GPS Information Page

Hints and Tips - Competition Procedure

The Comps Panel are striving to stay in line with CIVL and the PWC in terms of the use of GPS's. We already require all pilots to fly with a GPS in order to validate tasks. The following information is designed to enable you to make an informed decision when deciding what GPS to use in FAI competitions this year.

Check'in is the validation and download software used by CIVL and the PWC. The following information is supplied by the author of the Check'in Software:

Check'in supports the following GPS receivers and flight recorder/data loggers:

Garmin:
    12 serie, 38, 40, 45 serie, II serie, III serie *
    eTrex Venture, Mariner, Legend, Vista, Garmin 76, Garmin V

Aircotec:
    Top Navigator (with year 2000 update) MLR: SP24XC (with free-flight firmware)

Data Loggers:
    Renschler SOL17 and RUAG

* WARNING. If the goal time is scored using GPS time then only 12 channel models with the latest software upgrades should be used. Other models may not be accepted as the time recorded is not accurate enough (38, 40, 45, II are not accurate).

Garmin models like the eTrek (basic model), eTrex Summit, eTrex Camo and the eMap must be avoided as their track log recording parameters cannot be changed (they only work in "auto" mode). Garmin models have been used for a couple of years now by many pilots. However their memory is limited compared to the Top Navigator and the MLR units. The high-end eTrex models (Legend, Venture, Vista and also the Garmin 76) allows time interval based track log recording and are supported by CheckIn starting with release 18. They use a different plug than the older Garmin models.

The Top Navigator is a "all in one" unit that includes altimeter, variometer, air speed, thermometer and GPS. It has been specially designed a few years ago for hang-gliders and Paragliders. It can record very long flights and will provide a track log with a 10s resolution.

UK Competitions

As you may know we have developed our own verification software that addresses some limitations of the Check'in program. Part of the development program will be to support approved Garmin eTrex Models. At the moment we are unable to download the eTrex but we hope to be able to do so by the first event in Wales. We cannot guarantee this. If you wish to fly with an approved eTrex please let us know so we can measure the scale of the use of these GPS's. Most competition pilots now also fly with a backup GPS. The MLR Free Fliying is at the moment one the most advanced as it has 4000 track points and many other features that have been designed purely for HG & PG Pilots. It has however been criticised for its menu usability. If you budget will extend to it, the Brauniger Galileo and Top Nav 2 have many more features.

The CIVL GPS working group has recently recommended that future units should have 4000 track points that also record altitude in a non editable format. This is at the request of the Airspace committee in order to adequately police airspace regulations during competition tasks. The MLR already complies with these recommendations and has recently been approved by the FAI as a data logger in order to ratify record flights. Others GPS's navigators that should comply are the Brauniger Galileo and Aircotec Top Navigator 2. Also check out the Garmin 76s.