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Accessoires.
Electronics
Component
by Jérôme
Daoust. Created 2004/12/1, revised 2013/7/14.
1.
Concept
2.
Layout
a.
Cockpit
b.
Vario+GPS
·
Airspeed Probe
c.
Radio
3.
Conclusion
a.
To-Do List
Intent of this review :
Usefulness to a recreational pilot.
Concept
The idea is to
put all electronics instruments in the cockpit, and keep it with you at all
times (like during transport).
Definitions. I don't like the word cockpit (definition)
as it normally means "the compartment where the pilot sits while flying
the aircraft", but will still be used here as "a bag secured
to your harness which sits in your lap" which is what most paraglider
pilots will understand.
Why would someone want to put all electronics in the
cockpit? Some reasons:
·
The value/volume ratio of electronics makes them
easy pray for being stolen or abused in transport. With all electronic devices in a smaller
container, this one can be kept with the person at all times.
·
Easy access at any time:
o Radio
for tuning to local frequencies. Or
adjusting volume/squelch in flight if needed.
o GPS
for entering waypoints or data exchange.
o For
battery charging.
·
If you want to try a new wing or harness, all
your instruments will easily carry over.
One can think of the analogy to a software component (for those
programming guys).
·
The elastic strap of instruments tied to your
leg (like a vario) can reduce blood circulation. Also instruments on your leg may see more
abuse.
·
Just close the protective top lid, and your
instruments are already in their protective bag.
Layout
The following
represents my current configuration layout: Picture. Use it as a starting point for your own
tinkering.
Cockpit.
A Sup'Air
/ Cockpit-Ballast is used. Picture of it closed.
- It uses side loops with quick
connect/disconnects to attach to the carabiners (or quick-links in my
case).
- I used a plastic box (Picture)
to maintain the shape of the lower compartment. This keeps the instrument panel in a
good attitude during flight, with the bottom of the box resting on my
legs. It can also prevent fragile
objects, like an airspeed probe, from being crushed. The top front right corner of the box
has been cut to facilitate access to the compartment and its edges melted
for smoothness.
- Launching.
I keep the top lid unzipped but over the instruments to prevent
possible scratching. Once airborne
I flip the lid between the cockpit and my body to keep instrument view
unobstructed. But there is no
urgency for this, as I hear the vario well until then.
- Landing. I flip the lid over the
instruments to provide extra scratch protection.
- Gearing up.
I only use the 2 side-loop straps to secure the cockpit, passing
the male end of the quick-connects through my carabiners. It seems easier
and faster to connect, than before when I was attaching the vario to my
leg and the radio to my harness with additional safety tether lines. See the To-Do List
for an idea on facilitating connection time even further.
- In flight. I am more comfortable in flight,
not having a leg strap, potentially reducing blood circulation. Having the instruments mounted on the
cockpit provides greater readability than when attached to my leg.
Vario+GPS. In this case, a Bräuniger / Competino
is used.
- I put a male Velcro strip below the
battery door: Picture.
- Battery replacement is possible without
detaching the GPS from the deck.
First lift the top of it, then slide off the door (Picture), and
you can remove the batteries with a fingernail. Having previously written the +/-
orientation of the batteries on the side (Picture) will
avoid insertion mishaps, since you will not have a full view of the back
of the GPS.
- Airspeed
Probe. I considered
adding an airspeed probe. I had one
for testing purposes, found a place for it on the top deck (birdie end in
the empty space to the right of GPS, impeller above radio), but later
found out it brought little value (See Wind
Vector + Airspeed),
so I am no longer including it.
Radio. A Yaesu
/ VX-5R is used. The idea is to have
the antenna contained within the cockpit, not sticking out or requiring an
outside connection. Ideally an antenna
should be vertical to improve communication range.
- Antenna, which came with the radio,
is sent vertically down into the lower compartment, by using a 90° SMA
Connector, and making a hole for the antenna through the deck. Extra part:
- 90° SMA Connector: Manufacturer=Pan
Pacific, model SMA-2599, 9 $US at Ford Electronics. Connects to
the radio, where antenna screws in.
Picture.
- I put a male Velcro on the back of
the radio : Picture.
- The radio is set at an angle (Picture),
which allows easier hand operation of the PTT (Push To Talk) button and
avoids the antenna connector to be in a typical crushing area (left next
to cockpit hang loop, or up). It
also allows for easy recharging connection, and maximizes antenna distance
from other electronics.
- I don't plan to use a microphone
with coiled cord (I have one) as the dashboard should be close enough for
me to hear the radio or pick up my voice.
In the past I had my radio horizontally above my chest strap and
now the distance from my head is only about 50% greater. On 2004/12/25+26 I did some in-flight transmission
test, and found that getting my hand over the radio while pressing the
transmit button provides sufficient wind protection for the microphone, to
transmit clear messages.
Solutions I also
tried (but did not work as well):
- 2004/12/1. 17" whip antenna +
18" wire adaptor. The idea was
to have a long whip antenna wrapped at the bottom of the lower
compartment, and use a coaxial wire connector between the radio and the
antenna. Even with the antenna
straight and vertical, I wasn't getting similar transmission and reception
as the shorter antenna, which came with the radio. Parts used, in order of
connection from the radio:
- Wire adaptor (coaxial cable):
Manufacturer=NCG, model HS-05, 18" SMA TO SO-239. 15 $US at Ham Radio Outlet.
It could connect directly to radio.
- 90° PL-259 Connector:
Manufacturer=Radio Shack, model
278-199, 5.29 $US at Radio Shack.
Picture.
- Adaptor: Manufacturer =Cable, model
303, BNC F to UHF male adaptor. 7 $US at Ham Radio Outlet.
Picture.
- Antenna: Manufacturer =NCG, model
BNC-24, 2M/440 Flexible 17". 25 $US at Ham Radio Outlet.
The actual antenna.
Conclusion
I
took a few trials and errors, but I finally achieved good radio reception and
transmission, maybe better than I had before (antenna vertical against my
chest). There is no current need for an Airspeed Probe, but there is room for it, if needed
in the future. I am getting used to
carrying the cockpit separately from my wing and harness bag. Overall I feel I have simplified my procedure
for gearing up before a flight, and gained comfort in flight as well as
increased instrument readability.
To-Do List, with priority level (0=I don't care.
10=A must):
·
2/10.
Improve the lower compartment shape holder (75% satisfied). Currently using a plastic box which is
smaller than maximum volume, and the shaved right top corner does not provide
even support. Considering plastic upper
ring band and sets of vertical half-loop bands.
Design must include some form of rigid antenna protection.
·
1/10.
Consider having cockpit side-loop male connectors relocated to loops left on
the carabiners. The male connectors can easily
be unthreaded from the straps, and set on new straps, which could be left with
the carabiners. Not sure if the extra
gear will be worth any significant time saving, and it creates a dependency for
the harness carabiners to have corresponding connector. Passing the male end of cockpit's side straps
is quick anyway.
