SDI C4 COMPETITION User manual

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 2
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS 2
3.0LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY 3 
3.1 ELEMENTS OF THE DISPLAY 3
3.2 CURSOR POINTS 4
3.3 DESCRIPTION OF CURSOR POINTS 4
3.4 CIRCULAR DISPLAY FOR VARIO OR SPEED TO FLY MODE 7
3.4.1 CIRCULAR DISPLAY IN VARIO MODE 7
3.4.2 CIRCULAR DISPLAY IN SPEED TO FLY MODE 7
3.5 FOUR DIGIT HEIGHT DISPLAY 8
3.5.1 HEIGHT AND HEIGHT DIFFERENCE DISPLAY IN VARIO MODE 8
3.5.2 HEIGHT DISPLAY IN SPEED TO FLY MODE 8
3.5.3 SPEED TO FLY DISPLAY 8
4.0 GPS INTERFACE 9
4.1 WIND DISPLAY WITH GPS INTERFACE 9
5.0 CHANGE FROM VARIO TO SPEED TO FLY 10
5.2 VARIO/SPEED TO FLY VIA FLAPS OR STICK SWITCH 10
5.3 VARIO/SPEED TO FLY VIA SPEED CONTROL 10
5.4 VARIO/SPEED TO FLY VIA GPS 10
5.4.1 CHANGE OVER FROM SPEED TO FLY TO VARIO VIA GPS 10
5.4.2 CHANGE OVER FROM VARIO TO SPEED TO FLY VIA GPS 10
6.0 CALCULATING YOUR SPECIAL POLARS 10
6.1 ESTABLISHING THE POLAR VALUES 10
6.2 CALCULATING THE POLAR COEFFICIENTS 11
6.3 ENTERING POLAR COEFFICIENTS 11
7.0 OPTIMISED CURSOR MOVEMENT 12
8.0 ACOUSTICS 12
9.0 SETUP 13
9.1 ITEMS IN SETUP
13
9.2 EXPLANATION OF SETUP 14
10. THE FIRST FLIGHT 15
10.1 SWITCHING ON AND OFF 16
10.2. THE POLAR OF YOUR GLIDER IN SETUP 16
10.2.1 FINAL ADJUSTMENT OF POLAR 16
10.3 COMPENSATION 16
10.3.1 COMPENSATION AND THE C4 COMPETITION 16
10.4 VARIO DISPLAY 16
10.5 DIRTY WING POLARS 16
10.6 SPEED TO FLY 17
11.0 INSTALLATION 17
11.1 MECHANICAL INSTALLATION 17
11.2 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION 17
11.2.1 DESCRIPTION OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS 17
11.2.2 DIE STECKERBELEGUNG WITH KABELFARBEN PATCHKABEL (RJ45) 18
11.3 GPS INTERFACE 18
11.4 PNEUMATIC FITTING 19
12.0 TECHNICAL DATA (SPECIFICATIONS) 19
13.0 GUARANTEE 19
14.0 DEVELOPMENT AND SALES 20
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C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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1.0 Introduction
Dear glider pilot,
You are now the proud owner of a modern flight computer. The C4 Competition is well proven and
operates with optimum efficiency.
The following changes from version 3.01 have taken place;
♦simple change over from metres to feet
♦new vario characteristics – very fast and steady
♦two vario scales; 2.5 and 5 m/s or 5 and 10 feet/sec
♦new final glide calculation via laid off turning point to goal
♦new flight statistics with displays of average speed over the last 30 minutes and the last 2 hours
2.0 Description of controls
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♦The label on the ON/OFF switch shows that the switch has several functions.
♦When switching on press the ON/OFF switch until the display appears, then you’ll see a version
number appear for a few seconds; this is the software version of your C4 Competition.
Now you must enter QNH and confirm it with the OK switch.
♦When switching off press the ON/OFF switch until OFF 9 appears. After that a countdown takes
place and after showing OFF 0, the C4 Competition switches off.
♦You choose the required cursor point with the left rotary knob. The right rotary knob allows you to
change the values of the chosen cursor point and to leaf through Info when this cursor point has
been chosen (flight statistics). The cursor point you have chosen is shown on the 5 digit display.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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3.0 The Liquid Crystal Display
A special liquid crystal display was developed for the C4 Competition which provides good contrast
over a wide range of temperatures to allow reading in all light conditions.
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3.1. Elements of the display
♦The circular petal display shows vario and speed to fly values.
Vario display Speed to fly display
♦The circular symbol shows you are in vario mode. When in speed to fly mode the symbol dis-
appears.
♦The 2.5 digit display 0.9 shows average climb in vario mode and is a netto vario in speed to fly
mode. (The netto vario shows the vertical movement of the air mass minus the sink rate of the
glider.)
♦The tendency arrows above and below the 2.5 digit display show whether thermal strength is
increasing or decreasing and is a useful aid for centering.
♦If the battery voltage falls below the voltage set in the setup menu then BAT flashes.
♦The 4 digit altimeter 4260 displays altitude.
♦The 5 digit display 138:35 shows the chosen cursor point. (Further information about this under
3.3.)
♦The glide path arrows show if you are above or below glide path. The arrows divide into three
with each division showing the deviation from the glide path (above or below) in steps of 50 me-
tres.
♦The sign Soft shows when you are in SETUP.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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3.2 The cursor points
3.3 Description of cursor points
The framing of the four digit height display and the five digit cursor display is used to highlight the cho-
sen cursor point.
When switching on the C4 COMPETITION the Wind, Mc.Cready value and all values in the Info-
Menu are set to 0.
♦At NAV you can call up the various displays for navigation.
♦At Goto you can call up the various displays for final glide.
♦Distances are taken automatically from the GPS or logger and shown under Distance.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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♦From the GPS interface you receive precise information about the wind. In vario mode the wind
direction and strength is displayed. In speed to fly mode the wind component is shown in addition
to the direction and strength. You may see, for example, 216:45, then C: - 45.
♦If the cursor is set on A.H. (arrival height), the set arrival height (750m) of the next waypoint or goal
appears for 5 seconds in the four digit display. In the five digit display you see the calculated arrival
height (1645m) of the next waypoint.
♦With Vol. you alter volume strength from 0 to 100.
♦Glide angle, L/D, is used to set your polar precisely. Enter the best glide angle of your glider. The
polar can be changed during flight if necessary (e.g. dirty wings from insects). In flight, in addition
to the set L/D (1:50 right) the achieved L/D is shown (1:52 left).
♦Enter your wing loading for the day at W/L. Wing loading is always in kilos per metre squared. You
can change the wing loading value in flight.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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♦With QNH you can set your altimeter to the desired pressure. The four digit display shows pres-
sure in hPa and the five digit display shows altitude.
♦Batt. displays the voltage of your battery.
♦Temp. shows the temperature at the temperature probe (cable 1).
♦A.Climb/McCready shows the average strength of the last thermal and, at the same time, you can
set a suitable McCready value. The average thermal strength is calculated using the total time
spent in the thermal. The change over point from speed to fly to vario is used as a measuring cri-
terion.
♦Info displays the average speed over the last half hour and over the last two hours. You can enter
the set up menu when SETUP is displayed.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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3.4. The circular petal display for vario and speed to fly
The petal display provides an optical display of values for vario and speed to fly modes. A special fea-
ture is the vario display range.
eg. 5m/s climb eg.10m/s climb
The circular petal display of the C4 has a double display image. At the beginning the display fills from
0–5m/s followed by the emptying of the display area from 5–10m/s.
3.4.1 The circular petal display in vario mode
In vario mode the display can be set to 0-5m/s or 5-10m/s. You can change between them by putting
the cursor to A.Climb/McCready and pressing OK. After the change over you will see the chosen vario
range displayed for a few seconds.
Range 2.5–5m/s Range 5–10m/s
The non-linear display shows the vario values well. Nearer to 0 the vario becomes more sensitive.
With an additional analogue vario the values are presented in a linear display. The digital display to the
right of the circular petal display shows the vario average, taking into consideration the set time con-
stant.
3.4.2 The circular petal display in speed to fly mode
In speed to fly mode the circular petal display shows the speed deviation from speed to fly. Flying too
fast is shown by petals above 0 and flying too slowly is shown by petals below 0. Every petal change
(excluding the central one) shows a deviation of 4km/h from speed to fly.
20km/h too fast 20km/h too slow
The digital display to the right of the circular petal display shows the netto vario average, taking into
consideration the set time constant. Flying straight the netto vario shows the movement of the air mi-
nus the sink of the glider.

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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3.5 The four digit height display
The four digit altimeter display is used to show different heights.
♦An altimeter (QNH) and height difference in vario mode
♦An altimeter (QNH) in speed to fly mode
♦Height above or below glide path during final glide
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Info: You can change the altimeter between metres and feet by putting the cursor to QNH and pressing
OK.
3.5.1 Height and height difference in vario mode
In vario mode and by choosing FG:OFF the four digit display operates as a precise altimeter that is set
to QNH. When H:G.VAR is put at 1 in Setup, the four digit display shows height gain or loss in vario
mode – after the change over from speed to fly to vario mode.
3.5.2 The altimeter in speed to fly mode
In speed to fly mode and when using FG: OFF the four digit display operates as a precise altimeter
that is set to QNH.
3.5.3 Glide path display
If you have chosen FG:WP or FG:RTE in the Goto menu, you get a glide path display instead of the
height display. In addition, on the left, you see several glide path arrows. These arrows appear in
vario and speed to fly mode. The arrow symbol divides into 3 arrows up or down. Each arrow repre-
sents a height of 50m.
The speed to fly glide path is the glide path to goal or waypoint and takes into consideration set polar,
set glide angle, wing loading, distance, McCready value, wind and set arrival height. If you call up
FG:WP or FG:RTE on Goto, the cursor jumps automatically to A.H. after 5 seconds and waits for con-
firmation or change of the required arrival height AH-WP or AH-FI. AH-WP is the chosen arrival height
at the next waypoint and AH-FI the arrival height at goal.
A C4 linked to a PosiGraph from SDI, takes the arrival height from the PosiGraph, assuming that a
height for this waypoint has been set in the PosiGraph. You can change this height if you wish. When
no height is given a standard height of 400 metres is used. This value can also be altered.
The arrival height will be used after you have pressed OK. If you want to change the arrival height
again later, then put the cursor to A.H. and press OK. Now you can alter the height. The new arrival
height set will be used when you press OK again.
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C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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Glide path to next waypoint FG: WP
Final glide with FG: RTE with a laid off waypoint to goal
Next waypoint
Goal
Warning: Final glide with FG: RTE only functions with a laid off waypoint before goal. Otherwise you
will get a message NOT: FI and 8888 on the altimeter.
If your goal is another airfield, the setting of QNH is important for final glide because glide path calcu-
lation for final glide is not complete without it. The setting of QNH should therefore be checked before
final glide.
4.0 The GPS Interface
The C4-GPS interface allows you to concentrate on flying and provides you with the following useful
information.
♦wind component on each leg
♦wind component for glide path calculations
♦wind direction and strength
♦distance to a waypoint or for the whole route
♦navigation data
♦altitude of goal – only when linked to a PosiGraph
The C4 can be connected to nearly every GPS system with a standard NMEA 0183 output (we rec-
ommend, for example, PosiGraph, GARMIN).
4.1 The wind display with a GPS Interface
A GPS interface enables calculations about wind to be made. In vario mode when a change of direc-
tion takes pace such as centering weaving and figures of eight etc. the wind direction and strength is
displayed. 045:30 (45 degrees - 30km/h). In speed to fly mode and flying straight ahead the wind com-
ponent along your flight path is shown C:-15 (headwind 15km/h). The automatic wind calculations are
fed directly into the glide path calculations.
Unlike other systems, the C4 only uses data for wind calculation provided by the GPS. Mistakes aris-
ing from the use of faulty compasses are therefore avoided.
045:30
C:-15
or
045:30
After a few
minutes
045:30

C4 COMPETITION Handbook SDI Franz Pöschl GmbH
Version 4.05 01.03.2004
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5.0 Change over from vario to speed to fly
There are four options for changing from vario to speed to fly.
♦flap switch
♦switch on the stick
♦speed determined
♦GPS controlled
5.2 Vario/speed to fly change over via flaps or stick switch
For connection to flaps or stick use the lead provided on the number 2 cable. In Setup you have to set
VS: SW to 1or -1, depending on the type of switch you are using.
5.3 Vario/speed to fly change over – speed controlled
To activate the vario/speed to fly change over via speed you have to set VS: SW to 0 in Setup.
The speeds for the change over are chosen in Setup with VS: VOF and VS: VON. VS: VOF is the
speed when vario changes to speed to fly and VS: VON is the speed when speed to fly changes to
vario.
5.4 GPS controlled vario/speed to fly change over
The GPS controlled change over uses the data supplied by the GPS, speed over ground, vario and set
McCready.
5.4.1 GPS controlled change over from speed to fly to vario
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♦The speed to fly/vario change over takes place
between 90°and 270°if the vario value is greater
than the set McCready value.
♦The speed to fly/vario change over takes place
between 180°and 360°if the vario value is less
than the set McCready value and the circle is
completed in less than 30 seconds.
5.4.2 GPS controlled change over from vario to speed to fly
The vario/speed to fly change over takes place within 10 seconds if your change of direction is less
than 30°.
6.0 Calculating your individual polars
6.1 Establishing the polar values
To establish your special polar you need a few values from the speed polar of your glider;
1. speed at minimum sink (V1) and the minimum sink (W1),
2. speed (V2) at 150km/h sink (W2) at 150km/h.
3. If your sink polar is very flat, take the speed (V2) and the corresponding sink (W2) from the upper
speed area of your glider polar.
Speed polar (L/D) for the ASW 19 (V1=80km/h, W1=0.7m/s, V2=240km/h, W2=6.7m/s)
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90°
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270
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180
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