FAA's new Remote ID and our glider sites!

[Wayne]

I'm pretty sure we can have this rolled out first quarter. We need to duplicate the work David has already completed, so should go fast with his guidance. Currently waiting on regulatory steps, but plenty of other steps we can still focus on.

 

[JJ Colorado]

Are you taking pre-orders?
I'd like to have a couple ready for Spring flying season.

One consideration is the possibility to either power it off of a Rx battery, or possibly use a tiny 350mah 1S battery so the unit is entirely self contained. The reason I'd like the latter is so that I can just move it from model to model at an event if needed with a minimum of hookup. I frankly don't even care if range is less with a 1S, just as long as I can show my plane is "legal" to fly. The only time I expect to actually use the device is if I lose a glider in tall grass or brush.

 

[Wayne]

Sure, that would work. It currently is setup to plug into an open channel on your receiver, but could easily plug a little 1S lipo into it.

 

[TyFlies]

The 1S Lipo idea is a great one. I do have a couple of planes where the receiver is pretty cumbersome to get to. Or could just add a little servo extension into the receivers of all planes. Its usually a little easier to plug into an extension than it is directly into the RX.
For what it's worth, if plugged into an open RX channel, I'd thought about setting it up so that channel can be activated with an on/off tranmitter toggle switch. Would probably just leave it activated all the time while flying, but at least that way you'd have some control over it.

 

[JJ Colorado]

I was thinking of putting one in an RC truck and driving that around the LZ prior to flying session to make a few flight tracks, then leaving it on my dash until I left the field so I could find my way back from the launch. Hmmm, maybe someone can print up a RID key fob to keep it safely stored while providing a useful function. Just trying to think of ways to maximize the utility of these things, and I don't happen to have a dog or a cat.

 

[Red]

The 1S Lipo idea is a great one. I do have a couple of planes where the receiver is pretty cumbersome to get to. Or could just add a little servo extension into the receivers of all planes. Its usually a little easier to plug into an extension than it is directly into the RX.
For what it's worth, if plugged into an open RX channel, I'd thought about setting it up so that channel can be activated with an on/off tranmitter toggle switch. Would probably just leave it activated all the time while flying, but at least that way you'd have some control over it.

I think you'd have to add an extra "switch" in line with the device to cut power. I'm sure there is no PWM to control it.

 

[gp49]

Most/All (?) FRIA sites are now listed on a map ----- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad

 

[Wayne]

Interesting.. Our local SAM club has a huge FRIA space. But since they do freeflight, they do need the space.

Not many slope sites.. In fact only saw 2 in the state of California, but mostly looking for the 50 or so coastal sites I know of.

 

[gp49]

The only slope site I saw is Lichau Soaring - in your neck of the woods. I did not know there is flying going on there still..

 

[Red]

The only slope site I saw is Lichau Soaring - in your neck of the woods. I did not know there is flying going on there still..

My home hill. People do still fly there regularly.

 

[Wayne]

Yep, spotted someone flying there a few months back.

I reached out to a club in Watsonville to see if they might be talked into sponsoring Sunset for a FRIA.

 

[gp49]

Yep, spotted someone flying there a few months back.

I reached out to a club in Watsonville to see if they might be talked into sponsoring Sunset for a FRIA.

I was surprised that the Slot, Coyote and Mission Peak are not on the list (Coyote and Mission are both SBSS flying sites I believe..)

 

[Wayne]

I know they no longer cover Davenport by choice.

I was surprised Torrey Pines had a FRIA and it is not the beach slope we all know. I do understand that many clubs in San Diego were initially denied but on appeal many were awarded a FRIA. Does not look like all of the FRIA for San Diego are on this map yet.

 

[antlerhanger]

I purchased 2 from him . I plug into receiver with a switch in between so I can turn off while I'm working on plane .

Allen

 

[tomleach]

Are you taking pre-orders?
I'd like to have a couple ready for Spring flying season.

One consideration is the possibility to either power it off of a Rx battery, or possibly use a tiny 350mah 1S battery so the unit is entirely self contained. The reason I'd like the latter is so that I can just move it from model to model at an event if needed with a minimum of hookup. I frankly don't even care if range is less with a 1S, just as long as I can show my plane is "legal" to fly. The only time I expect to actually use the device is if I lose a glider in tall grass or brush.

For anyone thinking of using this Remote ID module with a 1s lipo, don't forget that you'll need to change one the connectors on either the lipo or the Remote ID module as they are currently both "female" as they are both designed to plug into a receiver. No big deal, just something to remember. I made a short male-male extension so I had maximum flexibility.
Also, I would recommend the non-remote LED option as the connecter to the remote LED is a bit fragile and really isn't needed since you can "see" the module status on the drone scanner apps (I've been using Drone Scanner, but want to try the Flight Test one since it is supposed to have the ability to store multiple flight tracks). The connector has come off the board on my remote-LED module so I can't see the state of the module, but it still works fine in the app.
Just what I've found so far. Oh, the "find a lost model" feature is pretty good, I tested this after I landed and the scanner app got me to within 3-4 feet in an open landing zone.

 

[Wayne]

The new design will have the LED on the board, and also a connector for those that would like an LED remotely.

 

[bkohorn]

The new design will have the LED on the board, and also a connector for those that would like an LED remotely.

thank you for developing a RID. Do you have an estimate of when yours will be available, and what its dimensions are. The problem with flight test's is it will be hard to squeeze into planes like the Magnus and some other small fusalages.

 

[tomleach]

Aloft's should fit in a Magnus, I have David's which was the "prototype" in my magnus and it works fine.
Wayne, do you know which antenna option you are planning on using?

 

[Wayne]

We will not be changing the antenna at this time. An antenna change would pretty mean we need to deal with the FCC also. Would like to get to the market sooner than later.

Yep, this unit is small. About 24mm x 30mm x 6mm plus the remote GPS antenna that is pretty darn small, not the old school big round things you may have seen in the past.

 

[GardenGate]

I was surprised that the Slot, Coyote and Mission Peak are not on the list (Coyote and Mission are both SBSS flying sites I believe..)

I was helping the secretary of our club (Seattle Area Soaring Society) who was doing our FRIA's to find out what other soaring clubs were doing and had contacted SBSS about their plans. Last I knew, SBSS was only getting the FRIA for the thermal site at Brigantino Park in Hollister. The FAA makes it challenging to get FRIA's for sites such as public parks or schools which don't have some kind of access control (fences around the flying area), so sadly I suspect it might be impossible to get FRIA's for Coyote Hills and Mission Peak.