Stratux dropping off

Silvaire

Silvaire

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Silvaire
I've been having problems with my Stratux losing connection. It seems to work initially but after awhile it just disconnects. Even when working it's a bit flakey. So I replaced the SD card and flashed it with the newest software. That didn't help so I had a spare Raspberry Pi board that I installed. Still no joy. I tried to order a new UAT radio board but they are out of stock right now.

Just wondering if anyone else has had an issue like this or if anyone has any ideas?
 
By "losing connection" do you mean wi-fi dropping? Or good wi-fi but no traffic?

If #1, since you already changed Pi boards, I'd suspect a power supply issue.

If #2, you might have an overheating SDR. Some have glued-on heatsinks for thermal management, did they fall off?
 
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Are you sure it is not your phone disconnecting? My motorola phone will automatically disconnect if there is no internet connection from that wifi - I have specifically tell it to remain connected.
 
I've been using two DIY Stratux devices for many years now with no issues. One is at home and I've left it running for days with no problems.

I would also like to better understand the issue you're having. What, exactly, is disconnecting from what?
 
Yep, unclear what the disconnect is: WiFi or ADS-B.

If WiFi and the new RPi board did not fix, I would look at your connecting device on the other end.

If ADS-B, then the SDR boards are the likely culprit. Do you have both bands installed? Are both inop, or just one?

My SD card goes bad after a year or so. Couldn't hurt to reflash again. Does it boot up correctly?
 
Haven't had a chance to mess with it lately but here is a bit more info:

My device is an iPad mini with Foreflight. The Stratux is mounted under the panel with external GPS antenna and coax extenders to the ADSB antennas mounted on the A pillar. Power is direct and not using a battery pack. I've been using this setup for about 4 years with no problems. When it first started acting up I noticed that even when working it was displaying 'Marginal' signal. When it drops off I lose both traffic and my own position so maybe it's my GPS antenna. I need to make a plan for a test flight to gather more information, if I monitor it on 192.168.10.1 maybe I can learn more about what exactly is going on.
 
I have this issue all the dang time. Posting so I can remember to check back.

I've gone through all of the power supply / battery backup inline / software update / component replacement cycles. I think it's some issue with either how I have it mounted in the Baron nose or something more fundamental. Not 100% sure. I actually bought a full stratus to replace it and it's not really a whole lot better. I wish Garmin would come out with a USB-C iteration of their GDL units, those were perfect but the ports snap off if you give it any sort of side-eye. :)
 
Could be the panel impedes the WiFi connection. Try relocating your iPad so it has direct line of sight to the Stratux.
 
Silvaire said:
The Stratux is mounted under the panel
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That might be a bit of an issue, in terms of blocking airflow and wi-fi signal.

Silvaire said:
When it first started acting up I noticed that even when working it was displaying 'Marginal' signal.
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Marginal wi-fi signal? That might be caused by the location.
Has someyhing changed in the mounting location/panel configuration?

Silvaire said:
When it drops off I lose both traffic and my own position so maybe it's my GPS antenna.
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Nope. Loss of GPS doesn't remove traffic. I had a spare Stratux with no GPS. Worked fine but displayed absolute altitudes instead of relative.
 
schmookeeg said:
I have this issue all the dang time. Posting so I can remember to check back.

I've gone through all of the power supply / battery backup inline / software update / component replacement cycles. I think it's some issue with either how I have it mounted in the Baron nose or something more fundamental. Not 100% sure. I actually bought a full stratus to replace it and it's not really a whole lot better.
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"Always like this." After "saving money", first with the stratux and then with the Scout, I cut my losses and went Garmin. Play hobbyist software games, win hobbyist software prizes, I suppose.
schmookeeg said:
I wish Garmin would come out with a USB-C iteration of their GDL units, those were perfect but the ports snap off if you give it any sort of side-eye. :)
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Dang it, I still need to wire up that PD trigger...
 
GeorgeC said:
"Always like this." After "saving money", first with the stratux and then with the Scout, I cut my losses and went Garmin. Play hobbyist software games, win hobbyist software prizes, I suppose.

Dang it, I still need to wire up that PD trigger...
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My first (or ...nth depending on who is counting) attempt did not work. I actually have no idea if I bricked the thing or not yet, and have not had time or bandwidth to try again.
 
They should call it sausage code instead of spaghetti code.
You don't want to know how the sausage is made.
 
Okay I guess the first thing to do is find out if it's a Wifi drop out. Like I said I've had this setup for about 4 years with no problems, the iPad mini is mounted basically right next to the Stratux but I do have another iPad so I'll bring it along on my test flight. The thing is it's finicky. When I replaced the SD card and Pi board it worked fine for almost an hour and just as I was convinced I had it fixed it went belly up again. Often it will come back if I just power it off then on again but usually then it will only work for a short time.

I might add that when I initially started troubleshooting the first thing I tried was to reflash the SD card and as it turned out the card was bad so I got a new one. I already had a spare Raspberry Pi so I swapped that out at the same time.

It's funny but I flew around for about 50 years without ADS-B and now when my little traffic screen goes down I feel like I've lost a great asset.
 
Went for an hour flight today with both iPads and nailed it down to loss of wifi. So since I already swapped out the Pi board I'm going to replace my USB cable and power adapter. Wish me luck :fcross:
 
UPDATE: Replaced power adapter and USB cable and it appears to be working now, haven't had any drop outs. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a while as it has fooled me before but for cripe's sake I've pretty much replaced everything there is other than the antennas.
 
Silvaire said:
UPDATE: Replaced power adapter and USB cable and it appears to be working now, haven't had any drop outs. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a while as it has fooled me before but for cripe's sake I've pretty much replaced everything there is other than the antennas.
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Winner winner chicken dinner @A1Topgun :
A1Topgun said:
Power Supply!
Raspberry Pi's are fussy when it comes to power.
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I've noticed problems with traffic dropping off too on my stratux. Nothing has changed, powered off a USB in the plane or on battery. It's usually on the passenger seat or on the glareshield. I keep my GPS position, which means it has be radio signal. Or just nobody else flies where I do.
 
Silvaire said:
UPDATE: Replaced power adapter and USB cable and it appears to be working now, haven't had any drop outs. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a while as it has fooled me before but for cripe's sake I've pretty much replaced everything there is other than the antennas.
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I hope it's fixed now, though I'll add that it's also possible that a software update on your iPad changed the algorithm for holding a WiFi connection, making it less tolerant of connections like the Stratux that don't have a network connection.

GeorgeC said:
"Always like this." After "saving money", first with the stratux and then with the Scout, I cut my losses and went Garmin. Play hobbyist software games, win hobbyist software prizes, I suppose.
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I built my Stratux 10 years ago and it's been more reliable than some the far more expensive certified avionics in my airplane. Go figure :rolleyes:
 
bflynn said:
I've noticed problems with traffic dropping off too on my stratux. Nothing has changed, powered off a USB in the plane or on battery. It's usually on the passenger seat or on the glareshield. I keep my GPS position, which means it has be radio signal. Or just nobody else flies where I do.
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Device location. ADS-B In devices get TIS-B from ground stations. TIS-B shows aircraft with a transponder but no ADS-B Out. If your device is placed in the aircraft where it does not have unobstructed line-of-sight to the ground, you won't get TIS-B and your traffic display will be limited to air-to-air.
 
bflynn said:
I've noticed problems with traffic dropping off too on my stratux.
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Do you filter altitudes in your EFB?

Log in the Stratux maintenance page, it will give you a much better idea of what's being received.
 
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