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  #21  
Old 07-26-2012, 01:17 PM
gpiney gpiney is offline
 
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Default Simplicity

I think that people miss the major point of iEFIS. Simplicity of the hardware and installation. It is a very modular approach. The user interface on the screen is one thing, getting all the information to it is another. With iEFIS you have 3 primary 'boxes'. RDAC - all engine monitoring functions connect here. The RDAC connects via one cable to the iBOX. Various other systems like pitot/static, AHRS, Radios, etc. all connect to the iBOX via 1 cable each. The iBOX connects to the iEFIS with 2 LAN cables. That is it (other than the power supply cable). This means no complicated wiring harnesses behind the firewall. Just a few cables. This will save a lot of hours of installation time.
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  #22  
Old 07-27-2012, 01:23 AM
Rainier Lamers Rainier Lamers is offline
 
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Location: Somerset West
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I believe you may be under the impression that if there is a red X over an item on the screen that it is a "dummy" or something that is not finished.
Far from it - this is now a pretty standard way of saying that the item on the screen is not working in the sense of "not plugged in or switched off". In case of the iEFIS is has a HUGE amount of functionality and all of the red crosses will only dissappear if all of the items that you see on the screen are in fact connected and reporting no problems.
Of course, in a real scenario you would only have the items on the screen that you actually have so a red cross would show up as a real world problem with the related equipment.

What we need to do for next year is have a complete cockpit mockup with everything attached including autopilot servos, trims, radios, transponders, adsb, ECB etc etc.

With the current demo I "faked" the AHRS and some of the primary instruments like altimeter and GPS. That's just to be able to give an impression without ending up with a full installation job on the stand at short notice (which would have been impossible).

In particular, some of the crossed out items on the screen that you may be refering to are:
ADSB. This is fully functional including ADSB-out, ADSB Weather, metars, tafs and traffic etc.
Transponder: Fully functional with a choice of a very low cost mode-c or a competitively priced mode-s that includes ES.
For both ADSB and mode-S a certified GPS for position reference can be used if desired and you have choices here as well.
Nav radio - fully functional either as a GPS based "simulated" nav radio or SL30/G430 and equivalent as well as the MGL nav radio when we release that.
COM1 and COM2 - you can connect a variety of radios here but full function and 8.33Khz channel spacing is only available with MGL radios. Full function meaning that you can fully control all aspects of the COM radio (volume, squelch etc) as well as all setup through the panel.
GPS - built in 50 channel WAAS/RAIM GPS
Autopilot - an enhanced version of the autopilot proven in the current generation systems (the enhancement will be made available with the next software update for the existing systems).
ECB - this is the "electronic circuit breaker system". The VPX is fully operational and you can control the breakers using the touch screen which is very nice and convenient. The MGL ECB system will also be released soon.
Flap, pitch and bank trim - fully operational with the VPX using touch screen control, MGL flap/trim controller to be released in a few weeks as well.

In the demo the engine data is faked - you can monitor up to 4 engines (no kidding).

While I'm pretty sure there will be the odd niggle discovered in the next few weeks as systems take to the skies in numbers these will be taken care of rapidly as they become known. Flights so far have been exemplary to say the least.

Our biggest problem at the moment is production - we have a huge order backlog for these things - the largest ever in our history and we need to somehow fill these orders as quickly as possible. We are producing them as quickly as we can and shipments are now leaving every day but at the moment the orders are coming in faster than what we can produce. I am hoping that this will drop to sustainable levels once the initial rush has passed.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics


Quote:
Originally Posted by ColoRv View Post
I hope I didn't come across as being overly critical. Of all the systems I played with at Oshkosh over those two days, and I hit them all, yours has the most potential. I hope you understand though, that if a client can't make it work at the show...it's hard to part with a stack of cash reaching into the 5 figure range. Still, I admit...I am tempted. Had the red X's been fully functional...I would have pulled my wallet out on the spot. If it's fully functional, I really wish you had brought the full system. I think most of us can live without it flying around demo style if all the buttons work, GPS works, radios work etc. After all, it's the integration of these units that is so appealing, we would like to see that integration in action.

The guys at your booth were over the top friendly and helpful. It was nice seeing them at the Horton gathering as well. Like Stein and Marc from Vertical Power, you guys are the type of people I would like to see succeed. Since you are here, can you give us a list of the functions you intend to put into your next iefis update and when you believe that update will be? What will the next 12 months look like for this system?
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  #23  
Old 07-27-2012, 01:32 AM
Rainier Lamers Rainier Lamers is offline
 
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Location: Somerset West
Posts: 1,033
Default

Yes, that is exactly it.
It is indeed very quick to install this system, I installed the prototype into our aircraft myself. Most of the time was spent removing/modifying existing wiring.

The panels themselves are almost a joke - it feels like something is wrong. Just the power connection, screw in the SMA LAN cable and you are done (I don't have cameras in our aircraft but that would have just been another plug).
With all the wiring now concentrated around the iBOX - location of this becomes the primary concern and it is now possible to mount this in a place where all wiring is accessible with the connectors facing you. This is a huge advantage - the days of working behind panels at arkward angles is gone for good.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics


Quote:
Originally Posted by gpiney View Post
I think that people miss the major point of iEFIS. Simplicity of the hardware and installation. It is a very modular approach. The user interface on the screen is one thing, getting all the information to it is another. With iEFIS you have 3 primary 'boxes'. RDAC - all engine monitoring functions connect here. The RDAC connects via one cable to the iBOX. Various other systems like pitot/static, AHRS, Radios, etc. all connect to the iBOX via 1 cable each. The iBOX connects to the iEFIS with 2 LAN cables. That is it (other than the power supply cable). This means no complicated wiring harnesses behind the firewall. Just a few cables. This will save a lot of hours of installation time.
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  #24  
Old 08-17-2012, 12:39 AM
John Ferguson's Avatar
John Ferguson John Ferguson is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Suffolk, UK
Posts: 9
Default

I have just taken delivery of my dual screen iEFIS and I have to say, that I have been very impressed with the whole system.
It has been very easy to connect together (albeit just on the bench for now), and compared to others that I have wired, this is a snip.

In a few evenings I have every thing working including the Autopilot servos.
The menus are quite deep but this means just about any option you can think of is accessible.

The manuals are still evolving but there is sufficient information to get everything working very easily.
I am lucky that in the UK, the agent is very knowledgeable and has answered all the questions that I have thrown at him.

The touch screen works very well and the display is very bright and has a good resolution.
The rotary controls also work very well and have a very good feel to them.

If I have any criticism at all then it would be with the push button switches, but time will tell if these become a reliability issue.

Overall, a good job Rainier!!

Note.
I have no affiliation to MGL other than being a satisfied customer.
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  #25  
Old 09-14-2012, 11:49 AM
tmlkbr tmlkbr is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: S?o Paulo - Brazil
Posts: 13
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Ferguson View Post
I have just taken delivery of my dual screen iEFIS and I have to say, that I have been very impressed with the whole system.
It has been very easy to connect together (albeit just on the bench for now), and compared to others that I have wired, this is a snip.

In a few evenings I have every thing working including the Autopilot servos.
The menus are quite deep but this means just about any option you can think of is accessible.

The manuals are still evolving but there is sufficient information to get everything working very easily.
I am lucky that in the UK, the agent is very knowledgeable and has answered all the questions that I have thrown at him.

The touch screen works very well and the display is very bright and has a good resolution.
The rotary controls also work very well and have a very good feel to them.

If I have any criticism at all then it would be with the push button switches, but time will tell if these become a reliability issue.

Overall, a good job Rainier!!

Note.
I have no affiliation to MGL other than being a satisfied customer.
Hi John,
We're can't make the AHARS talk to the SP6/7 , checked the wires for continuity, and still the big X. Perhaps you could give some advice ? Already sent an email to Matt (he's flying) and Rainier. Plane should be flying as of yesterday for a long trip.

Tks,
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  #26  
Old 09-14-2012, 01:07 PM
John Ferguson's Avatar
John Ferguson John Ferguson is offline
 
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Location: Suffolk, UK
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The iBOX connects to the SP7 (AHRS) and the SP6(Magnetometer) using the CAN bus and it will not work if its not terminated correctly.

Make sure you have fitted the terminating resistor (120R) at one end of the bus if the wire length is 10 feet or less(fit it across the connector) or fit one at either end of the CAN bus if the wire run is longer.
I have the iBOX, SP6 & SP7 on CAN 1, the resistor is fitted across pins 1 and 2 of the CAN connector on the iBOX.
John
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  #27  
Old 09-14-2012, 10:06 PM
William William is offline
 
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Location: Tampa, Florida (KVDF)
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John have you had a chance to fly behind your iEFIS as of yet? Curious what your impressions are.

thanks,
William
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  #28  
Old 09-15-2012, 01:46 AM
John Ferguson's Avatar
John Ferguson John Ferguson is offline
 
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William,
No not yet, I am just going through the hoops with our LAA (Light Aircraft Association)for some modification approvals.
I need to get theses out of the way before I start the panel change.
John
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  #29  
Old 09-19-2012, 08:12 AM
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ColoRv ColoRv is offline
 
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Any Pireps on the IEFIS systems yet?
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  #30  
Old 10-01-2012, 01:02 PM
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ColoRv ColoRv is offline
 
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Still no updates? Photos? No experience with these yet?
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