Anyone placed the model: RANGER Lite FDL-978-XVRL ( which is a In/Out ADSB transceiver) unit in service? Will they sell direct to experimental customers for user install? How easy was your installation and set up? Does it perform as advertised? Looks to have WiFi to electronic tablets and etc. Can it use any let over Navworx parts!! ie GPS antenna?
Actually the external antenna from the NAvworx is compatible and according to their sales they will sell directly for experimental user installation, Current price less GPS antenna is $3195. Only has to use one UAT antenna as opposed to the two required for the "Blue Box". eligible for the 500 Rebate. I have an installation manual for anyone if interested
He is a FreeFlight Systems dealer.
I have installed Freeflight before. The blue box has the option of top and bottom uat antennas, but doesn't require both. It worked well, but the installation had some complication because of DOA parts.
RE: FreeFlight Ranger, Anonymous Mode
The FDL-978 systems have an Anonymous Mode feature that will broadcast a random, temporary, ICAO address and no call sign when enabled. This feature can only be enabled through a external switch (Open/Ground) connected to pin 12. "Anonymous Mode" is active when pin 12 is grounded (Active Low).
The Anonymous Mode can only be enabled when the squawk code is set to 1200. The FDL-978 will automatically revert back to the default ICAO address and call sign when the squawk code is changed from 1200.
The FDL-978 equipment defaults to the registered aircraft ICAO address and call sign when initially powered on. Anonymous Mode will not be enabled within the first 90 seconds after the FDL-978 is powered on.
In Anonymous Mode you are unable to receive IFR or VFR separation services. Potential negative impacts to ADS-B IN applications could occur.
I have the FDL-978-XVR with the internal GPS and am happy with its operation with my GRT Sport EFIS. Having ADS-B traffic displayed on the EFIS is a definite plus. About the only thing that could be better is if it were a dual mode receiver i.e. received 1090-ES Mode S xpndr via air to air rather than having to rely on ADS-R rebroadcast from a ground station for the 1090-ES traffic.
On the RANGER Lite FDL-978-XVRL , (1) How is the initial set up done if you are not using the Freeflight controller? . The Installation manual walks you thru the set up however it is with the FF controller unit. Also (2) does this unit require a stand alone Altitude encoder as show on the schematic or can the RS232 signal out of a GTX327 relay that PA, or maybe a separate wire over from the Dynon 180 that is also supplying the GTX 327 .
RE: FreeFlight Ranger Lite configuration
The software in the FreeFlight XVR supports a Maintenance Port Interface (MPI) which can be used to configure the system, provide installation status information, and update system software/firmware. The MPI uses one of the RS-232 serial ports (TxRx3 or TxRx5) connected to a laptop or PC using a terminal interface program like ?Tera Term,? to enter the MPI commands and review internal status. The TC978 controller doesn't have to be installed in normal operation, Using it for configuration is easy using built in menus. The TC978 will retain a copy of the configuration settings so if you ever have to replace the XVR just reconnect the controller and the replacement unconfigured XVR will copy the configuration from the TC978.
The configuration can be also be done via the Wi-Fi interface module which can be connected to either RS-232 TxRx3 or TxRx5. FreeFlight has an APP that runs on a iPad that can be used for configuration via the W-iFi interface, So if you were going to implement the WiFi interface for connecting to a iPad running ForeFlight etc to view ADSB data. the Tablet configuration app might be the way to go for configuration.
The Garmin 327 transponder control output doesn't transmit the altitude encoder labels. Altitude Encoder data has to be provided to the FreeFlgiht XVR on a separate serial port input. The Dynon 180 output supplying altitude encoding data to the transponder should be used to provide altitude encoding data to the FreeFlight XVR.
In case anyone is interested I have a RANGR TXL in stock ready to go - $1995 (ADS-B out only, includes TC978 head and GPS antenna).
Thanks for the replys . The RANGER Lite FDL-978-XVRL may be my next choice if my Navworx 600EXP get unplugged.
The app for configuring the UAT via the FWF125 wifi module is ADSB MPI, its an Android app. There is currently no Apple app to configure this system. If the TC978 controller is not used, the personality module supplied with the UAT should be connected via a dongle during configuration. It saves the programming and would have to be reconnected if the UAT ever gets replaced.
The Garmin 327 transponder control output doesn't transmit the altitude encoder labels. Altitude Encoder data has to be provided to the FreeFlgiht XVR on a separate serial port input. The Dynon 180 output supplying altitude encoding data to the transponder should be used to provide altitude encoding data to the FreeFlight XVR.
To clarify what Isaac wrote, the Freeflight TC978 control head has a built-in digital encoder with a static pressure connector on the back of the controller. If you, like me, are not using a modern EFIS with serial altitude output this built-in encoder is an added benefit when installing the Freeflight control head since it can serve as a primary or secondary digital altitude source, with automatic failover switching of encoder signal in the case of a second encoder onboard. The TC978's altitude encoding signal not only provides altitude to it's own Freeflight LRU but also to the GTX 327 and any other onboard digital device that can use a RS-232 altitude source. I didn't realize this until I received my unit and inspected the TC978 controller finding the brass barbed static pressure fitting on the back. It's like a freebie. That's when I changed my plans of having the GTX 327 stand-alone, and instead made room for the TC978 controller on the panel so I could remove my Trans-Cal RS 232 blind encoder and use it somewhere else.
When I called Freeflight technical support they encouraged the installation of the TC978 as a matter of course. They also told me if I didn't install the TC978 (despite having a GTX 327) then I would have to install ADS-B out status annunciator lights somewhere on the panel (yuk). Combine this with having to install a maintenance serial port, personality module and and using an older laptop with a serial port running terminal software to configure the ADS-B parameters, it really does make everybody's life easier to go ahead and install the TC978.
On a related note, I opted to substitute an AT575-9 GPS antenna from an old Apollo GPS360 in place of the big 'ol honkin' RAMI AV-801 antenna that Freeflight includes with their units.
(Used AT atnenna. O-ring gasket temporarily removed during old silicon sealant clean-up)
That substitution of WAAS antennas is allowed per the installation instructions as they list the old Apollo GPS antenna part number as an approved alternate. The AT575-9 is lower profile, less drag and has a smaller footprint for tight spaces. Here is a photo I took of both antennas side by side, with the included Freeflight RAMI AV -801 GPS antenna on the left and the re-purposed Apollo AT575-9 GPS antenna mounted and sealed on an Aviat Husky wing root fairing on the right. The Husky, with it's interfacing structure, just didn't have enough real estate for the Freeflight RAMI antenna:
One final note. My install is for the "out "only version TXL. I am a real believer in being able to choose or change my "in" source by using any of a myriad of portable "in" choices out there. All the while with options like built-in attitude AHRS and/or backup battery power (like GDL-39 3D etc. ). Portable "ins" are also "dual band" pickup up both frequencies despite my out being UAT only. This separate in/out scheme allows the flexibility of being more future proof. And it's cheaper to only buy only one portable ADS-B receiver, especially if you own and fly multiple aircraft and take the "in" with you and pop it in place before engine start.
The FreeFlight UAT ADS-B unit with built-in WAAS GPS, when combined with an existing or used GTX 327 and a portable dual-band receiver is about as cheap a set up as is currently possible. Used GTX 327's are a bargain on the used market right now.
I couldn't find a better price on the TXL out unit than Walt's price above. It is exactly what I paid for the same unit.
