Flightstream Disconnects from Foreflight

[maduro]

Was on a long flight from Minneapolis to Corona, California and was using Foreflight to push our route to the panel. After the last fuel stop and after taking off, the little Foreflight icon to push the route to the panel was missing. In the past, I would simply restarted my avionics if I caught it on the ground. I will not restart my avionics in the air(my rule, you can have your own opinions).

I started troubleshooting in the air hoping to get that icon back and I did the following, which did NOT work. I finally flew home in heading mode on my autopilot.

Here is what I tried:
-restared Foreflight - no joy
-restared iPad - no joy
-on iPad- did bluetooth forget device and repaired ipad to flightstream - no joy
-on GNS530- unpaired iPad, exited AUX and readded iPad and repaired on iPad - no joy

I only have two items paired to Flightstream, an Aera 660 and the iPad. The Aera 660 has never lost connection to Flightstream. This only happens with Foreflight about 1 out 4 times. If you have a dog bone to throw.... throw them at me. Thanx.

 

[Hang 4]

Did you "forget" both devices at once? Meaning both on iPad and 530 at the same time? Also, which Flightstream?

 

[FPK1]

You say this only happens with Foreflight, but wouldn't it be more accurate to say this only happens with your iPad. I would suspect your iPad not Foreflight... Are you using the most current iPadOS version? Is your headset Bluetooth to your iPad to get audio from Foreflight? If so, does that work?

 

[M20K]

First question is what was your iPad Restart procedure? Did you wait AT LEAST 30 seconds before turning the iPad back on? Apple is funny this way, it looks like the iPad is shut down because the screen goes dark right after the momentary spinning circle, so you think it "finished" the shutdown. Well, it didn't and it takes a bit. I've never seen a definitive discussion of how long pending what you have running, but the default everyone goes to is 30 seconds. I'd suggest shutting down ALL Apps, then Shut Down the iPad and wait.

Also agree with @Hang 4 that you should Forget on both the iPad and the GNS, then do the Shut Down of the iPad. Then after the wait, start up a see if you can connect. But I also have to say it was probably the FS210 (I'm assuming a 210).

 

[flyingcheesehead]

If you go to More->Devices, what does it say there?

If you go to Settings->Bluetooth does it show a connection to the FlightStream?

 

[dans2992]

I’ve seen this happen when flight stream goes into “database loading” mode and doesn’t come back out. It takes an avionics reboot.

 

[Layton's]

I’ve had a similar issue with ForeFlight forever. Talked with FF many times with no resolution. My issue is that FS210 connects to iPad (and garmin devices) but does not connect to FF. It’s usually an issue on start up and this occurs about 40% of the time. I keep an old Sentry unit and use it for FF when FF won’t talk to the FS210. Lee

 

[maduro]

Does this happen to you FS510 people?? Or is this a FS210 only undocumented feature?

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Does this happen to you FS510 people?? Or is this a FS210 only undocumented feature?

I've never had any trouble with the FS510 and ForeFlight.

Of course, n=1 and I'm sure there are plenty of FS210 owners who could say the same.

 

[robin ardoin]

Does this happen to you FS510 people?? Or is this a FS210 only undocumented feature?

I've not had that issue in my previous plane with a FS510 and Foreflight, however, I did have disconnects in a friend's plane with a FS210 and Foreflight. Single point anecdotal data.