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First contact with an Aircotec / XC-trainer 2004.
Review by Jérôme Daoust. Created 2004/4/6, revised 2004/11/16.

I was highly anticipating the arrival of the Vario+GPS unit, due to its compact size and functionality.

Out of the box

Thanks to the manufacturer, a test unit was supplied, serial number 3532. Software version 1.05.

Good (number in front of each item indicates relative value between items) :

· 10. I love the thermal map concept. Why are other manufacturers not copying this ? That is the main reason why I'm interested in this manufacturer's product.

· 9. Unit is small and amazingly light, this can truly replace a leg-mounted classic variometer.

· 9. Batteries are inside the unit and do not need to be removed for charging.

· 8. The software can be updated by Internet download directly from the manufacturer.

· 7. Context-sensitive button assignments though display.

· 5. Better than Top Navigator with respect to the Radio interference test.

· 1. Automatic creation of launch area symbol (launching airplane) on the map.

Bad (ratio in front of each item indicates my concern level for future buyers) :

· 80%. Acquisition of minimal number of satellites was bad near my house, and near my work. Previously owning a Top navigator (same manufacturer) showed better reception.

· 70%. There was a note on the display's protective plastic film saying "Please be careful remove diagonal transparent film". So I slowly pulled the protective sheet from a corner, as I do for any other new equipment. But this film was very sticky and the whole window lifted from the unit. Thinking that the adhesive would bond again, I pressed the window back in place by pushing along its perimeter and completed the removal of the film by holding the window down at the same time. The window did not bond well again, and by turning the unit upside down, tapping a corner, it can dislodge. I put an elastic band around the unit and window so it would not come off again. Recommendations :

o Use a stronger adhesive to secure the window in future production.

o Use a protective film, which does not stick so much.

o Make warning clearer about what to be careful about : Weak adhesive used to secure the window.

· 60%. The thermal probe on the right side seems like something just waiting to be knocked off. It should be relocated inside the main body with an appropriate duct or venting (suggestion : inside a front/top corner).

· 25%. One of the Radio interference test failed.

· 15%. Only 3 buttons, generates a lot of functional overloading.

· 10%. Volume control of the vario is not obvious, pressing the middle button (which has the speaker symbol) did not change the volume level of the acoustic vario. I achieved flight mode by getting driven in a vehicle, but was unable to change the volume of the vario. From the manual I read in section 6.1.1 (Button functions in flight mode) : "With Ta 2 (middle button) settings will be cyclically changed in the picture. (for example zoom, volume...)".

· 10%. No USB connection. The use of serial connectors seems obsolete. The standard of USB 2.0 seems well established and should be used in new equipment like this one.

· 5%. Before getting the unit, I had read the manual (PDF document) and remembered the passage "…you have purchased a Swiss quality product…". I recommend that this part be removed because quality is not dependent on country, and this statement comes across as pretentious.

· 5%. The test unit came with wall electrical connector for Europe. Probably a non-issue as I suspect units will have adapted plugs when sold to a customer in America (Canada, USA,…). I was able to charge it with an adaptor I had.

· 5%. The manual does not specify typical charge time. Also, does the green light go out when fully charged ? I went by the voltage indicated during startup.

· 5%. Unit did not come with a leg strap (my preference) or any kind of attachment device. Not even a screw for the obvious mounting point.

Radio interference test

Transmission test : Fail (but not by much).

Description : Using a Yaesu VX-5 radio with its frequency set to 146.415 MHz, and a power output of 5 W : Transmission should not affect normal operation of the Vario+GPS unit.

Findings :

· No obvious disruption until the antenna gets within 6 cm of the display face. Less separation distance fades the screen's output, eventually making all information disappear when the antenna is within 1 cm. This would prevent someone from putting radio and this Vario+GPS unit together in a cockpit. People keeping the Vario+GPS unit on the leg and the radio on their chest should be OK.

· Touching the window surface (not the actual display screen), the display turns to black.

· Unit was not tested in flight. So corruption of logged data could not be verified/dispelled.

Comparison :

· This is better than the problems I encountered with the Top Navigator. That unit could be shut down by simply transmitting with the radio.

· When I recently did this test with a Flytec 5030, there were no observed problems, even with the antenna touching the display window.

Reception test : Pass.

Description : Using a Yaesu VX-5 radio with its squelch level down to 3 (out of 15) : Radio should not pick up noise from the Vario+GPS unit.

Findings :

· No obvious noise emitted from the Vario+GPS.

· Setting the squelch level down to 1 (out of 15) confirmed that no noise was being picked up.

· Unit was not tested in flight.

Comparison :

· The problem encountered with the Top Navigator seems to be resolved with this unit.

Conclusion

I did not proceed with a flight test because :

· No attachment device.

· Display window not secure.

· Unimpressed with satellite acquisition.

So the test unit was returned. This felt like interrupting imminent satisfaction, as I believe the rest of the software functionality should be up to expectations.

This Vario+GPS unit has the potential of becoming a great product once it matures. In the meantime, I will look at the Bräuniger / Competino.

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