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Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:11 am
by Keith
Hello All,
I just joined this forum. I built and have been flying a Wittman Tailwind (N530TW) for a few years and just installed a Sport EX and autopilot. I had been using an iLevil AW3 unit feeding an iPad via Wifi and using WingX. It worked OK but wanted to add an auto pilot and also to add an IFR navigator in the future. So far I really like my set up but am on a steep learning curve. I have not yet purchased the vertical guidance AP software yet but think I may do that soon. As with any new system, there is lots of functionality some of which I may overlook.

My question is this: For those of you that have been using a GRT EFIS, what are a few items that you have found really useful? I am not talking about "direct to" or "sequential flight plans" but maybe something not quite as obvious. One example in particular is Highway in the Sky (HITS) that I have not really used much in another app (FlyQ). Or another would be what setting do you find you use the most on the MAPS page? Is it Radar, Terrain etc etc?

I am also a regular poster and member of the Vans Airforce forum and the Tailwind forum. I really believe in the collective knowledge of a group like this and am excited to take part.
Thanks and I look forward to learning a lot

Keith

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:28 am
by Bobturner
Hi Keith,
I don’t use the HITS. I do use the velocity vector - takes all the guess work out of heading changes when shooting an approach. Of course, using the flight director takes this up another notch. As for the map page - it’s wx radar. Just remember it’s for strategic, not close in, avoidance.

Bob

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 12:26 pm
by Keith
Thanks Bob,
I agree about the Radar. I believe that is what I will be using the most. Have been using ADSB in with WingX for a number of years and am always amazed at how much information we now have at our fingertips compared to what we used to have. Will checkout the velocity vector and am looking forward to trying to use the flight director. Still getting acquainted with everything and getting the AP fine tuned.

Keith

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:36 pm
by Bobturner
I also display traffic and wx via wifi to wingX on an iPad. But, I get adsb-in from a Skyradar D2, which also connects via usb to my HX. (Don’t know the sport ex capability). I split my PFD screen, main page on left, map on right side. Right side shows traffic and wx (via usb connection). I have a very strong preference for traffic there, right in front of me, vs having to look at an iPad. For wx, I have no strong preference, although I usually use the Hx.

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 10:02 pm
by Keith
Bob,
I bring in the ADSB "in" data to the Sport EX via an EchoUAT/Safefly GPS. I continue to bring it into WingX on the ipad via my iLevil 3AW. I like your idea of splitting the screen on the Sport EX. I have tried that already and like it while enroute. When in the pattern, I switch to a full page of synthetic vision on the PFD page.

I did run into something a little unusual recently. Perhaps I have a setting incorrect. WingX does a really good job of displaying obstacles on its synthetic vision page. The other day, I was flying near a pretty tall tower (1600" AGL) and WingX was displaying the tower but I saw it just for a second on the Sport EX synthetic vision page and then it disappeared on the Sport EX unit. It showed up in red just as I had thought it should but only for a second or so. I was less than 500' difference in height and within about 1 mile. It was about 30 degrees from straight ahead. I had my page set up like you mentioned with moving map on the right and I also saw a red dot (I think-- as I had it zoomed out a ways) on that page also until it disappeared from the synthetic vision page. Then I didn't see the red dot anymore either on the moving map page.

I noticed something similar the other day but wrote it off as not being used to the system yet. This particular tower has been there for 20 years so it shouldn't be a database issue with a new tower. I thought maybe the Sport EX unit "declutters" things if I am not going to hit it or that it was too far off to the side. I briefly turned toward it to see if it would reappear and it did not. I do not have an external magnetometer so the Sport unit is only measuring track rather than heading but don't think that should make any difference.
I will do some more testing before I contact support. I am sure I must have something set up incorrectly but any ideas?
Thanks
Keith

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:05 pm
by Bobturner
According to the HX manual (your sport may be different) obstacle warnings are given if it’s within 1 minute flight time and 250’ vertically. So maybe you were 260, 240, 260’ vertical feet above. This would cause warnings to come and go.

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 1:29 pm
by Keith
Thanks Bob, I will do some more testing to see. If what you mentioned is the case, does that mean that the obstacle won't even be displayed at all until it hits the "warning parameters"? I would think that the obstacle would still be displayed but just not turned red. I will report back as soon as I get a chance to fly and test again.

Keith

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 2:58 am
by GRT_Jeff
If an obstacle is within 10 nautical miles, 45 degrees of track, and at or above your altitude, it will appear yellow.

If an obstacle is within 5 nautical miles or 1 minute and your current vertical path takes you within 250 feet, it will appear red.

If it doesn't meet these criteria it will not be shown.

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 1:12 pm
by Keith
Thanks Jeff,
That is what I needed. Next time I fly, I will observe what happens in relation to those parameters. I think it is possible that I was "outside" of the 45 degrees of track.

Keith

Re: Sport EX "must learn first" ?

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:21 pm
by Keith
Flew yesterday and the obstacles did appear as Jeff mentioned. Still learning the system but really like it so far.
Keith