with reduced sensitivity (50%
of the normal range). It will then emit a long beep and light one vertical LED for every 10 and a short
beep and one LED of the compass rose for every single received aircraft (e.g. 14 received FLARM is:
"beeeeep bep bep bep bep", with one vertical and 4 LED's from the compass rose). After the self-test,
FLARM switches back to normal operations. Note that for other units to be displayed these must be
running.
•
Double Push
suppresses optical and acoustic warnings for five minutes. Suppression is followed by
declining melody, normal setting followed by a rising melody. A double push terminates the suppressed
operation at once.
•
Long Push
(>8 s): Re-boot. This procedure is recommended if a fault is apparent. No confirmatory
sound signal.
•
Very long push
(>20 s) brings FLARM back to the factory settings. The very long push deletes all
configurations that have been loaded by the user. No confirmatory sound signal.
