Digi-V II GPS/TEC Variometer

The high demand for our digital RC variometer Digi-V (‚digi-wee‘) Version 1 has inspired us to develop a next Version II which will be available in March 2012 on this website.

The Digi-V II GPS/TEC Variometer and telemetry system will be improved in many points and have the following features:

• Fully autonomous 2.4GHz digital system
• Digi-V II base station is backward compatible to version I flight modules
  
• Optional GPS-Module as an add-on to the flight module, in its well-known compact form factor
• Optional Bluetooth-Module for Bluetooth head set and live telemetry data transfer
• SkyNavigator protocol support (www.gps-triangle.net) 
• Optional TEC Variometer Flight Module (total energy compensation - separate edition of the flight module)
• Excellent digital Audio-Quality (22kHz, 16bit) - no radio noise
• Integrated Li-Battery for 10h+ operation time
• Chargeable via USB and handy charger
• The system is easily extended by additional flight modules, so they can be installed permanently in airplanes
• Push buttons for volume control; Alphanumeric display with menu
• Functionality:
  • Speech announcement of altitude, on-board voltage, speed (GPS), altitude warning, distance to model
  • Model Refinder: The last reported position of the model is displayed
  • Altitude warning (for regions with altitude limits like Denmark)
  • Announcement of horizontal distance to the model
  • Extensive configurability by PC software
  • Altitude log function (configurable granularity)
  • GPS log function (configurable granularity)
  • English and German versions
• High availability and link quality thanks to 2.4GHz radio technology

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Example of the model refinder function: The last known GPS coordinates of the airplane can be displayed on the base stations's LCD display. The format is compatible to Google Maps on a smart phone: Latitude 47.498300 and Longitude 8.773030 shows the current position of the RC model in an agricultural field:

Digi-V Version I

(currently sold out - we have a few flight modules left for sale)

Digi-V is a digital variometer for RC model airplanes/gliders.

The system consists of a base module (hand held device) and a number of flight modules. The flight modules are permanently installed in the airplanes and transmit altitude measurements via the 2.4GHz digital radio link to the base module. The base module acoustically indicates climb- and sink rate and a speech processor announces altitude and receiver supply voltage.

Several flight modules can be logically 'paired' with a base station by exchanging a digital unique ID. So multiple Digi-V variometers can be operated independently in the same area. The system can easily be extended by additional flight modules anytime.

Digi-V Version I functionality:

• Altitude measurement: The altitiude relative to the starting altitude is measured through a precise barometric pressure sensor. The starting altitude (0 meters) is defined as the altitude at which the model airplane has been powered up.The altitude calculation is done according to the International Standard Atmosphere
• Variometer: The current climb- or sink rate is acoustically indicated in the headphones. Short tones indicate climbing while frequency and period get faster at higher climb rates. Long and low tones mean the airplane is currently sinking. At increased sink rates the frequency and period get lower.
• Altitude display and indication: The current altitude is displayed on the LCD display of the base station. Speech announcements of the altitude are done at 10 meter (ca. 33 feet) altitude steps.
• Voltage display and indication: The receiver supply voltage of the airplane is displayed on the LCD display of the base station. It is periodically announce by speech output.
• RC control: The beep and speech output configuration of the Digi-V variometer can be controlled through a RC channel. Three positions are supported which are fully configurable through the PC tool (optional cable required).
• Maximum altitude of past flight: After a flight, the maximum altitude is displayed on the LCD of the base station.
• Live data output: During normal operation, several data items are streamed life via a UART port in CVS format: current altitude, current climb/sink rate, current supply voltage. The data can be monitored live via a UART/USB cable on a PC or laptop.
• Flight recording: The altitude profile of the past 10 hours of flight is recorded on the base module for later download to a PC.
• PC configuration tool: A PC configuration tool allows to set different operation parameters of the Digi-V variometer.

Digi-V works over more than 1km of distance. The base station weighs 108 grams (without battery), the flight module weighs 20 grams (including antenna). The flight module measures 70x22x10mm without antenna.

Digi-V comes with a PC configuration tool. It allows to set several parameters and determine the device's functionality. It also allows to read out the altitude profile of the past 10 hours of flight. See below for a tool screenshot.

The entire system is available in German and English, including the speech output of the device.