I got a PM asking for me to post my parts list for the Stratux box I built recently. I posted it in the comments of a different thread but thought it warranted its own post. The Stratux is crazy easy to assemble. If you can assemble an IKEA lamp and plug it in then you can do this. Here's a parts list: Motherboard: Raspberry Pi 3 - $39.99 Radios and Antennae: High Gain Antennae and USB radios - $39.99 Remote mount GPS: VK-162 WAAS GPS - $18.99 Peel and stick heat sinks: Heat sinks for the processors on the motherboard - $4.95 Battery (optional): USB battery - $19.99 Software SD Card: Preloaded micro SD card with Stratux software installed. - $14.99 Case: All components snap-in. Cooling fan keeps CPU temps under 100 degrees F. - $18.99 (looks like white is out of stock but seller also has them in clear and black) $157.89 You can literally have the whole thing assembled in 15 minutes, no tools required other than a needle nose to tighten the antennae. No soldering, no real configuration; snap in, plug in and it fires up. Honestly, the trickiest thing I've had to do with the Stratux is a recent Firmware update which would be a factor regardless of who built it. The new Stratux software features a GPS-based AHRS which works pretty well. If you’re going this route it would be cheaper just to buy your own Mini SD card and install the software yourself even though the process is a little fiddly.
Basically. It's a little twitchy but it works. I wouldn't rely on it as a full AHRS back-up but it helps drive the Synthetic Vision which is a nice bonus. I've tested on WingX and Aerovie with decent results. FltPlanGo is a hot mess but I don't really use that app for flight instrumentation anyway... Open Flight Solution has a dedicated AHRS board in the works so I'll be keeping an eye on that as well.
Just for my perverted sense of engineering sensibility could we: Stop using antennae (an obsolete Brit affectation) for the plural of antenna? Stop calling a nonresonant whip antenna without a decent ground plane "high gain"? Don't get me wrong. Stratux is probably the best thing to come along for ADSB since bottled beer and sliced bread. I really like the home-grownness of it AND the price. After all, homebrew avionics has been my bag for damn near 45 years. Thanks, Jim
I already have an iLevil but I just ordered parts to build a Stratux to have a backup. The links above for the GPS and heat sinks were showing out of stock. I did a search in Amazon and the parts turned up in other listings with the parts in stock. I'm looking forward to getting the parts in so I can try this out to see how it compares to the iLevil. I already have a couple of USB batteries with higher capacity than the one listed above so I passed on the battery. Everything without the battery was $135.62 plus $8.29 shipping.
I tend to prefer the Oxford dictionary over Webster. I wouldn't say it's an obsolete Brit affectation. Its usage is still common in many english publications. As for the whip antenna, I'll defer since I know little about such things. I'll add however, that I'm merely echoing the ad where they describe them as high gain.
I've been using Stratux for a while. I went from NiMH, to LiPo and then to 12v accessory power because the USB packs auto-off nonsense. Does this EasyAcc 6000mAh battery stay on as intended?
I had it on for 5 hours on my kitchen counter when I was running a test temps on the CPU over long-durations.
I finally got around to building one of these. A couple of things I noticed: 1) the preloaded micro-SD card has an older version. You can buy a blank micro-SD and follow the instructions on the website to download the latest version and install it. 2) there are several different vendors selling the Raspberry Pi. Some of them are even Prime eligible so Prime subscribers can get free shipping. I built your 4-place portable intercom years ago. loved it! Didn't you guys have a marker beacon receiver kit at one time? I was wanting to build one of those for my RV-8 panel.
I built one last year using the parts list from Reddit. My GPS antennas are internal and I got my case 3D printed locally. With Foreflight it works great.
I upgraded my Pi to the 3B, micro USB receivers and dual antenna on the case, case with the fan. Download and install my own STRATUX software. Works great sitting on top of my Nav bag in the back seat of a c172/182 etc.
I've been using mine for a year. I have a second micro SD card with Raspien on it and a mini wireless keyboard. I packaged the whole thing in a plastic-ware box with some Velcro to attach to the carpet on my planes dash. The antenna sticks out through a hole in the top but can be unscrewed and put inside. When I get to a hotel, I switch SD cards and plug it into the hotel TV and surf the web. No need to carry battery or screen but you do have to explain it to TSA if you take it commercial. Oh, I have a short HDMI cable in the box and a pair of tweezers to switch the card.
Well, we had an idea to make a pushbutton version using a microprocessor, so we never got around to ordering another batch of metalwork, then we got busy building my dream lab, then this lady came back into my life after 50 years ... and some day we will get around to doing another audio panel. jw
I have made a half dozen flights now with my Stratux and I really like it. My iLevil developed a problem with the ADS-B receiver so I have been using the Stratux instead. I also ordered a suction cup mount for the Summitlink case so I can stick it to the rear window behind me. It is nice to get the Stratux off the dash. I am running WingX. I do not have the AHRS card in my Stratux but I am getting AHRS information on my SynthVision screen. It must be coming from the internal gyros in the iPad. The iPad gyros are working so well that I see no reason for adding an AHRS board. So far I am very pleased with my Stratux.
