echoUAT+SkyFYX-EXT

[Shark]

I am very happy with it especially considering what you get for your money (compared to others) I personally think people are missing the point if you only have ADS-B out? Install was very simple, also I called for support with one question and they where very helpful. Just my two cents

[Pilot135pd]

Originally Posted by GWZ

I plan to go with the EchoUAT as well and have been following this thread. If you read the latest updates from the Beta testers it?s looking like this problem may be fixed.

I hope so.

[GaryStofer]

I installed the EchoUAT/SkyFX bundle in my RV a couple of weeks back. The first EchoUAT device was DOA. It would not keep the configuration stored through a power cycle and would not transmit or receive. Got a replacement unit from uAvionix in the mail right away and installed that one. I'm using this with the transponder sniffing feature and it did not sniff anything initially. With the help of the service dept and trial end error a transponder threshold of 1300 was determined to make it work to pass the performance report once.

However there is a big caveat: The encoder (ACK-A30 early model) takes 6 to 10 minutes to warm up and become ready. During this time if your transponder is being pinged the UAT sends out a report with a missing pressure altitude resulting in a performance report guaranteed to fail "Missing element: Pressure altitude". Where I fly the transponder is being pinged as soon as I get out of the hangar and I get UAT TIS-B data even while I'm in the hangar. Even if the ADSB device would not send any reports until I'm in the air I certainly could get off the ground in the 10 minutes or so it takes for the transponder to warm up.

I'm going to install an encoder that has a faster warm up time of no more than 3 minutes and hope for the best ... so much for an quick and easy installation.

[Pilot135pd]

Originally Posted by GaryStofer

I installed the EchoUAT/SkyFX bundle in my RV a couple of weeks back. The first EchoUAT device was DOA. It would not keep the configuration stored through a power cycle and would not transmit or receive. Got a replacement unit from uAvionix in the mail right away and installed that one. I'm using this with the transponder sniffing feature and it did not sniff anything initially. With the help of the service dept and trial end error a transponder threshold of 1300 was determined to make it work to pass the performance report once.

However there is a big caveat: The encoder (ACK-A30 early model) takes 6 to 10 minutes to warm up and become ready. During this time if your transponder is being pinged the UAT sends out a report with a missing pressure altitude resulting in a performance report guaranteed to fail "Missing element: Pressure altitude". Where I fly the transponder is being pinged as soon as I get out of the hangar and I get UAT TIS-B data even while I'm in the hangar. Even if the ADSB device would not send any reports until I'm in the air I certainly could get off the ground in the 10 minutes or so it takes for the transponder to warm up.

I'm going to install an encoder that has a faster warm up time of no more than 3 minutes and hope for the best ... so much for an quick and easy installation.

Why don't you just keep your transponder on stand by instead of on mode C or Alt and let everything warm up so it doesn't get pinged. Then you place it on Alt just before take off and you should be fine by then.

[drill_and_buck]

Originally Posted by GaryStofer

I installed the EchoUAT/SkyFX bundle in my RV a couple of weeks back.

Gary, I just purchased the same bundle for my RV-8. Could you share with us where you installed the components, in particular the ADSB antenna?

Tks!

Mike

[Dean Pichon]

Originally Posted by Pilot135pd

You're not having disappearing targets like those in the other thread? uAvionix acknowledged there was a problem.

I've noticed 1 or 2 targets temporarily disappear and reappear, but it's still better than the other 2 systems I have used in other aircraft. I assumed the targets were being masked by the terrain or had other issues unrelated to my hardware. I was not aware of the acknowledged problem. I will search the archives.

Thanks,

[Pilot135pd]

Originally Posted by drill_and_buck

Gary, I just purchased the same bundle for my RV-8. Could you share with us where you installed the components, in particular the ADSB antenna?

Tks!

Mike

Check out this thread. It talks about GPS antenna installation in a -8 but it also has a comment from a Garmin Tech about the GPS antennas.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=167777

[GaryStofer]

I have the transpo0nder antenna directly under the pilot stick and the com antenna under the rear passenger seat, so in order to get the 1 meter separation required I put the UAT antenna in the first wing access cover on the RH wing. The coax cable feeds trough the bottom corner gaps of the ribs and spar and then up through the feed-trough of the spar and up trough the LG tower. The UAT box is on the front baggage compartment wall right next to the rear end of the transponder. Power and gnd is picked up from the same terminal where the transponder is hooked up to. I placed the GPS puck on the very front of the dashboard, just under the windscreen, but I get glare from it. A better location might be in the engine cowling on a shelf if you can find room. I already had holes on the dashboard from a smaller Garmin antenna that was black which never bothered me before. but I guess the shiny white plastic enclosure is better at reflecting. Some pictures here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ez...UkLl37Glg3rddg

Originally Posted by drill_and_buck

Gary, I just purchased the same bundle for my RV-8. Could you share with us where you installed the components, in particular the ADSB antenna?

Tks!

Mike

[GaryStofer]

According to Uavionix, As soon as you leave the ground the device sends "airborne" reports at a fixed 1HZ interval. If the encoder is not ready when you pass VS0, or if there is no transponder ping yet for the device to sniff it will not report pressure altitude because there is nothing to report thus creating the "missing element" squawk on the report. Putting the Transponder into STB mode will not help this. The solution it seems is to get an encoder that warms up faster, like the late models ACK in my case which are open for business in less than 3 minutes. Also, using a direct-wire capable encoder (RS232) and bypassing the transponder sniffing feature altogether will eliminate the potential issue that you might be flying where nobody pings your transponder while you still have good UAT coverage it would not have a fresh enough pressure altitude to report.

Uavionix also told me that the FAA is aware of these limitations and will not punish you if these "failures" appear sporadically.

Overall I'm really happy with the level of support from uAvionix, no bull**** service and straight up answers. The guy even offered me a full refund if I was not happy with it, which of course I declined.

Integration with Avair is a snap, enter port number 4000 in the Avair setup, choose METAR/Nexrad from ADSB Uplink and click "Connect" on the I/O tab (every time). It could not be easier.

Gary

Originally Posted by Pilot135pd

Why don't you just keep your transponder on stand by instead of on mode C or Alt and let everything warm up so it doesn't get pinged. Then you place it on Alt just before take off and you should be fine by then.

[drill_and_buck]

Originally Posted by GaryStofer

I have the transpo0nder antenna directly under the pilot stick and the com antenna under the rear passenger seat, so in order to get the 1 meter separation required I put the UAT antenna in the first wing access cover on the RH wing.

Great idea installing the UAT antenna in the wing inspection cover! I like that better than installing it aft of the rear bell crank.