FreeFlight 87099 Series User manual

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
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EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION MANUAL
For the
FreeFlight Systems
XPLORER ADS-B Receiver (P/N 87099-XX)
Document No: 87214 Revision A
FreeFlight Systems
3700 Interstate 35 S.
Waco, TX 76706

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012
History of Revisions
Dates of Original and Change pages are:
Revision ….. A …………… December 3. 2012
Page Description Page no. Date

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012
Table of Contents
SECTION I GENERAL INFORMATION .....................................................................I-1
1.1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................I-1
1.2 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ................................................................................I-1
1.2.1 General Description.....................................................................................I-1
1.2.2 XPLORER CONFIGURATIONS..................................................................I-1
1.2.3 Example Configurations ..............................................................................I-2
1.2.4 GPS Usage..................................................................................................I-3
1.3 XPLORER INSTALLATION OVERVIEW ........................................................I-4
1.3.1 Connectors ..................................................................................................I-4
1.3.2 Status Lights................................................................................................I-4
1.4 UAT ANTENNA REQUIREMENTS .................................................................I-5
1.5 Technical Characteristics ................................................................................I-6
1.6 PARTS AND EQUIPMENT .............................................................................I-7
1.6.1 XPLORER Receiver Items ..........................................................................I-7
1.6.2 Installation Kits ............................................................................................I-7
1.7 MATERIALS REQUIRED BUT NOT SUPPLIED.............................................I-8
1.7.1 Required......................................................................................................I-8
1.7.2 Optional .......................................................................................................I-8
SECTION II INSTALLATION ......................................................................................II-1
2.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................II-1
2.2 UNPACKING AND INSPECTING EQUIPMENT ............................................II-1
2.3 EQUIPMENT MOUNTING .............................................................................II-1
2.3.1 XPLORER Mounting...................................................................................II-1
2.4 COOLING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................II-1
2.5 XPLORER ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ...................................................II-2
2.5.1 XPLORER INTERFACE – PINOUT ...........................................................II-2
2.6 XPLORER INTERFACE DETAILS.................................................................II-2
2.6.1 Power Input ................................................................................................II-2
2.6.2 Serial Interfaces (RS-232 Version Only) ....................................................II-2
2.6.3 Time Mark Input (PPS) ...............................................................................II-3
2.6.4 Maintenance Interface (RS-232 Version Only)...........................................II-3
2.6.5 Status LEDs................................................................................................II-3
2.7 UAT ANTENNA INSTALLATION ...................................................................II-4

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012
2.7.1 UAT Antenna Ground Plane.......................................................................II-5
2.7.2 UAT Antenna Cable....................................................................................II-5
2.8 EQUIPMENT LIMITATIONS ..........................................................................II-6
SECTION III CONFIGURATION AND CHECKOUT...............................................III-1
3.1 GENERAL .....................................................................................................III-1
3.2 ENABLING TRAFFIC OUTPUT (TIS-B)........................................................III-1
3.3 PRELIMINARY CHECKOUT .........................................................................III-1
3.4 SETUP AND CONFIGURATION (RS-232 VERSION ONLY) .......................III-2
3.4.1 Maintenance Commands...........................................................................III-2
SECTION IV TROUBLESHOOTING...................................................................... IV-1
4.1 XPLORER LED TROUBLSHOOTING PROCEDURE.................................. IV-1
SECTION V INSTALLATION DRAWINGS ................................................................ V-1
5.1 XPLORER RECEIVER DIMENSIONS .......................................................... V-1
SECTION VI TYPICAL INTERCONNECT DIAGRAMS ......................................... VI-1
6.1 XPLORER INTERCONNECT WITH WI-FI ONLY ........................................ VI-1
6.2 XPLORER INTERCONNECT WITH RS-232 AND EXTERNAL GPS .......... VI-2
6.2.1 XPLORER INTERCONNECT WITH RS-232 AND INTERNAL GPS ....... VI-3
SECTION VII XPLORER (RS-232 VERSION ONLY) MAINTENANCE ADAPTERVII-1
SECTION VIII WARNING DISCLAIMER ............................................................... VIII-1
SECTION IX LIMITED WARRANTY...................................................................... IX-2
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Typical XPLORER Installation with Display-connected GPS...........................I-2
Figure 2: XPLORER with RS232-connected Uncertified Cockpit Display.......................I-2
Figure 3: XPLORER with Uncertified Display and Internal GPS Unit .............................I-3
Figure 4: XPLORER Receiver with WiFi Option .............................................................I-4
Figure 5: XPLORER Front Face .....................................................................................I-5
Figure 6: XPLORER Dimensions .................................................................................. V-1
Figure 7: XPLORER Interconnection Diagram – WiFi ................................................. VI-1
Figure 8: XPLORER Interconnect Diagram - RS-232 with External GPS.................... VI-2
Figure 9: XPLORER Interconnect Diagram - RS-232 with Internal GPS ..................... VI-3
Figure 10: XPLORER Maintenance Interface Cabling ................................................ VII-1

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012 I-1
SECTION I GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This document contains the system installation guidance for the FreeFlight Systems
(FFS) XPLORER Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Receiver,
part number 87099-xx hereafter referred to as XPLORER. XPLORER provides a robust
yet low-cost solution for ADS-B In applications.
1.2 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
1.2.1 General Description
XPLORER receives ADS-B messages from the national ADS-B ground station network
and aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) devices.
The system forms the appropriate ADS-B reports from the received data and delivers
these reports to compatible displays. The reports provided to the displays are in
standard ADS-B data protocol.
Compatible displays can include both portable devices such as the iPad or “hard
mounted”, uncertified displays having a standard RS-232 communications port. If using
a portable display, a compatible application, or “app”, must be used in conjunction with
the display device. If using an iPad, several apps are currently available including
FreeFlight Systems’ “ADS-B View” application which can be downloaded through
Apple’s iTunes service.
Connection between compatible displays and XPLORER is accomplished via a WiFi
connection (for portable displays) or through an RS-232 connection (for “hard mounted”
displays).
The reports that are available to be displayed include the full range of Flight Information
Service - Broadcast (FIS-B) data including graphical NEXRAD images and text reports
such as METARS and PIREPS. Traffic Information Service - Broadcast (TIS-B) data
including location, altitude, and type of aircraft surrounding the ownship position is also
available to suitably equipped aircraft. Please note that the display of TIS-B information
requires the use of a certified ADS-B Out capability, making the ownship aircraft a
verified client in the national air space system. System configuration actions required to
provide this capability are described later in this manual (see Section III 2).
1.2.2 XPLORER CONFIGURATIONS
XPLORER is available in several configurations depending on the needs of the user.
These configurations are shown in the table below.
Part Number Display Interface Internal GPS RS-232 Maintenance
Interface
87099-00 WiFi No No
87099-01 RS-232 No Yes
87099-11 RS-232 Yes Yes

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87214, Revision A December 3, 2012 I-2
1.2.3 Example Configurations
Figures 1, 2, and 3 show block diagrams of typical XPLORER installations and
correspond to the configurations shown in the preceding table.
Figure 1 shows a BlueTooth GPS receiver connected to a portable display (e.g. iPad)
and providing that GPS information to XPLORER. Figure 2 shows XPLORER
connected to an uncertified cockpit display using RS-232. Figure 3 shows XPLORER
with the external GPS option connected to an uncertified cockpit display using RS-232.
Figure 1: Typical XPLORER Installation with Display-connected GPS
Figure 2: XPLORER with RS232-connected Uncertified Cockpit Display

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Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012 I-3
Figure 3: XPLORER with Uncertified Display and Internal GPS Unit
1.2.4 GPS Usage
XPLORER uses the Global Position System (GPS) for correlating the ownship position
with the graphical weather and traffic information. Several options exist for using GPS
with XPLORER. These options, along with the priority given to each should multiple
GPS sources be available, are shown in the following table.
GPS Source Priority
Internal GPS (1)
FFS 1201
(GPS-FFS Protocol)
1 (Highest)
Other External RS-232 GPS
Receiver (NMEA Protocol)
Bluetooth GPS paired with portable display running compatible app (e.g.
iPad running ADS-B View) 2
Automatic (2) 3
1) When using an XPLORER with internal GPS, do not connect external GPS.
2) Automatic determination of GPS is possible for those aircraft installations that
include a certified UAT (978 MHz) ADS-B Out transmitter. In this case, the
receiver monitors the ownship ADS-B Out transmissions and reads the ownship
GPS information from those transmissions. This requires the aircraft ICAO code
to be entered into the XPLORER system. This can be accomplished through the
use of the Maintenance Interface described later in this manual.

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
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87214, Revision A December 3, 2012 I-4
1.3 XPLORER INSTALLATION OVERVIEW
Figure 4: XPLORER Receiver with WiFi Option
1.3.1 Connectors
Connectors present on XPLORER are shown in the following table.
Configuration
Connectors
Signal /
Power
(DB-15)
UAT
Antenna
(SMA)
GPS
Antenna
(SMA)
WiFi
Antenna
(SMA)
PN 87099-00 WiFi   
PN 87099-01 RS-232  
PN 87099-11 RS-232
with
Internal GPS
  
1.3.2 Status Lights
Three system status LEDs and three Wi-Fi status LEDs are present on the front face of
the XPLORER. These indicators are described below:

XPLORER ADS-B Receiver
Installation Manual
87214, Revision A December 3, 2012 I-5
Figure 5: XPLORER Front Face
A. Status LEDs
Three status LEDs (RX, GPS, ST) indicate the operational status of the
XPLORER.
B. Wi-Fi Status LEDs
Three status LEDs (AS, T/R, IP) indicate the operational status of the XPLORER
WiFi Interface.
1.4 UAT ANTENNA REQUIREMENTS
The XPLORER requires a TSO-C66, C74, C112, or C154 UHF antenna. Ensure that the
antenna is a 50Ωantenna with a VSWR < 1.7:1 at 978 MHz. The Comant CI-101 and
RA Miller AV-22 stick-and-ball antennas and the Comant CI-105 blade antenna are
examples that meet these requirements. The installation kits available from FreeFlight
Systems contain suitable stick-and-ball UAT antennas.

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Installation Manual
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1.5 Technical Characteristics
XPLORER Receiver (P/N 87099-XX)
TSO COMPLIANCE Uncertified
FCC IDENTIFICATION (WI-FI UNIT) T9JRN171-1
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS
Height 1.4 in (35.61 mm)
Width 3.3 in (83.82 mm)
Depth 4.69 in (119.14 mm)
WEIGHT 4.5 oz (127.5 gm)
OPERATING TEMPERATURE -40°C to +70°C
STORAGE TEMPERATURE -55°C to +85°C
ALTITUDE 50,000 feet
POWER REQUIREMENTS 10 – 37 Volts DC, Typical 0.1 A @ 28 VDC
RECEIVER FREQUENCY 978 MHz
RECEIVER SENSITIVITY <-93 dBm at the antenna
Avionics Interfaces:
TYPE I/O Description
GPS Input/
Output External or internal GPS
Pulse Per Second (PPS) Input /
Output PPS time mark from external or internal GPS
Display Output WiFi or RS-232