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Public service announcement for users with Stratux and ForeFlight

bonefishdave

bonefishdave

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Since we are experimental aircraft builders, I would imagine there are some RV users that have build their own Stratux boxes for ads-b in.
Just wanted to pass on info that upgrading to the latest version of ForeFlight when at least using iPad or iPhone with an A17 processor or greater, Stratux will no longer work. I sent an email to ForeFlight support and it was confirmed the latest version of ForeFlight and Stratux will no longer work and was advised it is not a supported device so a fix is not expected. Are there any other stratux users utilizing garmin pilot instead of ForeFlight and Stratux is usable with garmin pilot.. I’ll probably switch over if Stratux works. Thanks
 
Thanks. Ouch. I'm a FlyQ guy, but have considered switching over to FF. Perhaps not--at least as long as Stratux continues to work with that software.
 
That’s unfortunate. But that’s often how it goes when a small company gets acquired by a larger one. I guess they don’t want inexpensive ADS-B receivers to be supported.
 
I’ve used both ForeFlight for years and then an airline buddy showed me FlyQ on his iPhone. Much less cost and did everything I need for what seems like less than half the cost. I have one subscription on two iPads (full iPad in the dash and iPad Mini to the left side of pilot window) along with my iPhone. All ship powered and seamless with Stratux. I can’t find a reason to go back to ForeFlight and if they don’t support Stratux that’s another not to go back.
 
bonefishdave said:
Since we are experimental aircraft builders, I would imagine there are some RV users that have build their own Stratux boxes for ads-b in.
Just wanted to pass on info that upgrading to the latest version of ForeFlight when at least using iPad or iPhone with an A17 processor or greater, Stratux will no longer work. I sent an email to ForeFlight support and it was confirmed the latest version of ForeFlight and Stratux will no longer work and was advised it is not a supported device so a fix is not expected. Are there any other stratux users utilizing garmin pilot instead of ForeFlight and Stratux is usable with garmin pilot.. I’ll probably switch over if Stratux works. Thanks
Click to expand...
Foreflight and Stratux user here. This will seriously make me reconsider my renewal when it's due next year...

Skylor
 
bonefishdave said:
Since we are experimental aircraft builders, I would imagine there are some RV users that have build their own Stratux boxes for ads-b in.
Just wanted to pass on info that upgrading to the latest version of ForeFlight when at least using iPad or iPhone with an A17 processor or greater, Stratux will no longer work. I sent an email to ForeFlight support and it was confirmed the latest version of ForeFlight and Stratux will no longer work and was advised it is not a supported device so a fix is not expected. Are there any other stratux users utilizing garmin pilot instead of ForeFlight and Stratux is usable with garmin pilot.. I’ll probably switch over if Stratux works. Thanks
Click to expand...
I wonder if a Stratux built with a Pi4B or the new Pi5B might be supported??? Only downside of using those newer boards is increased power consumption. That only matters if you don't have the Stratux tapped into ship's power [powered by an external battery].
 
I agree foreplay is the best efb available, lots of bells and whistles. With that said, I'm currently using Avare free version and really like it. Works on iPad and Android, displays adsb traffic and weather, worked fine with stratux although I don't use stratux anymore. Oh and did I say Avare is Free??
 
Hopefully they continue to support it. I've had ForeFlight for 10 years, but I would happily leave for another service that supports the Stratux. Those commercial receivers aren't cheap and the price for a new receiver would buy years' worth of subscriptions elsewhere.
 
sansoneservices said:
I agree foreplay is the best efb available, lots of bells and whistles. With that said, I'm currently using Avare free version and really like it. Works on iPad and Android, displays adsb traffic and weather, worked fine with stratux although I don't use stratux anymore. Oh and did I say Avare is Free??
Click to expand...
So you like foreplay with that in mind what is efb?
 
I’m also a Stratux user. I have been using it with FF and I also have it wired to my GRT panel where it provides weather radar and ADSB in traffic info. Additionally also have GPS info from Stratux to EFB.

So I’m not planning on leaving Stratux as the on panel info is fantastic.

I really have to wonder why FF would even care what you used to provide this info? Really makes no sense to me.
 
As I understand, Stratux uses the Garmin GDL39 protocol, so this move by ForeFlight would presumably leave all the GDL39 users in the dark as well. In theory, the Stratux developers could modify their code to be match alternative formats (if available). That said, I don't know how much active development is happening on Stratux now.
 
Does anyone know the issue? Is it a format issue with what Stratux is sending and foreflight can't interpret it? Or is it foreflight refusing the data because it's from a Stratux? Two very different problems. I'm at work and can't pull up the forums for Stratux, but have users posted anything there about it? Seems like a software update to the Stratux should be in order?
 
stigaro said:
As I understand, Stratux uses the Garmin GDL39 protocol, so this move by ForeFlight would presumably leave all the GDL39 users in the dark as well. In theory, the Stratux developers could modify their code to be match alternative formats (if available). That said, I don't know how much active development is happening on Stratux now.
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Stratux implements most of the GDL90 protocol, which is public and freely available. The GDL39 product from Garmin uses a different protocol.
 
ChiefPilot said:
Stratux implements most of the GDL90 protocol, which is public and freely available. The GDL39 product from Garmin uses a different protocol.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I knew it was a GDL of some type, but didn't bother to look up the exact flavour.
 
bonefishdave said:
the latest version of ForeFlight when at least using iPad or iPhone with an A17 processor or greater, Stratux will no longer work
Click to expand...

I just booted up my Stratux and it's showing ADSB data in both the Foreflight and Garmin Pilot on the A15 (Ipad Mini) and A17 (iphone 15 pro max). The latest versions of the IOS apps (17.6) and v1.6r1-eu32 Stratux.

Stratux may not not be officially supported by FF since it's a DYI open source project.. but it does not look like they deliberately disabled it (they could if they wanted to).

Is there a special foreflight version for A17+ devices?

seems like there may be some kind of misunderstanding..
 
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There is nothing about this on the Stratux discord nor git. I believe that uAvionix uses the same GDL90 protocol. Is anyone else seeing this issue?

I am not seeing it on multiple (iPad/iPhone) A17 devices. When I get home I can spin up a stratux instance to see what I see.
 
I received another email this morning from ForeFlight, so they seem to be interested in resolving this issue.
I’ve been running Stratux version 1.6r1-eu029-944 for the last 4 years and it had been working flawlessly. I do see there is a newer firmware so I will flash the new firmware when I get a chance.
I’ve got an iPhone 16 pro, an iPad mini gen 7 and an iPad mini gen 5
The iPad mini gen 5 I haven’t upgraded to the latest version of ForeFlight and it works fine.
The iPhone pro and mini 7 have updated versions of ForeFlight and that is when the problem started
So usually when connected, on map page I’d get connected to stratux and the number of towers, and the layers menu button would allow me to select ads-b products, such as traffic, radar etc.
Now after updating ForeFlight, to latest version, when I check for connected devices, stratux is connected, and it shows ads-b traffic updating, however when I go to the map page, no traffic is displayed, and when I click on the layers button upper left on traffic does not appear in the list, however I still get traffic alerts.
I believe when we checked with a friend using an iPad mini 6 which has the A15 processor with my stratux it worked with the latest ForeFlight version so this might be an A17 A18 processor issue. I’m hesitant to update my iPad mini 5 as it’s the only one working right now.
Perhaps someone with Stratux can check to see if processors less than A16 are experiencing this issue
Interestingly, on my iPhone, if I leave it connected via provider data, I can select internet traffic on the menu, then connect to Stratux, and traffic changes from internet traffic to ads-b traffic. Difference being ads-b traffic shows track vectors where internet traffic doesn’t.
If I turn off cell provider data, traffic goes away, and it’s no longer selectable in the layers selection
 

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I use FF in two planes , one w stratux. If they stop supporting, I'm looking elsewhere for an efb.
 
So it seems ForeFlight is really wanting to push people into using its own Sentry product
 
I’ve been chatting with one of their support people over the last few days and he knows nothing about any changes. I ran my Stratux hooked to ForeFlight last night for a couple of hours. Worked flawlessly and even displayed an artificial horizon using the AHRS chip in my Stratux. My iPad and the software are both updated to the latest revisions.
 
sansoneservices said:
I agree foreplay is the best efb available, lots of bells and whistles. With that said, I'm currently using Avare free version and really like it. Works on iPad and Android, displays adsb traffic and weather, worked fine with stratux although I don't use stratux anymore. Oh and did I say Avare is Free??
Click to expand...
Avare is transitioning to AvareX. I switched before I got too comfortable. I like the new AvareX. Pretty much the same.
 
How about trying using the AvTraffic app on the same iPad. It will receive the Stratux wi-fi traffic feed and make it available to Foreflight in the generic GDL90 format used by the devices they still support.
 
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bonefishdave said:
Just wanted to pass on info that upgrading to the latest version of ForeFlight when at least using iPad or iPhone with an A17 processor or greater, Stratux will no longer work.
Click to expand...
Just an FYI, this has nothing to do with hardware.

Apple's software does change yearly, slightly, but it is 99.9999% backwards compatible. And any breaking changes it may have are unrelated to the wifi connection between the device, and the decoding of the GDL90.

If they don't fix it, it's entirely an intentional business decision.
 
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