Setting up LK8000 software

GoFly is a new project based on Mio Moov s501 PNA car gps, LK8000 tactical fligh computer software and variometer (altimeter) external input.

Mio upgraded with variometer

LK8000 in action by Faflik

GoFly Project V2

Why?
    - you can build this for about 160$
    -really nice flying computer, with lot of features,
    -builtin variometer,
    -built in data logger approved by FAI
    -with color screen, TOPO maps and airspace maps
    -easily support competition tasks
    -your PNA is still very good car navigation system, so it will be peace of cake to come back from XC flying, If You have to parawait, there is plenty of other apps, games that You can find on the Internet for PNA.


New enclosure, new ideas...


How it is work?
 - this is not my idea, lot of glider pilots is using palmtops, pna-devices for couple of years with dedicated  flying software. LK8000 is one of the best, made by pilots for pilots, and if you have idea how to improve this software, they really like to listen. So, the idea is to find cheap, nice looking PNA device, with good lcd screen, that we can see even in direct sunlight, unclock it, put LK8000 software on it, build small vario device with serial output and connect everything together.
Also, project contain battery upgrade and sound vario.

  
What we need? (old version)
1. Mio Moov s501, s401 or Mio M400 car navigation system. You can find those devices on ebay for around 35-70$ (You can also use other pna, but remember, we need good lcd screen and serial TTL 3.3v input). Mio is already tested by many glider pilots.
:Link:



2. Unlocking software (this software will let you enable hidden Windows CE environment. Unlock is based on http://projects.lanik.org/GPSProject_00.htm and http://www.glidertools.com/)

DOWNLOAD M400_LK8000_UNLOCK_16.11.2011v.zip

DOWNLOAD MIO_S501_S401_LK8000v31H_UNLOCK_9.09.2012.zip

This Mio unlock version is prepared for Mio S501/S401 (with Navman map folder) and M400 (not tested by me)
This Mio unlock contain LK8000 v2.2e, S-E part of USA maps, paragliders polars and USA airspace maps.
There is also device manager to quick check under which serial port GPS unit works, mp3 player to play some music during parawaiting, desktop rotating app for LK8000 and much more, like games and apps, that You can access through files explorer (extra apps and games are not part of the unlock software).

LK8000 and all necessary files for unlock software are installed on build in memory (not SD card).
You can put extra programs, and mp3 files to SD card.
Anytime You can upgrade LK8000 just overwriting LK8000 folder or just overwrite upgraded files, but always keep your profile and setting files to avoid setting up LK8000 again from the beginning.
This unlock is tested only on Mio S501. I don't know how this unlock will work on others Mios. There are small differences between different Mio models (folders structure, backlight control, etc.) so I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE if you'll brick your mio.
At Mio support website I found recovery software (SmartST_S501_v6_10_0056.exe) for my Mio S501 to bring Mio device to manufacture state (software recovers all folders content). Because I was playing a lot with files, I had to recover my mio few times before I finished Unlock software. It is good to have this recovery software and backup You entire data from Mio memory before You attemt to do some changes. Of course You need also Mio user application to recover Your maps. But I swapped to much better working software from "I GO" brand.

How to install:
    Preparing:
    1. Backup Your entire memory content from Your mio to Your harddrive. If something will go wrong, You can always recover mio system drive do original state. One important file during unlock is changed so after unlock if You do not have backup there will be only hard way to recover Your Mio to manufacture state. The most important thing is to have usb connectivity. I've never lost usb, but I've read that some folks bricked mio forever.
    Installing:
    2. Connect Mio using usb to Your computer. Restart Mio. You should get usb connectivity and removable media should show up on Your computer.
    3. Download and Unpack S501_LK8000_UNLOCK software to Your computer
    4. Copy all folders to Your Mio S501 memory, During copy process some files have to be overwritten. All files must be copy direct to the root of mio memory.
    5. Turn off the device into the reset position, wait a few seconds and then switch on again (Hard Reset)
    6. After 10-30 seconds You should get new nice looking mio desktop :)
    7. USB connection works only if You connect Mio to usb cable first and do hard reset.

If You are familiar with folders, settings files, some scripting, I think after few short nights ;) You should be able to move this unlock software to any m,s-series mio...
Good luck.

Finding good stuff
Sometimes is hard, but using google You can find a lot. Those are examples You can use to built your own GoFly device.

Eneloops are one of the best AA rechargeable batteries	Lithium Ion Battery Pack - 3.7V 6600mAh http://www.adafruit.com/products/353	6 x AA battery holder http://www.adafruit.com/products/248	USB/DC Lithium Polymer battery charger 5-12V - 3.7/4.2v cells from http://www.adafruit.com/products/280
Arduino Pro 328 3.3v/8Mhz from Sparkfun.com. It has 3.3v regulator so You can use input voltage from 3.7v to 12v (if You are good in electronics, try Arduino Pro mini version)	Barometric Pressure Sensor - BMP085 Breakout Board from Sparkfun.com	It is really hard to find mini usb cable with angle plug and all 5 pins populated with wires, but You can find one https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=111	miniUSB <>serial adapter from Sparkfun.com (you have to cut 5v jumper on the back of board and solder 3.3v jumper) This device will let You put Your program inside Arduino processor
	Serpac 15-S-BLACK

How to build this project? (click to see big size image)

How to set up LK8000?

This information is based mostly on LK8000 website source and some my own investigation
    Forum
    http://www.postfrontal.com/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=11
    FAQ
    http://lk8000.it/faq/31-paraglidersdelta/48-para-best-of.html

	Welcome Screen after turning on LK8000 software Hit area around battery icon to get access to LK8000 menu.		First menu screen Hit Config 1/3 to move to next configuration menu.
	Second menu screen Hit Setup System to open LK8000 setting configuration screens.		Map file: Download them from LKMaps website Terrain file: Download them from LKMaps website Waypoints: .DAT, CompeGPS, OZI Explorer and SeeYou files are supported Airspace: Go to Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange website or local airspace managing institution/hangliding/paragliding/gliders websites to download the file of your country. Waypoint notes: For any waypoint, you can add additional full screen notes with long text descriptions. Go to LK8000\_Waypoints\ folder for more details. Language: Setup LK8000 with your language
	More about terrain here http://lk8000.it/new-20-features/terrain-colors.html
			Set up Your Paraglider class/type Save it later when You are done
	Device A Name: Flymaster F1, Compeo, Digifly, Generic for the internal GPS like Mio/PNA. Device A should provide realtime GPS data. Look into your device user manual about NMEA output settings. Port (Mio S401/S501):COM2 Baud (Mio S401/S501):19200 Device B Name: LK8EX1 Port (Mio S401/S501):COM1 Baud (Mio S401/S501):9600		Set up Your units Set up Your time zone
			If there is altitude limit (airspace requirement or competition rule), you can set up those limits. LK8000 will warn You if you cross altitude restriction.
	Here put Your name.		We can add/edit/save/delete waypoints
	It is good to use GPS time (also set up your time zone, look at screen 9 Units)

Setting up LK8000 during paragliding competition.

    Last year I went, first time in my life for local paragliding competition. It was Tater Hill Open in Boone, NC. It is more like social paragliding meeting with nice atmosphere, lot of friendly pilots and fun.
That day I took and flew first time with my project based on Mio S501 and backplane with vario and extra AA batteries. On the beggining I was a little confused how to setup task in LK8000, but finally it it much more easier than setting up task on any vario instrument or garmin gps devices. I flew also with my Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx as an backup and Flmaster B1 variometer. And after few days of short and funny tasks, guess what ??? I won competition in Fun class and LK8000 software did a GREAT JOB.
 I was feeling in the air like driving a car with good mapping software, saw all the time where I was, and have no trouble with marking task cylinders like other pilots using competition varios and garmin devices. That is way I decided to work on thet project and create all in one device. That is why I already sold my garmin gps, because I don't need it anymore...
So back to competition task. Like always there is briefing in the morning about retrieving, weather, rules, who won last day, do and don't, etc. After that task committee is creating task for current day. It is quite confidential on the beginning. When task is ready, committee is publishing board with task rules and points (cylinders). From now everybody is programming flying devices, some people are making hard copy on piece of paper...

	On the beginning we are going back to Setup system menu, and we have to provide waypoints database file.		At every competition, competition organizers should provide waypoints database. Most of the time there is somebody with laptop, cables who is taking care about this stuff. There is no problem to add waypoints just using LK8000 software. But this is more time consuming (look at screen Setup System -> 21 Waypoint Edit)
	Next got to Nav 2/3 screen and click Task Edit		On that screen we can setup task, adding waypoint after waypoint.
	If you have hundreds of waypoints (turnpoints) currently in your LK8000, you can use wildcards search by name, distance, direction, etc... So start from first point from the board published by competition organizers, and add that point to your task.		After picking every waypoint, set up waypoint parameters like sector type (most of the time is a round cylinder) and cylinder radius.  We don't have to mark center of the cylinder during the flight, we just need to mark one point inside cylinder, and everything is made by LK8000 automatically)
	Adding next waypoint, LK8000 will ask if this is last (GOAL) waypoint. Pick the No and add next waypoint.		Waypoints order should match exactly what is on the board
	Every time we are able to go back to the waypoint, edit attributes, remove it, move it up or down in the order.		When all waypoints are added, we can go and set up start task attributes. Go to Time gates
	Here we have to set up task start time and how long start window is open. Remember to setup correct Time zone in your area. (System setup -> screen 9 Units and screen 22 System -> use GPS time). LK8000 has to know what is your local time to tell You when gate is open.		Gates interval are in minutes, and most of the time board shows time in hours, so be careful setting up that option.
	Last thing, we have to set up start cylinder attribute. It can be IN (exit) This gives the pilots room to fly and time to get high before starting the clock. When you exit the cylinder, your time for the task starts.If you happen to drift out of the Cylinder and started the clock before you wanted to, just fly back into the Cylinder to reset the clock. Your time will start the last time you exit the Cylinder. OUT(Enter) You fly from launch to the Entry Cylinder and when you Enter the Cylinder, your time starts.		So now we can hit Analisys button and take a look if task distance is matching what is on the board. Also we can use Optimise button to check how long the task is if we will fly the shortest way from cylinder to cylinder. On that example, because I am really far away from first waypoint (sitting at home, and Tater Hill mountain is like 6 hours drive) estimated task time is huge.
	We can take a look how task looks on the map (I have no topology maps loaded for that region)		On this picture (another task). When cylinders are big, flying optimized (shortest way) and see all the time where we are right now, gives us huge advantage over other pilots.
	Ok, task is prepared, we are ready and waiting for launch. We can start as lunch is open and weather let us stay high. There will be countdown sound and alarm when gate opens.
Very nice feature of LK8000 software is live airspace analysis. Sometimes there are limits, lot of no fly zones, restricted airspaces, and ceiling limit.	During the fly LK8000 warn pilot about predicted/entering restricted zone.	Clicking analysis we can tak a close look into that from side view.	Also ( Setup system -> Alarms) you can set up altitude limits and LK8000 will warn You about those limits during fly.