PROXALERT R5 Manual

Pilot’s Guide
PROXALERT R5
Aircraft Proximity Alerter
Version 1.4

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Proxalert Inc.
Copyright © 2004 Proxalert Inc
Document NUMBER PX-UM-R5-US-2004-05-12 -Version 1.4

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Thank you !
You have selected the Proxalert R5 aircraft proximity alerter to help ensure safe and enjoyable flights. Good choice!
Our Design Team has worked very hard to bring this complex piece of technology to you at a reasonable price and with outstanding reliability.
We recommend that you visit our web site to benefit from the latest enhancements with free software upgrades. This proprietary software is referred to as
‘firmware’ in this manual. You can download firmware updates using the upgrade module built into your R5.
Quick support is available by telephone or email. Our contact information is provided at this end of this manual.
How to read this Manual:
We recommend you unpack your unit and check that all accessories are included. Take time to understand the menu structure. You can install your R5
unit in your aircraft or you can familiarize yourself with the functions at home using a regular power transformer delivering 6 to 16 volts DC over a 2.5 mm
jack. Make sure the positive polarity is connected to the center of this connector. Also, you can use the R5 from your car using the cigarette plug cable
included in your R5 kit.
Set the horizontal range to 10 Nm and the vertical range to Unlimited and operate your R5 unit close to a window. Your R5 unit will most probably detect
cruising commercial aircraft.
Your will need to be in your aircraft to check the cruise altitude alerter and local transponder. For the first flight with your R5 unit we recommend you fly
with a fellow pilot so you will have time to explore the versatility of your R5 unit. You don’t have to constantly monitor the R5 unit LCD panel when airborne.
If a threat is present both a visual and audio alert will be sent. You will only need to read your unit LCD panel at this time to get the threat altitude
separation and distance. If you receive an alert, immediately try to make visual contact.

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Contents
Contents .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Important information.................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Cautions and limitation..........................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Brief description...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
An aircraft proximity alerter.................................................................................................................................................................................................9
A cruise altitude alerter..........................................................................................................................................................................................................9
A local transponder tester......................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Unpacking your R5 unit ............................................................................................................................................................................................................10
The R5 user’s interface..............................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Front panel............................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Back panel.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Menu structure...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Set LCD display ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Set Display mode...................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
Set cruise altitude range.......................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Set audio modes.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
Start firmware upgrade........................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Display System information.................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Display Calibration information..........................................................................................................................................................................................19
Exit.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19

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Setting up your R5 unit..............................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Placement ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Electrical wiring....................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Power Supply......................................................................................................................................................................................................................22
External aircraft power....................................................................................................................................................................................................22
External battery pack.......................................................................................................................................................................................................22
External power brick.......................................................................................................................................................................................................22
Antenna...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
Direct mount (standard configuration)............................................................................................................................................................................23
Remote mount.................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
External antenna..............................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Audio..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................25
Quiet cabin......................................................................................................................................................................................................................25
Noisy environment..........................................................................................................................................................................................................25
Operating your Aircraft Proximity Alerter................................................................................................................................................................................26
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................26
Horizontal range setting.......................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Vertical range setting............................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Threat Squawk code.............................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Principle of evaluation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Limitations..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Altitude reserved combination used as squawk code.......................................................................................................................................................28
Multiple threats with same squawk codes (1200 or 7000)...............................................................................................................................................28
Threat Altitude reporting.....................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Principle of evaluation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Mode A only transponder....................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Ranking by altitude proximity.............................................................................................................................................................................................29
Ranking by distance proximity............................................................................................................................................................................................29
Absolute MSL or Relative ..................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Limitations..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
Altitude substitution........................................................................................................................................................................................................30
Multiple threats with same squawk code.........................................................................................................................................................................30

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Vertical trend indicator........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Principle of evaluation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Limitations..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Estimated Distance (eNm)....................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Principle of operation..........................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Resolution...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Limitation ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Multiple threats with same squawk code.........................................................................................................................................................................33
Threat transponders apparent output power.....................................................................................................................................................................33
Calibration ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Traffic Alerts.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Visual warning....................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Visual alert..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Audio alert ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Operating your Cruise Altitude Alerter .....................................................................................................................................................................................35
Principle of operation...........................................................................................................................................................................................................35
How to set a proper altitude tolerance range .......................................................................................................................................................................35
In flight usage........................................................................................................................................................................................................................36
Upon reaching your cruise altitude......................................................................................................................................................................................36
Leaving level to climb or descend.......................................................................................................................................................................................36
Limitations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Precision and resolution......................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Pressure balancing holes .....................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Operating your Local Transponder Tester................................................................................................................................................................................38
Principle of operation...........................................................................................................................................................................................................38
Limitations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
Code corresponding to an altitude.......................................................................................................................................................................................39
Optimal distance between R5 antenna and transponder antenna.........................................................................................................................................39
Proximity and altitude alerter off during operation .............................................................................................................................................................39
Maintenance ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................40

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Firmware upgrade procedure..............................................................................................................................................................................................40
Permanent installation...............................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Mechanical ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Antenna .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Power.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Audio......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Appendix A.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................42
Specification..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................42
Appendix B.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
Proxalert Customer Service .................................................................................................................................................................................................43
Appendix C.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) approvals...............................................................................................................................................................44

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Important information
Please read carefully all instructions before first in-flight usage.
As with all technology, this unit has certain limitations you should be aware of if you are to get the best results.
Cautions and limitation
The Proxalert R5 may not detect all aircraft flying in the detection volume. The purpose of this unit is to provide you with additional
information to help you make visual contact with threat aircraft.
As a pilot in command you stay responsible to apply the ‘See and Avoid’ concept.
Information provided by your Air Traffic Controller always supersedes the unit indication, which may in some conditions be inaccurate.
Connect the audio out port to your headset thru the accessories included in your R5 kit. Never connect your headset directly to the unit
you may miss important Air Traffic Controller messages.
Always connect the power inlet of your unit to a DC source with a voltage of less than 16 volts or use only a power converter
recommended by Proxalert Inc.
Reversing the polarity of the power supply voltage or powering the unit from an AC source or powering the unit from a voltage source
higher than 16 volts will not only damage the unit but also pose a fire hazard or even an electric shock.
Always feed the unit through an appropriate rating fuse. (1A or less)
Do not use or expose your R5 unit to liquid, snow or rain.
To avoid damage, the built-in pressure sensor is located inside the unit. Two holes (left side and back side) balance the internal
pressure with the external pressure. Do not obstruct these two holes. This will prevent the built-in altimeter from accurately measuring
your own altitude and therefore put a traffic threat out of the vertical detection window.
To operate or store your unit the ambient temperature must be within these limits: –20ºC (-4ºF) to +55ºC (130ºF)

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Brief description
The R5 unit integrates three devices into one tiny package:
An aircraft proximity alerter
The R5 collision avoidance system detects transponder replies from aircraft flying in your vicinity and simultaneously displays squawk code, altitude and
estimated distance of up to three traffic threats. The R5 is a passive device so you need to be under radar coverage. Once a threat is identified, a vertical
trend symbol will inform you if the threat aircraft is climbing, descending or leveling. The R5 increases your ability to visually locate threat traffic and better
apply the ‘See and Avoid’ concept. Refer to ‘Proximity alerter’ section.
The R5 shielded volume is programmable in vertical and horizontal ranges to match your actual flight condition.
The slant detection range (when airborne) expands from some feet to 5 nautical miles. The internal high performance, low power radar reply processor
eliminates threat aircraft found outside the vertical detection range. The vertical detection range is programmable from +/-1000 to +/-5000 feet.
An Unlimited vertical mode (to use on ground only) allows detection of aircraft cruising at up to FL440.
A visual and audible alert will be triggered should a traffic threat enter your programmed shielded volume.
A cruise altitude alerter
The R5 also includes a simple but powerful cruise altitude alerter. A single pushbutton activates or de-activates your cruise altitude monitor.
The cruise altitude tolerance may be set according to actual flight conditions. Refer to ‘Cruise Altitude Alerter’ section.
A local transponder tester
Flying with a functional transponder is key to your safety. Your R5 unit gives you the ability to monitor your own aircraft radar transponder replies to
ground radar sensors and active anti collision systems (TCAS). Both your squawk code and altitude can be monitored. Refer to ‘ transponder tester’
section.

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Unpacking your R5 unit
Your R5 kit contains the following items. Before preparing your unit for use, please check that all these parts are included.
Contact your Proxalert representative for part replacement.
Description Quantity
ÀThe R5 unit 1
ÁCigarette lighter plug cable 1
ÂBand-L antenna 1
ÃMounting legs 2
ÄMounting screws 2
ÅAudio cable 1
ÆImpedance adapter cable 1
ÇAudio Y adapter 1
ÈRubber feet 4
&Pilot’s Guide 1
*Warranty card 1