-EXP Deconstructed

[dtw_rv6]

I like the LED test circuit idea - now I just need to avoid coffee for a day so I can solder a lead on that incredibly small trace. This might be the excuse I need for buying a hot air pencil....

Thanks! I'll report back when I know the result.

Don

Originally Posted by John-G

Don - You could try making a simple data probe using a 2 volt LED diode and 300 ohm resistor. I don't know how to post a graphic in this text so will refer you to page 9 of the ACK E-04 instillation manual. There is a graphic on that page that shows you how the probe is made. If there is data on that line you want to test the LED will flash. This test won't tell you if the line is "serial data" but it may help you determine if the line is polled data. One would think if the flashing or flickering is repetitive it would suggest a serial data line.

Link to the ACK E-04 manual refer to page 9:
http://www.ackavionics.com/pdf/E-04%20REV%201.8%20SINGLE%20PAGE.pdf

Not sure if that will help you ... but it is an inexpensive way to have a look.

Good luck

[John-G]

Don - Soldering to the circuit board isn't necessary is it? Unless you are wanting to make a permanent tap.

If a permanent tap is not the case, I would suggest first try using a sharp pointed object such as a needle or tiny finishing nail with a really sharp point to poke the trace or solder pad on the board. You can use a small alligator clip to connect the probe to the tester - LED/Resistor.

[larosta]

Consider using a serial to USB adapter like this one from Sparkfun. There are others out there and you may find them on amazon or eBay.

SparkFun USB to Serial Breakout - FT232RL
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12731

Hook up your gps output to the rx terminal on the adapter and connect the adapter usb to your computer.

Download one of the free terminal emulators like terraterm or PuTTY.

Tera Term
https://ttssh2.osdn.jp/index.html.en


PuTTY
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...inal_emulators



Find thenbaud rate through trial and error and you should see the data stream on the terminal emulator. With this you now have a lot of information about what data and format navworx was using. This will be useful in setting up the replacement gps.

-larosta

[dtw_rv6]

I have an Arduino sitting beside me here on the table. Now that I'm thinking about it, that should work well.

Time to stick 12V into the EXP!

Don

[Piper J3]

Wow, you guys are wild. That's the thing about people who tinker - other's willing to help and share ideas. High tech these days though. When I was a kid I remember a neighbor building a wooden row boat in his basement and I thought how cool it was. That was a few years ago. Now we fly airplanes with multiple flat screens in full color.

[larosta]

An Arduino will work just fine.

When you have a nail to drive, just find the right hammer.

-larosta

[YellowJacket RV9]

May be a good use for a "Bus Pirate": https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12942 and http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Bus_Pirate

It will sniff out and display all types of protocols, UART, SPI, I2C, etc.

Chris

[FLightning]

https://www.pololu.com/product/2138/specs

would this work for us?

we need to find one approved and where can we find those?

If someone knows how to program we might be able to support this box on our own....
Plus unlock the 1090!

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by FLightning

https://www.pololu.com/product/2138/specs

would this work for us?

we need to find one approved and where can we find those?

If someone knows how to program we might be able to support this box on our own....
Plus unlock the 1090!

That one will, I'm certain, be no better than what's in there -- a cheap, consumer grade GPS receiver with no pedigree whatsoever. Little to no documentation, and no provision for an off-board antenna.

I should say up front, I have no dog in this fight -- I didn't buy the NavWorx box, I'm just an interested bystander with possibly a bit of experience making things work in ways the manufacturer may not have intended. I was thinking maybe if a guy could or remove or bypass the internal GPS receiver and wire in a known approved source -- like, say, the uAvionix or Dynon or a Garmin 430W for those lucky few -- MAYBE there might be some salvaging it. Now, that said, I don't know how much of the required "integrity" is GPS hardware/firmware, and how much is device firmware. In other words, I don't know whether swapping out the GPS for one that's on the "nice list" would be sufficient, or if it would also require firmware changes to the EXP unit as well.

As for ongoing firmware support or fixes, well, good luck with that. Unless someone buys NW's assets and decides to either expend substantial programmer and testing time on a dead product (not bloody likely) or release the source code (even less likely), I think what you have is what you got. After being bitten more than once, I have learned to never ever buy anything based on promises of future upgrades or enhancements. If something doesn't work or isn't available when I buy, I assume it never will be.

[FLightning]

happen to be one of the first batch orders, and I held off on the dog house because I wanted to see results.
This sort of reminds me of the doghouse http://aspennexnav.com/gpssu/
I might hold off till 2020 before taking the bait again and thats unfortunate.