540 + FF + Statux(Flightbox)

Ok, I have this new tool(IFD 540) in my panel and was trying the flight plan transfer to Foreflight which works good as long as I’m on the same wifi network with the IFD. My problem is that I’m usually connected to my flightbox WiFi so I can get my traffic and weather on FF...so, what’s the best way to continue with FF/Flightbox and still be able to transfer flight plans between the IFD & FF?

Edited by rangerb3 - 05 Jun 2020 at 8:45pm

From what I understand, the FlightBox (really a repackaged Stratux DIY box) cannot connect to other networks. It has to provide the access point. You can configure the IFD to access the FlightBox network and then connect the iPad to it too. Everything then works to get ADS-B in on FF and to transfer flight plans to and from the IFD. 

There's a setting for the IFD to set it in remote WiFi mode. You enter the Flightbox network name and the the IFD can connect to that network. 

If you don't have ADS-B In for your IFD, using a Stratus as the access point allows you to get traffic and weather + AHRS information on Foreflight, while at the same time letting the IFD transfer data to and from FF, FlyQ or other EFBs with the feature. 

YouTube to the rescue!

I found this link which explains how to connect the IFD to a 3rd party WiFi network which will at least allow the IFD to accept flight plan transfers to/from the IPAD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA32exkEoO0

This is exactly what I was looking for...

Because my uAvionix tail beacon is not wired to my IFD...I currently don't have a way to get traffic or weather into the IFD. Until I can determine my best route, I'll continue using my Flightbox with the Ipad & Foreflight to get traffic & weather with the additional ability to push flight plans back and forth from the Ipad/FF & IFD540. I think I'll also be able to use the IFD100 app if I elect to do so....

I'll get everything setup and talking in the next few days and report back on how it works out for me.

Edited by rangerb3 - 07 Jun 2020 at 5:39am

rangerb3 wrote: Because my uAvionix tail beacon is not wired to my IFD...I currently don't have a way to get traffic or weather into the IFD.

The uAvionix tailBeacon is ADS-B out only.  It has no capability to provide traffic or weather in.

HenryM wrote: Doesn't Tailbeacon provide its own WiFi network? If you connect to it, then you won't need the portable unit anymore (unless you really like its AHRS). FF could get it's traffic and weather from Tailbeacon and talk to the IFD.

The tailbeacon does have it's own WiFi network but it's only used to communicate with the beacon to make setup changes. To my knowledge, it cannot be used to push traffic data to anything. Too bad though but...Even if it did, I'd still need the Flightbox for ads-b "in" to get weather.

The tailbeacon was a quick and easy stop-gap to meet the 2020 mandate but, as I'm realizing now...it does have it's drawbacks in the fact that it doesn't interface or supply ads-b traffic data to any other devices in your airplane!

chflyer wrote: I don't consider the tailbeacon to be a stop-gap, and wouldn't down-play quick and easy. It was designed to do one thing well at a very attractive price point (purchase + installation). Those aren't necessarily drawbacks and may be considered advantages. Sure, there are other devices like the Garmin GTX and L3 Lynx which are do-everything boxes which could also qualify as a drawback, and also come with various flavours. In any case they don't meet everyone's wants, needs, or budgets.

Maybe I should have worded it a little different...

I'm not unhappy with the tail beacon but, now that I've upgraded to a larger, more feature-rich panel display than my previous 430W, it would be nice to be able to leverage all of it's capabilities in regards to traffic, weather, and wifi connectivity.

The tail beacon "was" a quick & easy upgrade and, yes it's very good at doing it's job. At that time, It was a much more attractive upgrade considering my other options...I'm just starting to see now that my decision to go, "quick & easy" could have been better thought out! Hindsight is a PIA!

I still have the option to remove the beacon for something different when and if I decide to go down that road. Also, I may do nothing and continue using my portable setup...I'm pretty happy with what it gives me(redundancy) compared to the IFD.

Edited by rangerb3 - 07 Jun 2020 at 4:04pm

Bob,
I was talking about leveraging the full capabilities of my new IFD540 by being able to integrate traffic & weather onto it's big screen. The tail beacon should work very well for anyone who doesn't care about being able to, "push" ads-b traffic and weather to any other avionics installed. The tail beacon is a great way to get 2020 compliant!

Edited by rangerb3 - 07 Jun 2020 at 6:27pm

Today I tried connecting the IFD to my Flightbox but I never got the "transfer" icon in Foreflight.

I went into the IFD maint mode and added the Flightbox to the Networking section, re-booted the IFD into flight mode, went into Aux-Settings and pointed the IFD to use the Flightbox WiFi. The wifi symbol in the IDF went green and I verified that my Ipad running FF was connected to the Flightbox wifi. I never seen the "transfer" icon in the FF route section so, I re-booted FF. Still no joy.

I then setup the IFD to it's default wifi, pointed my Ipad to the same IFD wifi network and was then able to get the transfer icon in FF. Not sure why I wasn't able to get the transfer icon while connected to the Flightbox wifi network but, I know it was connected because the green wifi symbol in the top right corner of the IFD screen went green after a few minutes of connecting it to that network.

Anybody have any clues on what to do next?

As i recall, there are two types of borders in those fields ...green & blue. Green allows you to edit the green highlighted field and blue allows you to move between the fields. 

Edited by rangerb3 - 14 Jun 2020 at 9:40pm

 rangerb3 - Thx Much!! That worked...It's the left large knob that let's you move the field and then you push the right small one to enter characters. It starts on upper case and you have to cycle through all the upper case, then numbers to get to lower case inputs. Stratux doesn't appear to have a password so I left center box empty and right box I changed to remote wifi. After saving and reboot I went to user options and changed network to stratux.


Edited by Flybuddy - 15 Jun 2020 at 9:34am

Thx...flew with it today and is working well!