Foreflight and Bluetooth question

[Timbeck2]

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to computers, IPads and phones, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. My question is, is there a setting on Foreflight and/or IPad that automatically connects via Bluetooth to an ADSb in device (I have a Sentry mini) when it recognizes it? I was flying yesterday and wasn’t getting traffic information and realized that I had not manually paired the two beforehand.

Foreflight automatically connects to my audio panel and gives me information such as entering runways and height information when I’m landing.

I learned that by accident when I heard this through my headset instead of the IPad’s speaker as it did before.

 

[RussR]

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to computers, IPads and phones, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. My question is, is there a setting on Foreflight and/or IPad that automatically connects via Bluetooth to an ADSb in device (I have a Sentry mini) when it recognizes it? I was flying yesterday and wasn’t getting traffic information and realized that I had not manually paired the two beforehand.

Foreflight automatically connects to my audio panel and gives me information such as entering runways and height information when I’m landing.

I learned that by accident when I heard this through my headset instead of the IPad’s speaker as it did before.

The Sentry devices connect via Wifi, so if you're actually looking for a bluetooth connection, the quick answer to your question is "no". But they should automatically connect via wifi when you turn the Sentry on.

As with any wifi connection, sometimes there are gremlins and you'll have to manually select it, but in general it should just "work".

 

[Timbeck2]

Hmmm. It didn’t yesterday and my Sentry is new. I’ll try it again next time

It worked 3 weeks ago but not yesterday

 

[Ranchoa]

“Foreflight automatically connects to my audio panel and gives me information such as entering runways and height information when I’m landing.”

May I ask how you get foreflight to connect your audio panel? I’ve been trying to get audio alerts from foreflight to my headset, but can’t seem to make it work.

 

[Learnin’ to fly…]

The connection between the iPad/iPhone and Sentry is a WiFi connection. If your iPad/iPhone has cellular data - make sure that is turned off. When an iPhone/ipad has multiple data connections (cellular data and WiFi) it will prioritize the connection with ‘superior’ data. In the case of cellular data and the Sentry WiFi, the cellular data will be superior. Therefore, turn your cellular data off and it will ensure the WiFi connection to the Sentry device.

As for the Bluetooth audio - that is simply a matter of pairing your device (iPhone/iPad) to either your Bluetooth enabled audio panel or Bluetooth enabled headset. That connection is actually independent of ForeFlight and will transmit any audio content, including music, alerts, phone calls, etc.

To make sure you are getting audio notifications from ForeFlight - go to ‘settings’ and scroll down the menu until you get to the ‘preferences’ section. The first item under this section is ‘alerts’. Click into that menu and ensure ‘speak all alerts’ is selected. Beneath that option, you can select everything ForeFlight will verbalize.

 

[Timbeck2]

The connection between the iPad/iPhone and Sentry is a WiFi connection. If your iPad/iPhone has cellular data - make sure that is turned off. When an iPhone/ipad has multiple data connections (cellular data and WiFi) it will prioritize the connection with ‘superior’ data. In the case of cellular data and the Sentry WiFi, the cellular data will be superior. Therefore, turn your cellular data off and it will ensure the WiFi connection to the Sentry device.

As for the Bluetooth audio - that is simply a matter of pairing your device (iPhone/iPad) to either your Bluetooth enabled audio panel or Bluetooth enabled headset. That connection is actually independent of ForeFlight and will transmit any audio content, including music, alerts, phone calls, etc.

To make sure you are getting audio notifications from ForeFlight - go to ‘settings’ and scroll down the menu until you get to the ‘preferences’ section. The first item under this section is ‘alerts’. Click into that menu and ensure ‘speak all alerts’ is selected. Beneath that option, you can select everything ForeFlight will verbalize.

Thanks for that. I had cell data turned on for weather but since the Sentry gives weather via WiFi I don’t need it anymore.

To answer the question of how I got foreflight to give me alerts via headset, I just went to the Bluetooth settings and it found my audio panel. You have to have an audio panel with bluetooth capabilities

 

[Ranchoa]

I must be technically challenged. I paired my headset (light speed Zulu) with my GDL 39 and iPad (foreflight) but still can’t get audio alerts via my headset. Audio alerts are active on FF. my audio panel is a Garmin 340 and not Bluetooth equipped.

 

[M20K]

My question is, is there a setting on Foreflight and/or IPad that automatically connects via Bluetooth to an ADSb in device (I have a Sentry mini) when it recognizes it?

The first time you need to connect to the device regardless if it is WiFi or Bluetooth. Usually you do this through the **iPad** Settings, though sometimes the App has an option to do it. Then once you have connected, your iPad should connect automatically every time you power up the device or come in range of the BT or WiFi.

Whatever the device is, it should be pretty clear in the instructions on how to connect the first time. But if you can't find it, a quick Google search should do it. I just searched "connect foreflight to sentry" and the detailed instructions came right up.

 

[Learnin’ to fly…]

I must be technically challenged. I paired my headset (light speed Zulu) with my GDL 39 and iPad (foreflight) but still can’t get audio alerts via my headset. Audio alerts are active on FF. my audio panel is a Garmin 340 and not Bluetooth equipped.

Are you able to get other Bluetooth audio to play through the Zulu’s (music, phone calls, etc)?

 

[flyingcheesehead]

“Foreflight automatically connects to my audio panel and gives me information such as entering runways and height information when I’m landing.”

May I ask how you get foreflight to connect your audio panel? I’ve been trying to get audio alerts from foreflight to my headset, but can’t seem to make it work.

This very much depends on what audio panel you have. Look in the audio panel's manual for Bluetooth.

I must be technically challenged. I paired my headset (light speed Zulu) with my GDL 39 and iPad (foreflight) but still can’t get audio alerts via my headset. Audio alerts are active on FF. my audio panel is a Garmin 340 and not Bluetooth equipped.

Do you mean you paired the GDL 39 and the headset both to the iPad? I don't think any headsets directly support multiple simultaneous bluetooth connections.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Do you mean you paired the GDL 39 and the headset both to the iPad? I don't think any headsets directly support multiple simultaneous bluetooth connections.

Axis Azul in-ear. And it’s even nonpartisan, connecting simultaneously to my iPad and Android phone.

 

[flyingron]

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to computers, IPads and phones, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. My question is, is there a setting on Foreflight and/or IPad that automatically connects via Bluetooth to an ADSb in device (I have a Sentry mini) when it recognizes it? I was flying yesterday and wasn’t getting traffic information and realized that I had not manually paired the two beforehand.

Foreflight automatically connects to my audio panel and gives me information such as entering runways and height information when I’m landing.

I learned that by accident when I heard this through my headset instead of the IPad’s speaker as it did before.

Years ago, my iPad was ancient enough that I wasn't running the latest foreflight. However, I did have the latest on my phone. I hadn't realized they had added the audio alerts until I was watching the taxi progress when flying on an airliner and the thing loudly announced "APPROACHING RUNWAY 1L." oops.

Sitting in my office if I leave it running every once and a while the inaccuracy of the GPS thinks I'm moving toward the runway "APPROACH RUNWAY 23" and brings up the airport diagram. The blue dot is still on my house, however.