SonexBuilders.net

Some may have heard of this via an EAA email or article. I read the article and decided to give it a try - and it works!

Today I tested it in flight and got traffic and weather on my iPad using ForeFlight. Total investment less than $120 - and you can drop the portable power pack they suggest as it doesn't work.

You can read about it here - and if you think its too technical or difficult, think again. You can now download the disk image they describe to the micro-SD card that comes with the package they recommend and load it. I had this up and working in 45 minutes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/3g7urb/the_11390_adsb_receiver_for_foreflight_or_pretty/?limit=500

Couple more photos. The computer is called a "Rasberry Pi" and it is not much later than an iPhone 4. I temporarily set it on the glareshield and will mount it permanently soon.

The antenna is sitting in the front center of the glareshield. It picked up the ADS-B signal very well. I am sure others can find more creative solutions - this was one man's test of what proved to be an effective system. Weather and traffic with no subscription to XM required.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

Thanks Robbie....

I've ordered my parts and look forward to playing with this. My partner in the 172 and I own a portable receiver now that was $600 ON SPECIAL, stopped working after 2 years, then was another $200 to fix.... once my Sonex is flying it will be nice to have another one... in this case I believe I will install it permanently somewhere. I also ordered the optional $40 Attitude modual... cant wait to get synthetic vision working on WingX all for about $150...

Here is the link to the EAA article about building this device.

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-communities-and-interests/homebuilt-aircraft-and-homebuilt-aircraft-kits/resources-for-while-youre-building/building-articles/instruments-and-avionics/live-weather-and-traffic-for-less-than-$120

Bruce
You indicated that you added the $40 attitude module. I must have missed something, was this an option with the Rasberry Pi or are you talking about a module from somewhere else? I need to add an attitude module on my plane also.
Don

Search eBay for RY835AI, that's the module. It has gps and AHRS built in, $40 plus $6 shipping from Taiwan. I don't have any of it yet, the AHRS/gps ad on still has a few bugs as far as I can tell, but is progressing quickly.

Bruce
Thanks for the info. Looks like a useful item if when it will play nice with the raspberry
Don

got my basic equipment today from Amazon (not counting the AHRS which is on the slow boat from ebay china) and had it up and running and connected to WingX in about 20 minutes... not getting any towers now, but didn't expect too as I get them about 300 agl, will fly with it this weekend and report back. thanks for the heads up Robbie, I had read about this in a couple places, but a "real" person trying it first was just what I needed.

I am writing this up in the November newsletter for the Sonex Builders and Pilots Foundation. I am very interested in other real world experience....


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

I ordered it. Waiting for delivery next week. I'm using fore flight. I'll let you know how it goes.