LX Navigation Era 57 User manual

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 1 of 52

LX Era

User’s manual

(version 0.9H)

Refers to LX Era 57/80 FW version 0.9H

For standalone use and for use in an LX Zeus configuration.

Tkalska ulica 10

SI 3000 Celje

Tel.: 00 386 3 490 46 70

Fax.: 00 386 3 490 46 71

info@lxnavigation.si

www.lxnavigation.com

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 2 of 52

CONTENTS

PART ONE –INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................4

1.1 Preamble .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

1.3 Operation ................................................................................................................................................................. 7

PART TWO –INSTALLATION.................................................................................................................................................8

2.1 Mechanical installation.................................................................................................................................................... 8

2.2 Pneumatic connections ................................................................................................................................................... 8

2.3 Electrical installation........................................................................................................................................................ 9

2.4 External switch installation ........................................................................................................................................... 10

2.5 Installation options ........................................................................................................................................................ 11

Configurations...................................................................................................................................................................... 11

LX Era –OUDIE ................................................................................................................................................................. 11

LX Era –Flarm .................................................................................................................................................................. 11

LX Era –Flarm –OUDIE.................................................................................................................................................... 11

LX Era –Flarm –OUDIE –2nd seat –2nd OUDIE............................................................................................................... 12

Wirings for radio .............................................................................................................................................................. 13

2.6 Update procedure ......................................................................................................................................................... 14

2.7 Technical specifications................................................................................................................................................. 14

PART THREE –INTERFACE..................................................................................................................................................15

Front panel interface ........................................................................................................................................................... 15

PART FOUR –SOFTWARE...................................................................................................................................................18

4Main pages.................................................................................................................................................................. 18

4.1 Vario page .............................................................................................................................................................. 20

4.2 Thermal assistant page.......................................................................................................................................... 21

4.3 Flarm radar page.................................................................................................................................................... 22

Flarm select............................................................................................................................................................ 22

Flarm warning ........................................................................................................................................................ 23

4.4 TP navigation page................................................................................................................................................. 23

4.5 Airport navigation page......................................................................................................................................... 24

4.6 Task navigation page ............................................................................................................................................. 25

4.7 G-Force page.......................................................................................................................................................... 26

4.8 GPS info page ......................................................................................................................................................... 27

4.9 Logbook / statistic page......................................................................................................................................... 27

Logbook ............................................................................................................................................................. 27

4.10 Statistics ................................................................................................................................................................. 28

4.11 Setup....................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Pilot................................................................................................................................................................ 29

Vario/SC......................................................................................................................................................... 30

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 3 of 52

Polar .............................................................................................................................................................. 31

Units .............................................................................................................................................................. 32

Indicators ...................................................................................................................................................... 33

Logger............................................................................................................................................................ 34

Warnings ....................................................................................................................................................... 34

Voice.............................................................................................................................................................. 35

Transfer ......................................................................................................................................................... 36

Inputs............................................................................................................................................................. 39

NMEA............................................................................................................................................................ 40

Pages ............................................................................................................................................................ 41

Password ....................................................................................................................................................... 41

Info ................................................................................................................................................................ 41

Shutdown ...................................................................................................................................................... 42

PART FIVE –CONNECTIVITY...............................................................................................................................................43

5Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module ............................................................................................................................................ 43

5.1 Pairing with PNA and Android devices ................................................................................................................. 43

5.2 Supported data transfers ...................................................................................................................................... 43

5.3 Usage...................................................................................................................................................................... 43

6User port..................................................................................................................................................................... 43

6.1 Supported data transfers ...................................................................................................................................... 44

7SD card ........................................................................................................................................................................ 44

Additional information ......................................................................................................................................................44

PART FIVE –FLYING WITH ERA ..........................................................................................................................................47

Flight preparation on ground .............................................................................................................................................. 47

Before take off ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47

During flight.......................................................................................................................................................................... 47

Set QNH............................................................................................................................................................................ 47

Wind calculation .............................................................................................................................................................. 47

Influence of wind in final glide........................................................................................................................................ 47

Event function.................................................................................................................................................................. 48

Task start .......................................................................................................................................................................... 48

After landing......................................................................................................................................................................... 48

Downloading flights ......................................................................................................................................................... 48

Revision history.................................................................................................................................................................49

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 4 of 52

PART ONE – INTRODUCTION

1.1 Preamble

Why LX Navigation?

LX Navigation is one of the oldest glider navigation brands. Its founders started experimenting with glider

computers way back in the 70's and the Company has been working on improving your flight performance

ever since.

Throughout the last 40 years or so it has been working on instruments that most pilots will have used at

some time. In fact our equipment can be found in almost any gliding club!

Our equipment has always been ground-breaking.

Our motto?

Be the first. Be the best. Be different.

Why Era?

Because Era is the latest breakthrough in the world of electronic variometers. The 3.5’’ large transflective

LCD display will show you the way when flying tasks, cross-country flights, or just plain airfield soaring.

With the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module inside, you are stepping into the age of connectivity. The Era of

connectivity, if you will.

Always know your position and heading, with clearly visible lift or sink, thanks to our gradient digital needle.

The ERA 80 is a miniature package that includes everything a glider pilot needs, from navigation, to statistics,

AHRS, G-meter, up to the very root of this device –the vario function. All this comes with a backup battery

and IGC certified logger. What more do you need?

Devices

We offer a wide range of instruments suitable for both club and competition soaring.

Our systems combine two components:

First, a glider computer (LX Zeus) which is used for calculating and displaying all of the key information used

by pilots. This glider computer is the brain of the operation.

The second part of the system is a variometer (Era, Helios, and Era). Its job is to gather the information

which the Zeus uses. The vario has pressure connections as well as the GPS antenna connection which is

required for IGC logs.

There is a wide variety of choice for varios and for LX Zeus display sizes.

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 5 of 52

All our varios are standalone devices which can be used without a glider computer for displaying flight

parameters such as final glide information, Speed Command (SC) as well as basic navigation. Our varios also

have an internal battery which means that your IGC logs do not depend on your glider`s batteries.

System extensions (second seat unit, remote control (LX Joy), compass, NavBox, MOP, Flap sensor, AHRS ...)

are also possible. Everything is connected using a CAN bus (single cable for power and data). All connections

are plug and play, which means no specialist is required to install the system.

1.2 Introduction

The LX Era is an “all-in one” standalone speed-to-fly variometer, flight recorder, final glide calculator and

navigation system with an internal backup battery, audio warnings, vario beeps and voice messages.

The unit is capable of providing APT (airport), TP (turnpoint) and TSK (task) navigation on three dedicated

navigational pages. Navigation pages feature Navboxes showing bearing to point, track, distance and final

glide with airspace shown graphically, airports and turnpoints.

The vario is designed to fit a standard 80mm aviation cut-out hole. It is able to supply PDA/PNA units with 5

V/500 mA and 3.3 V/100 mA output on User output connector.

LX Era has built-in high precision digital sensors based on latest MEMS technology for altitude, vario, speed,

3-axis gyro and 3-axis accelerometer sensors. A minimum sampling rate of 100 Hz is applied to all sensors.

The digital needle can be assigned to show one of multiple parameters (vario, netto, g-force, speed command

etc.). By default, it is shows vario value.

As an integral part, it has a 3.5” sunshine readable transflective LCD display to show all user defined data

during flight. For accessing all system options, two rotary/push knobs are used. A voice module is also built in

for audio warnings.

A double seater installation is possible by installing an LX Era Repeater and connecting it to the system via a

CAN bus.

An integral IGC approved flight recorder with ENL level detector will record flight to internal solid-state

memory (8GB). All flights can be copied to an external SD card after flight.

For backup and safety reasons, it has an internal battery which will provide power to the Era for three to five

hours after the main power supply is disconnected. The integral charger will charge the backup battery when

external power supply is connected (12V).

LX Era features are:

- 3.5˝ transflective technology sunlight readable display

- Integrated G-meter (g-forces recorder)

- 3-axis gyroscope

- 3-axis accelerometers

- 50ch GPS receiver as an integral part of the system

- Completely new design using latest pressure transducers technology

- Extremely fast vario data acquisition

- Rotary knob with push function, for simple and effective handling

- Nearly unlimited memory space for flight recorder

- ENL (Environment Noise Level) sensor

- 5 user defined status inputs (SC, VP, gear, brakes and ballast)

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 6 of 52

- OAT probe input (outside air temperature)

- Internal beeper (for Flarm warning)

- Flarm port (input of Flarm data)

- User port for PDA/PNA/Radio/transponder, supplies navigation and Flarm data to PNA/PDA

- Bluetooth interface

- Voice module as an integrated part of the system

- CAN Bus, for connection to LX Zeus or other LX devices.

- External SD Card interface, for firmware updates, flight downloads and TP/TSK/APT/Airspace

transfers

- Standard 80/57 mm size

- The unit can be used as stand-alone, or as a part of LX Zeus system

- Built-in rechargeable battery provides three to five hours of autonomy

- Internal battery (charged from the instrument power supply)

- Pre-loaded polar database

Functions:

- Variometer, TE compensation (TE probe or electronic compensation).

- Speed-to-fly function

- Final glide calculator based on GPS data (for TP and TSK)

- Complete TP/APT/TSK navigation with airspace information and warnings

- High level IGC approved flight recorder

- Flarm radar screen

- Thermal assistant screen

- System extensions: Second seat configuration, Remote control operation (LX Joy)

- Logbook

- Flight information with Barograph

- Multi pilot support

- Accurate wind calculation in straight flight and circling

- Voice alerts

- User warnings

The term "back-up mode" will be used in this manual to define the situation where main power is lost in

flight and the LX Era is used as part of the LX Zeus system. The LX Zeus will turn off, and the LX Era will use

its internal backup battery to continue working. All functions of the LX Era are operational in backup mode

so the pilot can safely navigate back to home or complete the task.

LX Era can be used in two different configurations:

- As a standalone: LX Era provides a vario navigation system and has all its options active. The unit

will turn on when the enter push/rotary knob is pressed.

- LX Zeus configuration: LX Era serves as the vario system controlled from LX Zeus. The unit will turn

on automatically when the main switch (Zeus) is turned on. Flarm radar settings and thermal

assistant settings are set on LX Era while all other settings are controlled by settings on the LX Zeus.

Some options are disabled on the LX Era (setup, task edit) but all options become active when

backup mode is detected.

Unit has the capability to be updated to any later FW release free of charge. (see: www.lxnavigation.si)

When used as a standalone system please refer to Setup/Transfer/Update to learn how to update the

system.

When used as part of a LX Zeus configuration, the LX Zeus will automatically update LX Era if required to

latest version, so no extra action is required.

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 7 of 52

1.3 Operation

Switching the unit on

There are two different ways of turning the unit on.

Standalone units are turned on by pressing the lower push/rotary knob until the LX logo appears.

Varios used alongside a Zeus are turned on automatically when the main unit (the Zeus) is turned on.

The device name with serial number and software version information will follow after the logo appears. After

the boot procedure, the initial setup with pilot selection and elevation/QNH setup will be shown. If the device

is used with the LX Zeus, the initial setup screen does not appear, since the initial setup is done on the LX Zeus

unit.

Switching the unit off

When on the ground (in this situation the flight recorder will not be running), disconnecting the main power

supply will turn it off. LX Era will start to count down 3 seconds before it turns itself off. You can also turn the

unit off by going to the Setup page and scrolling down to Shut down. After selecting the shutdown option, you

will be asked to confirm. After the confirmation, the unit will perform a 3 second countdown and then turn

off.

In flight mode (in this situation the LX Era detects IAS and the flight recorder will be running) it will not switch

off until the flight has ended, unless the Shutdown option in Setup menu is used. Otherwise, the flight will end

automatically 10 min after landing or if manually selected by the user.

To manually end the flight, refer to the instructions found in the statistics page section.

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 8 of 52

PART TWO – INSTALLATION

2.1 Mechanical installation

LX Era fits in a standard 80 or 57 mm instrument hole so no extra cut out is required. To fit LX Era into the

instrument panel, unscrew the two mounting screws (black) with a screwdriver and remove the two rotary

knobs.

To remove the rotary knobs do not use force. First, remove the press-in cover to access the screw. Loosen

the screw and pull off the knob. Place the LX Era in the hole in the instrument panel and first screw in the

two black screws and then install the two rotary knobs. Do not forget to tighten the screw of each fixing

knob and put the press-in covers back on.

2.2 Pneumatic connections

Three pressure connectors are fitted to the back of LX Era. A label shows their functions.

Ptot = Pitot or Total pressure

TE = TE probe

Pst = Static

Electronic TE compensation schematics (Set TE 100%)

TE… Static

Pst… Static

Ptot… Pitot or Total pressure

TE tube installation schematics (Set TE 0%)

TE... TE probe

Pst... Static

Ptot... Pitot or Total pressure

Document Name:

LX Era 57/80 user’s manual

Version: 0.9H

Page 9 of 52

2.3 Electrical installation

Pin out on all connectors:

Pin 1 to pin 6 or 8 (on picture from left to right).

User port (RJ11 –6pin connector) Flarm port (RJ11 –6pin connector)

Pin number

Description

12 V out

Not connected

RS 232 data in

RS 232 data out

GND

INPUT (RJ11 –6pin connector) CAN port (RJ45 –8pin connector)

Pin number

Description

Input 1

Input 2

Input 3

Input 4

Input 5

Common ground (GND)

SD card port (RJ11 –6pin connector)

Not in use, use the microSD card slot on the front panel.

GPS antenna

Connect the external GPS antenna to this connector. The Era must have this external antenna connected all

the time, otherwise the internal flight recorder will not work.

Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna

Connect the external Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna to this connector. The Era must have an external antenna

connected all the time, otherwise Wi-Fi/Bluetooth will have no range.

SPOT antenna

The SPOT module (which is offered as an option) requires an antenna connection in order to work.

Pin number

Description

12 V out

Not used

GND

RS 232 data in

RS 232 data out

GND

Pin number

Description

12 V

CAN_L

CAN_H

GND

BT/WIFI Antenna

SPOT antenna

Pin 1

Audio output

(3.5 mm jack)

OAT input

(2.5 mm jack)

GPS antenna

Pin 1

Pin 6

Main power

Pin 6

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