BTLE Adapter ATR833 - VFRnav ... this is how it works

[KBfly]

Here I would like to describe setting up the above-mentioned adapter on my ATR833:

1. Hardware installation on the radio

! Aircraft power off, ignition switch off !

• Release the retaining clamps of the SUBD connector at the rear of the radio.
• Disconnect the existing plug
• Plug on the adapter plug
• Lock the adapter’s retaining clamps (if necessary, you can use a thin cable tie)
• Connect the original plug to the adapter
• Lock the retaining clamps
• Check: …everything secure?

2. Setting up the adapter in VFRnav

Bordspannung an, Funkgerät an<

• Switch on phone, tablet, Bluetooth
  → do not search for or attempt to connect via BT on the phone or tablet! This is BTLE, which is not visible here.
  
  

• Launch VFRnav

• Settings → Devices → Device Connections → # Interface (tap) … searching…ATR833_LINK should be found. Select this

(if nothing is found here, see Troubleshooting below)

• Settings → Devices → Device Connections → # Device (tap) select f.u.n.k.e. ATR833 (tap)
• Settings → Devices → Device Connections → # Connected no …should read “yes” here. (Attention! Until version 4.11.0 please ignore the status)
• Settings → Devices → Device Connections → Settings
  

Here you can decide whether to transmit the frequency immediately as the active frequency – or – as the frequency to the radio’s standby mode. (Matter of preference)

Note: these settings do not need to be performed again later, unless you want to change something, e.g. regarding active/passive frequency.

3. Working with VFRnav

Transmit frequency from the airspace segment:


…here the transmission was set to the standby frequency.

Transmit frequency by tapping an aerodrome:

Note: if the BTLE adapter is set up correctly, the aerodrome frequency will appear as a button with light blue text. If the adapter is not set up correctly, the frequency appears as usual in VFRnav.

Now switched the transmission to the active frequency.

4. Troubleshooting

If you have not switched on BT at the system level on your phone/tablet beforehand, VFRnav will switch on BT. A permission request will then appear. I did not choose this option, but switched on BT at the system level beforehand.

If the BTLE adapter is not detected, other BT devices within range could be a possible source of error. For example, on the latest Stratux systems, BT is enabled by default. Those experienced should, for example, connect from Windows using the tool PuTTY to the Stratux via ssh and, in the file: /boot/firmware/config.txt
add the entry or remove the # sign before dtoverlay:

move RPi3 Bluetooth off of hardware UART to free up connection for GPS

dtoverlay=disable-bt

Attention! If you use functions on the Stratux via BT then of course that will not work.
However, since the connection to the Stratux is typically established via WLAN Connect, you should be able to make the above entry.

Possible sources of error can of course be a weak battery (tests when the engine is not yet running). (Well …this should be addressed anyway.)

I hope my tips and explanations were helpful to you. The adapter works perfectly for me. (ATR833)

Best regards,
simply fly
Karsten

[SvenEDRY]

Hello Karsten,
this is a super helpful post
WOW!!!

Please allow me a quick off-topic question that isn’t really on topic: on your screenshots the menus in vfrnav are dark, how do you achieve that? Mine are all white

Kind regards
Sven

[KBfly]

Hello Sven,

Thanks!
Settings-> advanced features

Kind regards, simply fly,

Karsten

[Alex76]

Very good and thorough guide

I did exactly that with my DIY adapter. In the last version, after every startup of VFRNAV I had to re-select the adapter. With the current version, VFRNAV automatically connects on startup. Very cool!

Anyway, great explanation @KBfly

[H655]

Dear Karsten,
thank you so much for the great guide
It turned out really well and you’ve covered everything!

[SvenEDRY]

@KBfly THANKS!!! I can’t do that yet

[KBfly]

Addendum: “…how do I add a new adapter to VFRnav, or how can I, if necessary, get the installed adapter running again?”

It may happen that you install additional BTLE adapters or want to replace an existing one.

Simply swapping hardware doesn’t work like that!

Since each BTLE device is managed under its own MAC address, we need to ensure the existing adapter configuration is deleted.

To do this, go to Settings→ Radio→

…and click the icon in the top right.

After that, set up the adapter using the described method.

Done!