GPS failure - even with 10.1

Once briefly on flight from Shop to home (after 10.1 upgrade).   Once on the way back from OSH, yesterday.  Lasted about 3-4 minutes, maybe?  Both times on the #1 unit.  (Which has a slightly older S/N, I think)?  I'd have to verify that.  

This needs to be looked into.  I'll pull the logs tomorrow.   Is there some HW fix, that that box needs?

Ken

I will try to get to the plane early next week to get them for you... I am out of town (w/o the plane) this weekend.

Pete

So, it is a known issue, and should be fixed easily.    Thanks, Sergio and Steve! 

Ken

10.1 fixed my issues 99%.   (100% on the #2). 

Ken

 

Thanks

 

Ben

I did however call tech support yesterday and they are sending a 10.1 conversion kit to Exec autopilots in Sacramento. Exec Autopilots is also submitting an RMA for an advance exchange but there is apparently a queue for these so could be a few weeks before one is available. My unit is in the block of serial numbers with known potential problems. (sigh) so I want to get the exchange regardless of how it does with 10.1.

One thing folks might want to know is that when I was talking to tech support there was some discussion of a "high gain" hardware mod that I have not seen any mention of in these forums. My guess is they tweaked the GPS receiver for greater output, so its not a ferrite bead problem, its a receiver problem and if so certainly worth fixing if the unit you have did not get this done. The statement was that "not every box in this block has a problem". I suspect its more likely that not every install in this block has a problem. If the antenna and wiring is good enough, the gain is sufficient. If not, then you get these dropouts. My impression is this change to a higher gain front end is being done sort of under the covers along with the standby comms mod if a box goes in for service.

I would say that the tech support was very responsive, which is good. I would also say that they were somewhat evasive on the matter of the high gain mod. I am not sure why. As an engineer I appreciate an attitude of here's the issue we need to fix, and just dealing with it. I really like the box, and made a conscious decision to buy rev 1.0 of a product knowing what I was probably getting into so I am not overly upset with problems, but would like honesty and a proactive approach, meaning maybe they contact me instead of me contacting them, to deal with the bumps in the road.     

Sorry you felt there was evasiveness on the GPS mods.   I'm sure that was NOT their intent.

There have been a number of GPS improvements in the last year to the IFD540.  In summary:

I have emailed a link to a dropbox folder full of the logs to tech support, and look forward to hearing back from them ASAP. I'm assuming that the unit needs to go back to Avidyne, which will make me AOG for all intents and purposes.

Rolfe

 

Ben

So here's my update on the 10.1 upgrade. After the install I have taken it for about 3 hours of flight time and seen one "GPS Dead Reckoning" message that I noticed. It lasted for about 10 seconds then went away. There may have been more because I wasn't watching the system constantly as I was working on some LOP running characterization. 

One other thing I noticed is that when I had 10.0.2, and I went to look at the GPS status page it generally showed a full screen of solid green bars and was pretty steady. With this upgrade the screen seems to show about 50/50 solid and outlined green bars and lots of blinking going on as the bars shift around on the screen. Not sure if this change in behavior is 10.1 related or something else. 

I can download the logs, but I have Exec autopilots working on an advance exchange and will swap this in when it shows up, given that I am still seeing problems. So the logs are probably of limited value but I'm happy to get them.

-Ben  

That was simple and easy

thanks