This page was last updated:  10/21/10
 

Introducing the 300 Series of Flight Instruments

Please Note:
The IGC has approved the 302. To view the complete approval document in the Adobe Acrobat pdf format please click here.

Cambridge Aero Instruments is pleased to introduce the 300 Series, a completely new variometer and sensor platform for soaring. The products are based on our 20 years of experience designing and building instruments for soaring. Advanced technology, including a 32 bit microprocessor and Flash memory, makes the system versatile and easily upgradeable by the pilot. No more returning the instrument to the factory or Service Dealer for firmware upgrades. At the same time, 300 Series products integrate smoothly with existing Cambridge products. The new 300 Series offers multiple display options, compact size, and a new standard of variometer performance.

We now have the User's Manual and the Operators Card available. You can download both documents from the Manuals page. The Operators Card describes the basic operation of the instrument and has been written to be carried in the glider for quick reference.

08/02/01

302 Dataport User's Guide Available

Early in the development of the 300 Series we decided to follow the open architecture software concept. We have written and are making available the 302 Dataport User's Guide as part of this plan. This document describes the input and output formats and protocols for the 302 dataport. Users are free to utilize the dataport functions for their own purposes. Cambridge Aero does not provide technical support for this document. Cambridge Aero reserves the right to make changes to this document and the 302 dataport at any time without warning. The document is in the Adobe Acrobat .pdf format and may be downloaded by clicking below.

302 Dataport User's Guide Version 2.0

 302 and the Winpilot Pro 

The Cambridge 302 vario/flight recorder is now completely compatible with WinPilot PRO. All WP PRO functions are enabled.

The following additional functionality is also supported in WP PRO with the 302:

	Setting McCready from either Pocket PC, or the 302.
	Setting Ballast and Bugs from Pocket PC.
	Sending of a task declaration directly from WinPilot to the 302.
	WP license can be based on a serial number of the 302 (or the Pocket PC).

The other 302 functions such as transferring log files, configuring units etc. are available through the 302 utility program.

The following platforms are supported: Compaq iPAQ (all models) and Compaq AERO (1520/1530/1550/21xx).

Many thanks to Jerry Plaszowiecki and Sierra SkyWare, Inc. For further information please see the Winpilot website.

The 300 Series is comprised of the following instruments:

Model 302:  Secure GPS flight Recording, Altimeter, Vario, Averager, Audio, Accelerometer

The 302 includes an internal GPS receiver. The 302 is a complete FAI-approved Flight Recorder including barograph and engine run detection functions. An optional external backup battery will be available that will provide more than one hour of operation, including flight recording, if the glider battery fails. A pilot may start out with the 301 vario and then at a later date return it to the factory or a Service Dealer for conversion to a 302. The 302 will output NMEA 0183 including the GPS altitude sentence. This will allow the connection of Pocket-PCs running third party nav computer software. 

Model 302A CFR:  Secure GPS flight Recording

The 302 includes an internal GPS receiver. The 302A CFR is an FAI-approved secure Flight Recorder.  An optional external backup battery  provides more than one hour of operation, including flight recording, if the glider battery fails.  The 302A CFR outputs NMEA 0183 including the GPS altitude sentence. This allows the connection of Pocket-PCs running third party nav computer software. 

Model 303: Basic Navigation and Final Glide LCD Display

The 303 is based on the navigation display of the Cambridge GPS-NAV Secure Flight Recorder. With a simple upgrade to the display, any GPS-NAV Display can be converted into the 303. The 303 can now access up to 2000 waypoints, announce entry into the FAI photo-sectors, display final glide information, and allow front panel editing of pilot configuration data. The editing feature will allow clubs and syndicates to store data on multiple members in the instrument making it possible for each pilot to record their own flight logs.

Model PDA: Complete Graphic Display System and Final Glide

The PDA Graphic Display System consists of the software, a Compaq 1500-series Pocket-PC, a universal instrument panel mount, and a compact flash card. The PDA adds the ability to transfer flight logs and flight data files via the Compact Flash card. Click here for details on the 1500 Series Mount.

Model 306: Vario Repeater

The 306 is the vario repeater (slave) for the 302. It will only display the basic navigation data found on the 302. You will not be able to change the configuration of the master instrument from the 306.

The new 300 Series differs from competing glider instrument systems in four important ways:

1. The 300 Series variometer is fast, accurate, and insensitive to gusts.

The 300 Series derives the variometer signal from an altimeter sensor using digital differentiation and smart filtering exclusive to this product. The vario is up to 6 times faster than competing systems using analog differentiation. Prototypes have been flown since 1999 with impressive results. The fast audio matches the "feel-of-the-air". This is what experienced pilots call flying by the "seat-of-the-pants". Now, you can "hear" the lift you "feel" without time delay. The lift indicated by the 300 Series is almost exactly where you are now, not where you were 1.5 seconds ago. The result is a uniquely satisfying variometer.

Horizontal gusts in the variometer signal make lift easier to find and optimize. Since Wil Schuemann's research in the early 1970s, varios have used 1.2 to 1.5 second averaging of all signals to obtain a "quiet vario needle". Instead of averaging all signals (2 knot thermal + 12 knot gust + 2 knot thermal = 5.33 knot indicated lift), the 300 Series vario software analyses every digital sample and rejects gusts (2 knot thermal + 12 knot gust + 2 knot thermal = 2 knot indicated lift). Digital gust filtering makes a fast vario useable.

2. The 300 Series is compatible with existing CAI instruments.

The 300 Series starts with the 302 Variometer/Flight Recorder.  The existing GPS-NAV LCD can be turned into the Model 303 with a low cost firmware upgrade. You can convert a Pocket-NAV into the PDA with a software upgrade. The 300 Series has flexibility and upgradeability designed in for the future.

The 302 combined with the PDA display is the cost effective system of choice. The PDA Graphic Display System not only provides final glide computations, it allows the uploading and downloading of data via the compact flash card. Simply remove the card and submit it to the scoring desk. No more removing the Flight Recorder.

If you add the following to the 302, you get:

3. The 300 Series is Economical.

Through the utilization of the latest advances in materials and design, we have been able to create an advanced navigation instrument platform with reduced production costs. A basic system consisting of the 302 Vario/FR and 303 Display does FAI approved flight recording and shows all important information including vector wind and final glide altitude for less than $2.800.00. That is $1,500.00 less than a comparable Cambridge L-NAV + GPS-NAV system.

The 302 Vario/FR with a PDA Navigation Display. This is the system of choice as it allows the transfer of secure flight logs and data transfer via the Compact Flash card or the PDA. No need to remove the instrument from the glider or bring the laptop computer out to the flight line to transfer data.

4. The 300 Series requires little instrument panel space. 

The Model 302 Vario and FAI approved Flight Recorder fits into one 57 mm (2.25") instrument panel hole. The PDA Graphic Display mounts to a second 57 mm opening, or may be attached to any available 25mm (1") square mounting area on the edge of your panel or cockpit.

300 Series Design Features:

The 302 LCD screen shows altitude, averager, MacCready setting, and speed-to-fly. All other navigation, performance, and glide information is displayed on the PDA Graphic Display screen or the 303 LCD screen.

The 302 can store up to 2000 waypoints.

The  302 is optimized for use with the PDA Graphic Display moving map system. Wind and final glide calculations are shown on the 303 Display or the PDA Graphic Display system. Secure flight logs can originate in the Model 302, and are transferred to the PDA just as they would be to a laptop computer.

The PDA then writes the flight log to a Compact Flash card for transport to a contest scorer or badge evaluation computer. The Compact Flash card works just like a floppy disk, but is much smaller and has much higher storage capacity. Finally, you can move the secure flight log, not the flight recorder, from the cockpit to the PC!

The cost-effective 303 LCD display is intended for individuals, clubs, or rental fleets that find the Model PDA Graphic Display system too expensive, too vulnerable, or too complex with its Windows CE interface.

By combining the 303 LCD display and the PDA Graphic Display with the 302 Vario/FR, it becomes possible to configure the two displays for the display of different navigation data. The moving map feature becomes very important when gliding near restricted airspace. In this situation a pilot may choose to configure the 303 to display the turnpoint name, distance, and final glide altitude thereby freeing up the PDA Graphic Display screen to display the moving map data utilizing the maximum amount of viewing area.

300 Series Software

Below you will find the utility programs for the 300 Series as well as the Pocket-NAV program for the PDA. For instruction on the installation and usage of these programs see the 302 User's Manual.

302 Firmware Upgrade 2.63 - Please see instructions below for saving file.
Right-click on the firmware link.  A drop down menu box will be displayed.  Click on "Save Target As" and then a "Save As" window will be displayed.  Select the location you wish to save the file in by clicking on the drop down arrow located to the right of the "Save In" box which is located at the top of the dialog window.  Next, enter the name you wish to save the file as in the "File Name" box located at the bottom of the dialog window or leave the file name as "300F26300.a37" and then click the "Save" button.  The file will be saved in the location specified.  A "Download Complete" Window will be displayed, click the "Close" button.

The following upgrade fixes the following bugs:
 

300UtilityCE v2.57 This utility program is used to configure the 302 as well as upload data and download flight logs and databases. This version is for installation on a PDA that runs Windows CE, such as the Compaq 1500 Series as well as the Compaq 2100 series. Save the program somewhere on your computer and then transfer the file to the Windows/Start Menu folder in your Pocket-PC. You can then invoke the program from the Start menu of the Pocket-PC.

300UtilityPC v2.56  This program is the same as above but is intended for installation on desktop and laptop computers. Save this file to your desktop. From there you can double click on the icon to run the program.

300UtilityiPAQ v2.57 This is the utility program needed to configure the 302 if you are running Winpilot on an iPAQ. Save the program somewhere on your computer and then transfer the file to the Windows/Start Menu folder in your Pocket-PC. You can then invoke the program from the Start menu of the Pocket-PC. 
 

Compac iPAQ Reloader

As requested by the IGC, Cambridge has made available for downloading two files for the downloading and security verification of flight logs originating in a 302. 

	DATA-CAM2   This is the data transfer program which transfers flight log data from a 302 Flight Recorder to a computer file.
	VALI-CAM2  This program verifies the security status of an .igc format log file that originated in a 302.

Click the respective hyperlink above to download the file.

302 Specifications:

The above size dimensions refer to the box itself. When installed in a ship with a serial data cable connected to the back (for the PDA) the total length is 190 mm (8.5"). In other words, when installing allow 190 mm of space behind the instrument panel for clearance.

Pricing will be found on the Prices page.

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