Here you can find the most common questions and answers
LCD
Q - Why has Strato small LCD?
A - Strato has 3" color transflective LCD (65 x 40 mm of active area). Transflective LCD reflect environment light back, so it needs much less energy to be visible in shiny space than transmissive LCD, what uses brute force method - more light coming from sun beets by more light (= energy) from battery. Therefore Strato LCD drains battery much less than classic transmissive LCD, so battery don't have to be brick size and weight. Transflective screens are not very common and has limited maximum size. Laptops also don't have 24" screens, but if you can connect one if you need to extend working area. The same with Strato - If you need to have larger screen, there are many cheap phones/tablets, what can serve as display extension. Strato can manage extended energy demands for these devices from external power bank as pass through device - read more in power management part.
FLARM/FANET
Q - Are other FLARM aircrafts visible on Strato?
A - No, they are not. FLARM interface is transmitter only - it is called beacon, so you are visible for solid gliders and other ultralight aircrafts. This use case is negotiated by out FLARM/FANET modules provider (Skytraxx) and we believe that in paragliding application is most important to be seen, because you cannot do much if 200kph flying glider don't see you on its way. We would say it is similar like bicycle on the high way. Of coarse, FANET network works in bidirectional data flow, so you can see other FANET devices around you.
Q - What is the range of FLARM on Strato?
A - Standard answer like "up to 100km" would be theoretical correct, but useless in practice. We placed a goal 5 km as satisfactory. It came from theory - How far ahead you need to know about gas station while driving 200 kph on highway (in unlimited speed region in Germany of coarse :) We found it similar to fast moving aircraft around you. Therefore we tested Strato's FANET range in the worst possible conditions - flying PPG, inside cloud, freezing temperature, one device grounded - and range was around 15 kilometers. Another nice weather day, range was more than 40 km, but we assume nobody cares about nice conditions use case.
Q - I can't get the device to show on OGN.
A - Strato forward received FANET data to XCtrack app, but app forward via GPRS/LTE only itself position. Other nearby pilots are just shown in app. This is XCtrack app policy, we don't have any influence on this behavior.
Connectivity
Q - Is possible to connect an eReader via USB and an IPhone via Bluetooth (Flyskyhy) to share telemetry data to both devices simultaneously?
A - Yes, it is possible. Bluetooth connection is working. Bluetooth connection can be used for XCtrack , Flyskyhy and other apps.
Battery
Q - Is battery in Strato exchangeable?
A - Strato is equipped with Li-Poly rechargeable battery (single cell 5000 mAh), which is installed permanently inside casing, attached with adhesive tape to back cover and connected to main electronic board with connector. Therefore is it not impossible to change it, just little skills are needed. We would compare this procedure to mobile phone battery replacement. Easy for somebody, but difficult for another person.
Speaker
Q - The speaker is completely unprotected! Do you plan on placing some sort of grill/protection over it or is it really going to stay that way? Large uncovered speaker seems to be weak element of Strato. It looks like big button, just press it. Is there any speaker protection?
A - Speaker is one of dominant components, so we left it unprotected. We tested many types of speakers and we found this one to be very durable. It can play nice range of sound, even very good lows. Its mechanical construction is not flat. Overall 16mm height works not only as high quality audio transducer, but it also brings advantage of "deep" design, where active membrane is drowned 5mm below case surface. This speaker is also IP67 waterproof! Please watch this video if you have any doubts about speaker durability https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T20MyZYOG0
Pages and widgets
Q - What kind of widgets and pages are available? What kind of different screen setups?
A - The first layer of setup is preset profile, where you will choose whole set of stored settings. Profiles can be named e.g. XC, Comp, PPG, Basic, Advanced etc. The second layer are pages/screens, what can also have custom names, e.g. thermaling, gliding, FAI triangle or acro. The last layer are particular widgets, what can be specific size and position.
Sensitivity
Q - Can you tell me something about how responsive it will be compared to current varios, e.g. XCtracer?
A - Strato is equipped with the best possible sensor set and their software fusion results into instant vario response function. Of course, Strato is not worse than its little brother SkyDrop, which has this function also implemented. We wouldn't judge comparison with XCtracer, as we are in conflict of interests and also Koni is our friend :) but you can maybe find some independent videos on YouTube.
Q - What kind of features in airspace update and airspace warning?
A - There is detailed map on color screen of Strato, so airspaces can be presented there in very practical way. In a similar way like on XCtrack app. There are also obstacles visible, particularly wires (not only for PPG pilots).
Mount
Q - Will be any mount (strap for the leg or mount for the riser) included? Would it be possible to mount to tandem risers? Does it have safety cord?
A - Of course, there is safety strap attachment point, little (5mm) passthrough hole, like mobile phones have 5-8 years ago, just larger one. Back of Strato is flat, there is surface for cockpit Velcro mount. We plan to design some kind of riser mount, as we believe it is much better than leg mount. This topic is not closed for now.
Broken LCD
Q - LCD on my vario is broken. What to do?
A - No worries, broken LCD can be repaired. The first of all write email to info@skybean.eu with subject "Broken LCD on Strato".
Q - Can I repair broken LCD by myself?
A - It is possible to repair Strato LCD, but it is quite complicated, so we don't recommend it. Please ask via email, where we can discuss about your situation.
No sound - silent vario
Q - I suddenly can't hear the barrio sound. In demo mode, is heard sound. What kind of problem?
A - Strato is may be in silent mode after start-up, so if you want to hear vario sound, select "Flight time" widget and manually start the flight by long press. This feature will help you to be nice to other pilots before launch. By default, the sound will be enabled automatically after launch. To disable this function, please uncheck "Audio only in flight" checkbox in Settings>Vario menu entry. Also please read user manual here - vps.skybean.eu/manuals/strato_user_manual.pdf
Invalid update file
Q - I get a message "Invalid update file" on Strato update attempt, please help.
A - We recommend to install the latest D301 firmware. If you have any of release firmwares e.g. R279.23.5, D301 cannot be installed over it directly, so install D298 first and then D301.
D298 here - strato.skybean.eu/fw/devel/D.298.0.0/strato.fw
D301 here - strato.skybean.eu/fw/devel/D.301.0.0/strato.fw
Don't worry about development message after update, D301 works fine for long time.
Deep discharge
Q - My Strato just stopped working and I can´t turn it on no more. The only thing the Strato does is, when I press the circle button the screen flashes shortly.
A - Vario is just in deep discharge, when its main charger cannot manage it. Please connect charger cable to the right USB port (with USB picture). Leave this about an hour. Then turn ON to verify recovery and then possibly switch port to the left one for quick charge or leave connected as it is.
MAC connectivity
Q - I have bought a Strato last year and I am really happy with it. Yesterday, I noticed one little issue: I can not connect the Strato to my MacBook. But it does work well with my Ubuntu desktop PC. Can you help to make it work with my MacBook as well?
A - Please install this tool - www.android.com/filetransfer
Barometric altimeter inaccuracy
Q - Altimeter is showing negative values for last few flights, before everything worked perfectly.
A - According FAI specification, vario writes altitude related to standardized QNE pressure into IGC. You can of course change baro altimeter on vario according actual QNH pressure, what compensates pressure changes caused by weather. But into IGC is always written QNE (1013.25 hPa). You can learn more about this topic here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter_setting
Then if there is high pressure weather, when actual QNH is higher than 1013 hPa, vario writes into IGC lower altitude than in reality. If there is actual QNH pressure 1020 hPa, vario will measure 1020 at see level, what is higher than 1013.25, so vario will show negative (below see) level altitude, as higher pressure means lower altitude. Some XC servers compensate this pressure difference or don't show negative values, some don't. There are 2 ways how to correct baro altimeter.
- You can adjust your local QNH pressure in vario according value provided by meteo service.
- You can change baro altitude to known value, e.g. on takeoff or landing place before flight.
You cannot do anything with baro altitude values written into IGC, as it is always related to QNE constant. It prevent cheating options, where pilot will be able to change baro altitude in IGC, e.g. make it lower during flight if she/he is climbing out maximum allowed altitude in the current airspace.
WiFi network management
Q - How can I delete a WIFI SSID on my Strato? I changed the password an now the start can’t connect anymore an it doesn’t ask me for the new PW. I tried everything, but couldn’t solve the issue…
A - Connect Strato to PC and clear stored network from text file networks.cfg (edit with notepad) located in config folder.
PPG vario
Q - I intended Bluetooth to my Phone (galaxy 6) and use the phone to interface to my headset. I have the unit paired to my phone but I get no sound from it. Is there something I can use to accomplish this?
A - You need app running on phone, what will translate Bluetooth data to sound. If you connect vario to your phone via Bluetooth you can pass vario sound to your PPG headset. We've tested this function with XCtrack app and Sena R50 headset, it works fine. Don't forget to enable audio vario in app and also move Strato priority on top of sensors. Not need to change default values, just enable vario in app. If you will hear it from phone, then sound will go to headset when connected. App needs to run to pass sound to headset. You can switch off screen and just put phone into your pocket, it will run on background.
Altitude above ground inaccuracy
Q - There is wrong reading of AGL when I soar on coast ridge at my home site.
A - Vario calculates altitude above ground as difference between actual GPS altitude and terrain altitude stored inside (so barometric altimeter change/offset has no influence). Terrain data values are arranged in grid with 90m resolution, as this is reasonable tradeoff between data package size and physical resolution. Between these points of grid, vario use linear approximation of terrain data estimation. Therefore slopes or cliffs cannot be modeled exactly. GPS altitude accuracy depends on signal strength (how many satellites are fixed). Moreover, GPS altitude has built in phase shift delay (as prevention from terrorist attracts), while horizontal coordinates needs to be precise for navigation. AGL is designed to be used for situations, when pilot don't have reference, particularly in flatlands, e.g. Am I 1500 or 2000m above ground? For altitudes couple tenths of meters or lower, we strongly recommend to use eyes, not devices :)
Custom vario audio
Q - Is possible to upload a custom sound profile for this Vario to be played through the internal speaker?
A - There is web server running in Strato, where 3 tools are provided
- Audio profile editor - is used to edit audio characteristics of vario sound. There is description inside this tool. For beginning - hit Load profile to see how it looks like. You can save edited profile to vario or locally to file, where you can then open it in text editor and adjust precisely time constants if it was not possible in editor.
- File manager - is used to access files in Strato, e.g. to download IGC file for XC server.
- GNSS simulator - can be used to check vario behavior (e.g. map aperience) while flying to specified point. You have to uncheck Disable in flight checkbox in WiFi menu, as vario by default disable WiFi (and therefore this tool) once in flight mode.
To access web server in Strato please follow these steps.
- Go to WiFi settings and enable Access point checkbox.
- Connect to Strato network on your computer, default password is 12345678
- Fill IP address to your browser address bar, e.g. 192.168.4.1
- Chose tool, when browser will open the main menu.