SkyEcho 2 - ADSB light doesn't come on...

[coljones]

7 hours ago, kgwilson said:

2.4 amps x 5 volt output is 12 watts so Uavionix are being conservative & older aircraft systems are unlikely to be able to achieve that. I'd test the output amps from the power supply at cruise RPM with everything else on to see what current can be obtained. The cable size will also limit the output as well as the fuse but unless it is very fine cable (doubtful) most wiring would be able to achieve a minimum of 5 amps so long as the electrical system can deliver that. 5 amps x 5 volts is 25 watts. Cigarette lighter with USB outlets that can deliver QC3 at 25 watts are very cheap on websites like AliExpress, often less that $5.00 & include a digital output display.

uavionix claims a 12 hour duration. We know (but I forget) the battery specs but that should indicate the battery drain over the batteries rated capacity. From that you should be able to work out (roughly) the current supply required to keep the batteries floating at full capacity.

[PapaFox]

There's an interesting discussion on another forum looking at the design inadequacies and power requirements of the SE2. Are we allowed to post a link to another forum??? Short summary of findings were that the Skyecho only draws up to 1A as maximum charge rate (limited by its internal charge controller), dropping to 0.6A when the battery is fully charged. The internal batteries are 2x3250mAh. 6500mAh capacity total with 12hr functional capacity means its drawing around 540mAh, so 1A input should still provide enough additional power for recharging the batteries. Add in that the USB socket looks like a USB-C, but doesn't confirm to USB specifications (the SE2 actually provides power out through that socket while turned on). I looked into all this when my first unit totally failed after only about 10 hours of total flight time with regular charges between flights.

[Blueadventures]

20 minutes ago, PapaFox said:

There's an interesting discussion on another forum looking at the design inadequacies and power requirements of the SE2. Are we allowed to post a link to another forum??? Short summary of findings were that the Skyecho only draws up to 1A as maximum charge rate (limited by its internal charge controller), dropping to 0.6A when the battery is fully charged. The internal batteries are 2x3250mAh. 6500mAh capacity total with 12hr functional capacity means its drawing around 540mAh, so 1A input should still provide enough additional power for recharging the batteries. Add in that the USB socket looks like a USB-C, but doesn't confirm to USB specifications (the SE2 actually provides power out through that socket while turned on). I looked into all this when my first unit totally failed after only about 10 hours of total flight time with regular charges between flights.

Never been an issue to post relevant links to information aviation relevant.  Thanks for info.  Cheers.

[skippydiesel]

Have just "paired" my  SkyEcho 2 with my iPad mini - almost no problems.

 

Almost: Initially the two devices would not communicate. Found the 'FIX" on another Forum - Switch iPad to Aeroplane Mode. All good after this. Dont forget to switch off Airplane Mode.

 

This Forum conversation has been very informative - my thanks to all.

 

May be a few days before I can "test" in aircraft - weather not the greatest.😈

[PapaFox]

Here's the link to the UK forum I was referring to 

https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=119153

7 pages long, but a bit of an eye- opener, considering how popular these units are

[coljones]

There are 2 (or more) charger standards 

1. QC - Qualcomm

2. PD - Apple?

The SE2 conforms to the QC standard.

Apples conform to the PD standard.

 

If you want to "properly" power an SE2 (or Samsung kit) choose a QC compliant power pack.

 

I have attached pics of 2 car chargers that have QC compliant ports and std USB -A ports. The white one also supports IOS but I'm not sure about the standard

[Bosi72]

4 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Have just "paired" my  SkyEcho 2 with my iPad mini - almost no problems.

 

Almost: Initially the two devices would not communicate. Found the 'FIX" on another Forum - Switch iPad to Aeroplane Mode. All good after this. Dont forget to switch off Airplane Mode.

 

This Forum conversation has been very informative - my thanks to all.

 

May be a few days before I can "test" in aircraft - weather not the greatest.😈

I have iPad mini (cellular) and Aeroplane mode is not required. It is actually switched off because I want to see both adsb and internet traffic at the same time (green and blue arrows in avplan).  

[kgwilson]

USB PD stands for Universal serial bus power delivery. It has nothing to do with Apple or iphones. It is a universal standard that delivers 5 amps at varying voltage inputs with a maximum out put of up to 240 watts. Many low input devices will not communicate with PD chargers including the SE2.

 

QC3 is indeed a Qualcomm proprietry product with less output at about 36 watts. QC 4 & QC 5 are much faster & can charge at astonishing speeds like charging a mobile or tablet from 0 to 50% in 5 minutes.

 

 

[skippydiesel]

My aircraft has a Panel mount - Guardian Avionics, "Dual USB-A, 2.7 amps / 5 VDC Output / For 9 - 48 VDC Systems"

 

What thinks the Forum - can I charge my SkyEcho from the Guardian Avionics USB A plug(s)?  If so will this be with the SE2 on/off?

 

I am waiting on a response from both uVionics & Guardian on the above questions.

 

 

Edited November 12 by skippydiesel

[Thruster88]

I have always just used my Samsung phone charger for the SkyEcho2. 2 amps at 5 volts out put. I only charge it at home.

[kgwilson]

13 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

My aircraft has a Panel mount - Guardian Avionics, "Dual USB-A, 2.7 amps / 5 VDC Output / For 9 - 48 VDC Systems"

 

What thinks the Forum - can I charge my SkyEcho from the Guardian Avionics USB A plug(s)?  If so will this be with the SE2 on/off?

 

I am waiting on a response from both uVionics & Guardian on the above questions.

 

 

Based on some other comments (not Uavionix) it should be OK. Before you plug in Check the current battery charging status by entering 192.168.4.1/stats in the browser of your connected device & write that down. After you get back and disconnect do the same and compare the values. If the first reading is higher than the second then you are using more power than your charger can deliver. If the second reading is higher then the SE2 is consuming less than the charger is replacing.

 

The only other thing to keep in mind is that you should discharge the battery to 40% - 50% every now and then to prolong its life.

[skippydiesel]

uAvionix answering a question on SE2 orientation;

 

"A vertical orientation is advised to provide the correct polarisation of the ADS-B antenna. It will work in a horizontal orientation but the ADS-B range will be reduced, though we have never quantified by how much. Our recommendation remains to use a vertical orientation if you intend to transmit ADS-B. The GPS receiver is tolerant of a horizontal orientation."

[Philster2001]

So, once I received my ICAO hex code from CASA for my Jabiru J170 and configured it in the Skyecho 2, the ADSB light now comes on and flashes consistently after power up.
 

But I still can’t see myself on FlightRadar24 - does flight radar use ADSB or does it only show aircraft that have a normal transponder as well? My Jab is not transponder equipped.

 

cheers

[Philster2001]

So, once I received my ICAO hex code from CASA for my Jabiru J170 and configured it in the Skyecho 2, the ADSB light now comes on and flashes consistently after power up.
 

But I still can’t see myself on FlightRadar24 - does flight radar use ADSB or does it only show aircraft that have a normal transponder as well? My Jab is not transponder equipped.

 

cheers

[Bosi72]

11 minutes ago, Philster2001 said:

But I still can’t see myself on FlightRadar24 - does flight radar use ADSB or does it only show aircraft that have a normal transponder as well? My Jab is not transponder equipped.

 

cheers

 

Can you look up yourself on Adsbexchange ?

For example, use the link below, but replace "7cNNNN" with your own hex code.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=7cNNNN

 

If the flight was in the past, click History+ on the left hand side menu, then click Previous UTC Day button. 

 

With regards to FlightRadar24, FlightAware, they are all "massaging/filtering" the data, where Adsbexchange is not.

If you want to be seen on those websites, you will need to send them an email and tell them to include your aircraft in their database.

 

 

 

 

 

[skippydiesel]

Purchased this morning from JayCar for $40 https://www.jaycar.com.au/3a-quick-charge-30-usb-mains-power-adaptor/p/MP3443

 

looks like it will do the job😈

[kgwilson]

It certainly will. Much cheaper from AliExpress but a week for delivery but you will often get QC3 plus PD in the same adaptor & USB A & USB C outlets.

[Red]

2 hours ago, Bosi72 said:

 

 

If you want to be seen on those websites, you will need to send them an email and tell them to include your aircraft in their database.

 

 

 

 

 

It's the other way around, you need to contact them to be omitted.

One possibility for not showing up is lack of nearby receiver coverage

 

[Bosi72]

41 minutes ago, Red said:

It's the other way around, you need to contact them to be omitted.

They can distinguish whether the data is coming from Mode-S-Adsb transponder vs. SkyEcho2. 

In July 2020, the default behaviour was to omit data from SE2 devices.

After sending an email to FlightRadar24 support, my aircraft was added to the database.

 

48 minutes ago, Red said:

One possibility for not showing up is lack of nearby receiver coverage

This is also likely possible, just checking both FlightRadar24 and FlightAware have coverage in Esperance (YESP). 

AdsbExchange does not have a coverage there, so disregard.

 

 

[409tonner]

My aircraft showed up on flight radar 24 the first time I used my Sky echo . I had a friend check for me. It didn’t show aircraft type but showed reg # RAAus . 

[Red]

3 hours ago, Bosi72 said:

They can distinguish whether the data is coming from Mode-S-Adsb transponder vs. SkyEcho2. 

In July 2020, the default behaviour was to omit data from SE2 devices.

 

 

 

 

 

Source  for this fact?

[Bosi72]

1 hour ago, Red said:

Source  for this fact?

 

At high level, raw Mode S (non-adsb) data packets contain barometric data vs SkyEcho only sends the GPS data.

However, there are fields in the data packet (in particular DF18) that can tell whether the data is coming from transponder or EC-device.

https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/skyecho2-and-missing-data/87686/

Read responses from obj - FlightAware staff.

 

With regards to adding my aircraft to FR24 database, it is in personal correspondence with FR24 support from July 2020.

 

Edited November 13 by Bosi72

[Philster2001]

Thanks, I think I’m still confused as ever about the FlightRadar24. Maybe a better question to ask is - is the flashing ADSB light the correct operation of that light or should the light be solid green like the GPS light? Of course the user manual has nothing about the operation of the lights! 
 

The reason that it originally came to my attention was that a commercial flight inbound for Albany ( flying doctor I think) said they couldn’t see me in the circuit, and that made me wonder whether it was because my Skyecho 2 wasn’t configured correctly….

[coljones]

35 minutes ago, Philster2001 said:

Thanks, I think I’m still confused as ever about the FlightRadar24. Maybe a better question to ask is - is the flashing ADSB light the correct operation of that light or should the light be solid green like the GPS light? Of course the user manual has nothing about the operation of the lights! 
 

The reason that it originally came to my attention was that a commercial flight inbound for Albany ( flying doctor I think) said they couldn’t see me in the circuit, and that made me wonder whether it was because my Skyecho 2 wasn’t configured correctly….

Did he have ADSB in or was he relying on a 3rd party product like flightradar24 or your operation of an EFB being broadcast to other users of that particular EFB system?

[Bosi72]

6 hours ago, Philster2001 said:

Of course the user manual has nothing about the operation of the lights! 

not true.

 

https://uavionix.com/downloads/skyecho/SkyEcho-User-and-Installation-Guide.pdf

page 26. paragraph 9.3 Indicators