II Morrow Apollo SL60 GPS readout/COM radio Ver 1.1
New with this version:
Some flightsimmers discovered a "bug" in the FS2002 GPS. The value TRK for
the flown ground track is not correct. It always shows the heading of the
aircraft not considering the wind. This version of the SL60 calculates
the current wind angel and provides an actually ground track.
Credit:
The SL60 is programmed only with EASYGauge, the WYSIWYG Gauge Editor by
Bluesky Software Development at www.bluesky-net.de. Thanks to Marcel and Steffen
for their great work.
UPS Aviation Technologies description:
The revolutionary slimline SL60 combines the proven performance of II Morrows
high-end products and the customizability of our portable products...all bundled
into a conveniently small 1.3 x 6.25 package.
Two radios in one...a key feature of the SL60 comm. Imagine the ability to
monitor ATIS while never leaving your assigned ATC channel. The SL60 always
gives priority to the active channel, meaning youll never miss a transmission.
With 8 watt transmit power and only 35-watt DC input, the SL is power efficient
and cool running.
Looking for something totally pilot-friendly? The SLs GPS navigator blends
the technology and innovation that has made Apollo the pilots choice.
Building on a sunlight readable display, the eight-channel parallel receiver is
TSO C129 certified for enroute and terminal flight. Mode buttons provide simple
and direct access to the many features characteristic of other Apollo GPS
products. The Apollo SL60 will minimize your workload, automatically nominating
appropriate frequencies throughout your flight plan. This powerful combo offers
the best in innovative features, the highest power output, and a proven sunlight-
readable display.
The return of II Morrows panel mount products is making big news in the world
of nav/comm equipment. The Apollo slimline SL...an amazing amount of power, in
an amazingly small package.
Note:
For further information and comparing the gauge with the original instrument,
visit http://www.upsat.com/dwnlds/sldoc/sl50-60ug.pdf
and download the User Manual for the SL60.
Description:
This gauge is a readout for the FS2002 GPS combined with the COM functions. It
displays the current GPS NAV data from the FS GPS and provides 8 display pages
with GPS CDI needle, minimum safe altitude, flighttime, time in UTC and a
countdown timer. Also messages will be displayed for the countdown timer and GPS
functions.
The data displayed are based on some of the Apollo SL60 NAV pages. It does not
simulate a GPS with database and menu.
This gauge provides the data needed to navigate and fly using the values of the
MSFS GPS in a realistic display. You have to use the FS built-in GPS for
changing GPS modes.
The display, buttons and knobs:
See the picture ExplSL60.bmp which gives an overview of the display pages and
functions.
The display contains 8 pages with the GPS readouts, a CDI to indicate the
desired track to next waypoint, a flighttime/time page and a countdown timer.
The small knob on the left side turns the SL60 on and off. If the instrument is
turned on you will first see test screens for a few seconds. Pushing the NAV
button while test screen shows "Software Test In Progress...", the selftest will
be stopped.
You can have the power switch always set on and use a central avionic circuit
switch in your main panel to set the power of ALL radios in this package.
The <--> button swaps between COM in use and COM standby frequency. Only the
standby frequency can be changed.
The COM button sets the radio to COM mode. The display shows on the left side
the COM frequency in use an the COM standby frequency indicated with a "s".
The NAV button sets the radio to the so called NAV mode, this means that the GPS
functions are active and not that the SL60 provides NAV frequencies in addition.
Only in NAV mode the various display pages are selectable.
The SYS button opens/closes the FS ATC window.
The MSG button let you read the timer and GPS messages. If a message is
generated by the instrument an indicator is blinking above the MSG button.
Pressing the MSG button shows the belonging message. Pressing MSG again removes
the message from the screen.
The D-> button toggles the FS GPS window on and off if GPS window is window02 in
the panel.cfg file.
The SEL button works in the time page and in the countdown timer page. Pressing
SEL starts a blinking cursor for the digits and you can change their values.
The ENT button let you finish the entries of the selected/changed values.
The selector knob at the right side of the radio has two parts: a large knob
and a small knob. Depending on the current mode the knobs have different
functions:
- while in COM mode the large knob increases/decreases the whole digits and the
small knob increases/decreases the fractal digits of the COM standby
frequency.
- while in NAV mode the small knob selects the various display pages forward and
back.
- while in NAV mode on time page or countdown timer page and SEL is pressed, the
large knob changes the cursor position and the small knob changes the values
of the digits.
How to use the course deviation indicator (CDI):
Press NAV and click left/right on the small knob to select the CDI page. Watch
the CDI on the left side of the display while flying. The little aircraft
points always head up TO the next waypoint.
The course deviation stands for the left/right XTrack and is indicated by little
bars on the left or right side of the little aircraft. Each bar represents a
value of 0.5 nm. To intercept the desired track "fly into the bars". On the
left side of the screen the XTrack in nautical miles is displayed.
How the minimum safe altitude works:
In the original instrument there is a database which containes informations
about heights of terrain and obstacles. Because this gauge has no access to
such informations when flying over the FS scenery, we use a little trick to
simulate the minimum safe altitude. FS returnes an internal "radar height"
value meassured from aircraft to ground. This current value plus an addition of
2000 ft gives the minimum safe altitude rounded to the next 100 ft. If you are
proceeding in more or less "flat" terrain an addition of 1000 ft may be
sufficient.
How the flighttime timer works:
The built-in flighttime timer starts automatically when power is on and the
selfstest is finished.
How to change the UTC clock:
Press NAV and click left/right on the small knob to select the flighttime/UTC
page. Press SEL to activate the cursor on the hours position. Click the small
knob left/right to decrement/increment the hours. Click the large knob to set
the cursor over the minutes position. Click the small knob left/right to
decrement/increment the minutes. Press ENT to accept the new adjustment.
How to use the countdown timer:
The built-in countdown timer can count down from 99:59:59 to 00:00:00. To adjust
the timer press NAV and click left/right on the small knob to select the
countdown timer page. Press SEL to activate the cursor.
The default value of 3 minutes is set automatically. Click the small knob
left/right to decrement/increment the minutes. Click the large knob to set the
cursor over the hours or seconds position. Click the small knob left/right to
decrement/increment the digits. Press ENT to accept the timer adjustment. If the
timer has count down to 00:00:00 the message indicator is blinking. Press MSG to
read the message "Countdown Timer Expired".
Notes:
This is version 1.0 of this gauge and if any updates are required I will release
them. Send me an email if anything doesn't work as expected.
This gauge is programmed completely new with EASYGauge, a wonderful easy to use
WYSIWYG gauge editor by Bluesky Software Development. Have a look at
www.bluesky-net.de. It is based upon ideas I got from Ike H Slack,
Coyote Avionics Design, so I will thank Ike here.
Copyright and Distribution:
This gauge is released as Freeware.
Copyright (C) Gerd R. Nehr, GeRoN Brainware
As freeware you are permitted to distribute this archive or the gauges contained
therein subject to the following conditions :
- The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of
the archive. Redistributing this archive with any files removed or modified
is prohibited.
- You can use this gauges in any panel of your own. You may also freely
distribute this gauge, subject to the no money restriction.
- No charge may be made for this archive other than that to cover
the cost of its distribution. If a fee is charged it must be
made clear to the purchaser that the archive is freeware and
that the fee is to cover the distributor's costs of providing
the archive. You may NOT make money with this gauge in
any form. The undersigned asserts his legal and international
right to be recognised as the author of this gauge.
- The authors' rights concerning this archive must be respected.
GeRoN Brainware
Gerd R. Nehr
gnehr@gat24.de