How to set up SkyGuard TWX ?(iFly 720 with SkyGuard TWX + AHRS)

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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly Owners Q&AiFly Owners Q&AHow to set up SkyGuard TWX ?(iFly 720 with SkyGuard TWX + AHRS) How to set up SkyGuard TWX ?(iFly 720 with SkyGuard TWX + AHRS)
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9/3/2013 5:22 PM
 
Shane: FYI, unless Don has just started including those instructions for getting your ICAO code from the FAA, they were not in the box with either of my SkyGuard units. I had to email Don to find out what to do. So some owners may not have the complete setup information if they got an early unit. ===Ralph
 
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9/3/2013 8:11 PM
 

Ralph,

It would only been included if it was shipped by Adventure Pilot. I think he only ships with his generic instructions, however we ship them with iFly 720 specific instructions too. Sorry for any confusion.


Shane Woodson
Vice President | Adventure Pilot LLC.
 
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9/4/2013 12:41 PM
 

I found my aircraft registry hex identifier, and put that in yesterday evening, then went flying.

Still not seen any traffic, but where I was there might not have been anyone within 30 miles of me for the brief time I was up. Some things I did observe:

Compared to my Radenna ADSB-in, which I used on top of the glare shield, this set up seems less sensitive. I've mounted the AHRS Sky Radar between my two back seats, with the blade transmitter antenna in an aft window, back above the baggage compartment. The rubber ducky receiver antenna is attached to the Sky Radar box. This likely accounts for the poor sensitivity of the receiver. It does acquire text weather by 1000 MSL, and was finally painting all the NEXRAD echos by the time I reached 2000 MSL. I'm wondering if I need to window mount the receiver antenna as well.

To do that, does anyone know exactly where I can get the correct 3 ft. mini-coax cable with the correct connectors to remote-mount the little duckie antenna to a window? A link to the right product on the web would be great...

One other thing: There is a pretty loud and annoying pop-pop-pop interference getting into my radios from the "squitter" bursts from the transceiver. Has anyone else noticed this, and what has been tried to minimize or eliminate it?

 
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9/4/2013 3:18 PM
 

Elliott,

As we discussed, try repositioning the Transmit antenna and the Mono Pole Antenna away from between the seats. You might also try switching the antennas and using the Blade for the Receive and repositioning the Mono Pole with a Small Coax over to the other side of the window.

As a final option and one that I'd suggest. Pick up another Blade antenna from SkyGuardTWX, they are like $32 and use one for the Transmit and one for the Receiver. Then just play with the placement of the Transmit antenna to reduce or eliminate the pop-pop-pop. That is from interference with either the Antenna or Intercom. Try putting the Transmit Blade at a 45 degree angle to the panel in the back of the plane, this helped mine.

I hope this helps.


Shane Woodson
Vice President | Adventure Pilot LLC.
 
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9/5/2013 2:55 PM
 

Hmm, I completely missed the ICAO setup and don't remember seeing it in the instructions. Could just be my old eyes. What does that do and what is the result of the factory default of all F's?

I flew 11 hours this weekend with the SkyGuard and the 720 and did have a few issues which I will note here.

Leaving KMGY Friday afternoon the 720 had lost the setup for the SkyGuard. While trying to set this up in the air the 720 locked up twice requiring the removal of power and then back to get it to work. The first squawk code went in with no issues then Chicago dumped me back to VFR but the 720 kept getting an error when I tried to change the squawk code. This required a shutdown and re-start to get the 1200 code in the SkyGuard.

Return flight on Tuesday again Chicago dumped me and I couldn't get back to 1200 squawk code. This time I needed two shutdowns and restarts to get the SkyGuard to respond.

On arrival back to KMGY the dreaded red airplane showed up less than a mile behind me when turning final, the red triangle was not moving the same direction as I was so I couldn'd be sure that it was a ghost of me or not. It was however turning final in the same space I was occupying. Eventually it went away so I am pretty sure it was a ghost. Yes ghost detection is set to on.

I really would like to set this up in the back of the airplane to clear my glare sheild and I know I can buy the blade antenna for the transmit but do I need to get a couple for the receive as well?

 
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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly Owners Q&AiFly Owners Q&AHow to set up SkyGuard TWX ?(iFly 720 with SkyGuard TWX + AHRS) How to set up SkyGuard TWX ?(iFly 720 with SkyGuard TWX + AHRS)