FFA SkyTraq
Software Description
This software was developed to download aircraft position during general aviation championships organized by the Fédération Française Aéronautique ou la Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. FFA SkyTracq V6 is a device management software using the SkyTraq Venus 6 GPS chipset.
The most commonly logger is Renkforce GT730FL-S
Install the software
Download the software from FFA website
Execute the file FFA_SkyTraq_V6 0.1.8_Setup.exe and select the language
Check the box to accept the licence agreement
Click button Install
Connexion device
Menu Tools > Set parameters
Windows Set parameters
Directory
Directory where the data while be dowloaded.
Filename of start list
Check this box if you want to open a text file with the competitors name. This is usefull to synchronizing the data file with other software.
When the box is checked, a field appears to select the file.
- We recommend that you provide a text file with the list of competitors sorted by start number : StartNumber_CompetitorName.
Gap between track
Seconds between two points. If the duration reaches this value, a new item will be added to the grid
Table threshold
Seconds between the first and last point of track. If the duration is less than this value the lines will be hidden (checkbox Short list ckecked).
Default format
Select the output file format :
- .gac,
- .kml,
- .gpx.
COM port automatic detection
On Windows 10 and above, check this box to enable automatic detection of the com port when the device is plugged into a USB connector
Button GPS time -> UTC time
Be careful before using this correction
The Skytraq Venus 6 chipset provides GPS time, correction with UTC time must be done by software. The deviation between GPS Time and UTC time is not a constant. Every six month leaps seconds can be introduced. See official website Observatoire of Paris.
The last additional second has been introduced on 1 January 2017, at 0hUTC. As of this date the delta betwen GPS time and UTC time was 18 seconds
See also official times
Next change will be announced to Bulletin C
Click the open window button to change the value
In GAC file the value of delta betwen GPS time and UTC time is written in the heading of the file under item HFGPSRECEIVER
Synoptic with all parameters
When all parameters are set click on Button save
Download the data
To download a logger, plug to a USB connector
If automatic detection of COM port is activated, the data are read and all track detected are displayed in the left windows.
- Each line provide start and finish time track (separation is done according Gap between track parameter)
- Tracks with duration less than Table threshold parameter are not displayed if checkbox Short list is ckecked
- The last track is check and displayed in the right windows
To download
- Click Download button
- If the Filename of start list parameter is ckecked a windows is open.
- Double click on the competitor name prefile the filename
- Save the data formated according to extension name selected
Clear the memory
- We do not recommend keeping a large amount of data in the logger's memory
- Clear the memory frequently, after plugging in the logger, click Clear memory button
Logger configuration
This function is only enable if a logger is connected.
Menu Tools > Logger configuration
- Select log time and set it to the minimum value of 1 second
- Set Speed mini to 0
- Check Data log enable
- Click button Send to GPS
Cleaning COM ports unused
Whenever a new USB serial device is plugged into a PC, Windows will assign the device a new, unique COM Port number
To avoid reaching the maximum allowed by your system, unused COM ports should be cleaned up periodically
- Plug a logger to the USB connector to activate COM ports
- Open Windows Device Manager
- Select the line Ports (COM & LPT)
- Select in the menu View -> Show hidden devices
- Expand Ports(COM & LPT) to list all COM ports hidden, COM port have a grayed out icon next to them.
- Right click on the last port and select Uninstall. In the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, click OK.
- Repeat for all unused ports
For advanced users only a quicker action can be performed using Regedit
- Click start → Run → type regedit and click OK button
- Export your regedit file to avoid mishandling
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\COM Name Arbiter
- On the right panel, you can see the key ComDB.
- Right-click it and click modify
- In value Data section select all and delete reset to zero (0)(If you set the value to 0 all COM ports are free).
- Close the registry editor and then restart your computer.