Cambridge Aero Explorer™ for Windows® Version 1.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Copyright Copyright© 2001 by Cambridge Aero Instruments All Rights Reserved First Edition 2001 Trademarks Aero Explorer is a trademark of Cambridge Aero Instruments. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are owned by their respective holders. Mailing address: Cambridge Aero Instruments, Inc. 1565 Dancy Blvd. Horn Lake, MS. 38637 USA Shipping address: Cambridge Aero Instruments, Inc.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction................................................................ 1 Overview of the Program ................................................................................... 1 Terminology ...................................................................................................... 1 Customer Support ............................................................................................. 2 Chapter 2.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide File Format...................................................................................................... 31 IGC – File Format...................................................................................... 31 Special Use Airspace File Format..............................................................
Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 1. Introduction Overview of the Program This manual explains how to use the Cambridge Aero Instruments flight management software, Cambridge Aero Explorer™ . This program is a powerful tool that lets you manipulate, view and analyze your flights graphically using a simple point and click interface. Cambridge Aero Explorer also facilitates work with navigation point databases and special use airspace files.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide format. Files with the .igc extension are in a standard format defined by the IGC (International Gliding Commission). GPS-NAV - A Cambridge Aero product such as the model 20 GPS receiver/data logger. A GPS unit stores a navpoint database, pilot preferences, and flight logs recorded by the recorder. The Cambridge Aero Explorer program can read and update all information stored in the Cambridge GPS-NAV units. Model 20, Model 25 - Cambridge-Aero GPS-NAV products.
Chapter 2. Getting Started Chapter 2. Getting Started Installing the Software From CD-ROM 1. 2. Insert the Cambridge Aero Explorer CD-ROM your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The installation program starts if your computer is configured to automatically run the CD-ROM install program. If the installation program doesn’t start, double-click the My Computer icon normally located in the top left corner of the Windows desktop screen. Double-click the CD-ROM drive icon, and then double-click the Setup.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Icons in the Recorder and PC Panes The PC and Recorder panes of the Explorer bar allow you to quickly and easily find, organize and manage the files you need to work with your Cambridge recorder. When working with these panes, you will see numerous entries in a cascading tree structure. Each entry has an icon and a label associated with it.
Chapter 2. Getting Started PC pane icons Entry Workspace Icon Directory Folder Navpoints SUA files Log in IGC Format Log in CAI Format Description Represents a directory (folder) on the computer’s hard drive or a removable drive or flashcard. Double-clicking the icon expands or collapses the folders in this workspace so you can see its contents. The right and left arrow keys also expand or collapse the workspace. Represents a folder on your hard drive, removable drive, or compact flashcard.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Copying a file You can copy navpoint, special use airspace, or flight log files between different workspaces on the computer. Press and hold the Ctrl key while you click and drag the file to the desired folder. Command Menu Operations The menu bar in the Cambridge Aero Explorer contains all the commands that you use to accomplish tasks in the program.
Chapter 2. Getting Started 2. 3. 4. Double click on the “My Documents” folder on the Desktop to open it. Once opened right click in that folder and from the New menu, select Folder. Type in “Cambridge Files” as the name for this new folder. Start the Cambridge Aero Explorer and from the File menu, choose New Workspace… . From the browse for Folder dialog, select the “Cambridge Files” folder under the “My Documents” entry. Then click OK. 5.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Program Setup Navpoint files Introduction Navpoints are navigation points used by soaring pilots during their flights. They are defined by latitude, longitude and elevation. They also have attributes to describe how the pilot may use the point. Each navpoint can have one or more attributes. The following table describes the meaning of each navpoint attribute: Attribute Description The home airfield for this navpoint database.
Chapter 2. Getting Started Editing Right click on any navpoint file in the Navpoint folder in the PC pane and select Edit from the menu. This opens the navpoint-editing dialog box. The navpoints that make up this file are initially listed in ascending numeric order. However, you can sort the list by clicking on the column title bar to sort by the value in that column. For example, if you click the Latitude bar at the top of the column, the program resorts the list by latitude.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Downloading navpoints from the Internet Many pilots prefer to use lists of navpoints that have already been created for a favorite soaring site. The most well known web site to download navpoints from is the “Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange“ The following instructions are applicable to that site only. To download a navpoint database from this site, follow these steps: 1. Start the Cambridge Aero Explorer.
Chapter 2. Getting Started 6. Now you will see a form asking where to save these navpoints on your computer. Click on the drop down list next to “Save in” and select the folder you saw in step 2. 7. 8. After selecting the correct folder, select “Save”. Now restart the Cambridge Aero Explorer, and open the Navpoint folder you identified in step 1. The navpoints you downloaded from the Internet should be visible there.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. First select the navpoint list you wish to use for task creation. Select either the list loaded on the recorder, or choose a database already stored on your computer. For the Use Navpoints from recorder option to work, you must have a recorder connected to your PC which has valid navpoints stored in it. In the Turnpoints: window type the numbers of the turnpoints you will be flying as they appear in the database list. For example, the 82.
Chapter 2. Getting Started 3. If you want start and finish gates, select Display Start Gate and Display Finish Gate. Then select the gate definition by clicking Define Gate for each. This puts the start and finish gates in the list. The ID of the start point in the list will have an “S” after it in the first column. Similarly, the finish point will have an “F” after the ID in the first column. 4. Enter a Turnpoint Radius. This radius is used to display a black circle around each turnpoint.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Displaying a flight In the lower left pane of the Cambridge-Aero Explorer, click on the + sign next to the folder named Flights and then click on the + sign next to the folder named Demo. Click and drag any flight icon in this folder to the right hand display pane. The top flight in the Demo folder was completed on April 29, 2000 at Caesar Creek Soaring Club.
Chapter 2. Getting Started The navpoints that make up the caesrs98 file appear in the Plot pane. Click on the button with the magnifying glass and red square on the toolbar. Then click and drag in the Display pane to draw a window around a group of navpoints. When you release the mouse button, the view zooms in on these points. Displaying airspace Click the + next to the folder named Airspace to expand the list of airspaces. Then click and drag the airspace icon named Caesar into the display pane.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Selecting the Display Start Gate and Display Finish Gate checkboxes enables these features in the visual display of a task. Clicking Define Start Gate or Define Finish Gate allows you to select the start and finish gate parameters. Click Define Start Gate. The default parameters for the Start Gate Settings are standard for most contests; however you can change as desired. Click OK to accept the start gate definition and return to the Task Display dialog box.
Chapter 2. Getting Started In this instance, Line is selected for the Type of finish gate. The default setting is cylinder. Click OK to accept these parameters and return to the Task Display dialog box. Below Turnpoints is a text box where you can enter the turnpoint numbers for the task. To select turnpoints from a list, click Browse next to the text box to see a list of turnpoint possibilities for this flight. Click turnpoint number ten, Highland Co.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Chapter 3. Communication with Data Recorder Connecting to recorder Before you can access the information in your Cambridge logger, it must be connected to your computer. To connect your recorder to the Cambridge Aero Explorer, follow these steps: 1. Connect your recorder to your computer with a serial cable. 2. Make sure your recorder is turned on. Some recorders will need to have power supplied to it from either an A/C adapter or external battery.
Chapter 3. Communication with Data Recorder CAUTION! When the configuration is changed, any logs already stored in the recorder are destroyed. Log Manager From the Recorder menu, choose Log Manager. This dialog displays the flight log contents of your data recorder. By far the easiest and most convenient way to access your flight logs is with the Recorder pane. However, the Log Manager can also be used. By default, the log manager downloads your files to your default flight log folder.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Transferring data to the recorder prior to taking off When flying at a new location, you may want to load a new navpoint database for that location into your recorder. To transfer a new set of navpoints to your recorder, follow these steps. 1. Connect your recorder to the computer with a serial cable. Make sure your recorder is turned on. 2. Make sure your navpoint database file is visible in the PC pane.
Chapter 3. Communication with Data Recorder then that folder will automatically visible as a workspace in the PC pane. Similarly, it your flashcard contains a folder named Flights this will also be visible as a workspace in the PC pane. Transferring data to the recorder via a flashcard. Navpoint, SUA and flight log files can be transferred to a Cambridge recorder that is permanently mounted in the glider using a flashcard.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Chapter 4. Flight Display Introduction Your Cambridge GPS-NAV or similar product records data as you fly and saves a series of GPS location fixes in a flight log. Cambridge Aero Explorer allows you to view these flights on your computer. Some features available when displaying your flights are: o You can use the mouse, mouse wheel or keyboard to control the display of your flight trace.
Chapter 4. Flight Display For example, if you enter 5, then only the most recent 5 minutes of the trace is displayed. Show fix points - Display individual GPS fixes as small circles in the flight trace when selected. These circles are often not visible unless you zoom in on a small area of the flight. Different colors for climbs and descents - Use different colors on the flight for descent and ascent when selected Reset - Reset the Plot pane scale to the default setting.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Zoom Changing the scale of the displayed flight is “zooming in” (more detail, less area) and “zooming out” (less detail. more area). The zoom in (magnifying glass with + button) and zoom out in (magnifying glass with button) commands simply increase and decrease the viewing scale of the displayed flight. However, the most powerful way to zoom in on a flight is to zoom by drawing a small window around the area of interest. To use this feature, follow these steps. 1.
Chapter 4. Flight Display If you try to display two flights flown on different days, the program displays a message advising you of this. After you click OK, the program displays the flights.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Chapter 5. Appendix The Appendix contains additional reference material that you may find helpful. It includes a listing of menu commands, right-click menu commands, troubleshooting information, and a description of selected file formats. Menu Commands The menu bar in the Cambridge Aero Explorer contains all the commands that you use to accomplish tasks in the program.
Chapter 5. Appendix Log Manager - Display a window that facilitates transferring flight logs to Cambridge Aero Explorer. Actions menu Display - Graphically display the selected file in the Plot pane. Overlay - Display the selected file with the contents of the Plot pane. Edit - Edit the selected file contents. Transfer to PC - Move the selected log or navpoints from the recorder to the PC. Transfer to Recorder - Move a selected file to the data recorder.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide About Cambridge Aero Explorer - Display the build date and version of your software. Have this information ready if you need to contact Cambridge for support. Right-Click Menu Commands When you right-click an icon or folder in the PC or Recorder pane, the program displays a menu of commands. The menu is context-sensitive, which means the commands on the menu apply specifically to the right-clicked icon.
Chapter 5. Appendix Open… - This menu will open the folder that the workspace references. This will let you see all the files in this folder, not just the ones the Cambridge Aero Explorer can recognize. This is useful to help you troubleshoot the problem of having an Airspace or navpoint file in the folder that is not showing up in the PC pane. Import File… - This menu will prompt you to browse the contents of your computer to select a log, SUA or navpoint file to copy into your workspace.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide Edit… - For SUA files, this will open the file in Microsoft Notepad. With Notepad you can view the contents of the file and make simple changes. For navpoint files, this command will open the file with the navpoint management utility. Delete - This will remove the file from your computer and send it to the Recycling Bin.
Chapter 5. Appendix 2. 3. 4. 5. ActiveSync and HotSync are two such programs that must be closed if connection problems occur. Make sure your recorder has power and is turned on. Make sure your com ports are enabled. Some laptops have both an infrared port and a serial port, only one of which can be used at a time. Make sure the serial port is enabled. Try different COM ports. To change the COM port in the Cambridge Aero Explorer, choose Options from the Tools menu, then select the General tab.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # PROHIBITED DANGER OTHER TRAINING ZONE TRAFFIC INFO P D O Z I The latter two are not currently in use, but may be used at some future date. POINT= This is always followed by a Lat/Long position, for example POINT=N524033 W0014380. It is important that the construction is followed exactly.
Chapter 5. Appendix # You can use this file to draw any shape you wish, for instance you # could draw your Base Airfield's ATZ or Runway. The following sample # data draws the Main Runway at Lasham. # # NOTE: POINTs etc. are in the format (d)ddmmss [degrees, minutes, # seconds and not (d)ddmm.mm [decimal minutes] as in previous # issues.
Cambridge Aero Explorer User’s Guide
