Tutorial - basics

Installation

GiPSy Flight Manager requires:

• Firefox 2.0
• Linux x86 architecture, Windows x86 architecture
• Serial or USB Garmin GPS, Aircotec GPS
• On Windows: If you use USB connected Garmin GPS, you must install Garmin USB driver (it is usually installed with Mapsource)
• On Linux: garmin_usb driver installed if you have a USB connected GPS (not required for GPS connected using serial-usb convertor)

If your system meets the requirements, install the GiPSy flight manager  (if you installing GiPSy for the first time, you will be asked if http://www.xcontest.org is trusted for installation). You must restart firefox when the installation is completed.

If you have an older Windows XP Home system, you might need to install MSVC liberaries.

Download it from here: Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86).

Starting it

Start the program by selecting Tools -> GiPSy flight manager:

Downloading tracklog

When GiPSy flight manager is started, it automatically starts scanning all available serial ports for the presence of GPS. If a GPS is found, the tracklog is automatically downloaded.

To adjust the device discovery, click on the devices tab. A list of all available devices is shown.

Click on device with right button and select device type - Aircotec MXP-56000 protocol or Garmin GPS.

You may want to disable or enable particular ports by clicking on the checkboxes on the left side of the window.

Selecting flight points

When a tracklog is downloaded, new window is opened.

First do a rough selection and select the tracks that contain your complete flight. Your flight may be contained in multiple subsections (e.g. when you have changed batteries during the flight), select more then one section using the shift key.

In the bottom part of the screen is displayed a height a and speed profile of the selected part of tracklog.

After pressing a "Next" button you will be asked to remove points before launch and after landing. Drag the red circles to adjust the selected area.

Flight information

The IGC file is complete. You may choose to send a flight to XContest automatically or do it manually using your web browser.

Happy flight.