Total Vario User manual

Total Vario User Manual
Version 30.00
15 June 2023

Contents
1 Safety Notes...............................................................................................5
2 Main Screen................................................................................................6
2.1 GPS Compass..........................................................................................6
2.2 Glide Ratio..............................................................................................7
2.3 Vario......................................................................................................7
2.4 Speed and Course over Ground Status.......................................................8
2.5 Baro Altitude...........................................................................................8
2.6 Airspeed (if configured).............................................................................8
2.7 Wind / Heading........................................................................................9
2.8 Thermal Guide (if configured)....................................................................9
2.9 Target Guide (if configured).....................................................................10
2.10 Flight Time / Local Time........................................................................11
2.11 Battery / Remote Sensor Battery............................................................12
2.12 When you are flying backwards..............................................................12
3 Initial Setup..............................................................................................13
4 Configuration Menu...................................................................................15
4.1 OPERATION MODE..................................................................................15
4.2 OPTIONAL FEATURES..............................................................................15
4.3 BUILT-IN PRESSURE SENSOR...................................................................15
4.3.1 [Barometric Pressure]............................................................................16
4.3.2 [Variometer].........................................................................................16
4.4 BLUETOOTH DEVICE...............................................................................16
4.4.1 Initial Bluetooth Pairing..........................................................................17
4.4.2 Connecting the Bluetooth Device..............................................................17
4.4.3 Connecting the XCTracer.........................................................................18
4.4.4 Connecting the Bluefly Vario....................................................................18
4.4.5 Connecting other external sensors...........................................................18
4.5 BLUEFLY VARIO......................................................................................19
4.6 TEMPERATURE + HUMIDITY.....................................................................19
4.7 AIRSPEED SENSOR.................................................................................20
4.7.1 [Bluefly Pitot Temperature Compensation].................................................21
4.7.2 [Check Vane Wheel]...............................................................................21
4.8 PARALLEL APPLICATION..........................................................................22
4.9 INTERFACE............................................................................................22
5 Settings Menu...........................................................................................24
5.1 FLIGHT DATA.........................................................................................24
5.1.1 [Logfile Folders /FDR /IGC /GPX].............................................................24
5.1.2 [Folder: Flightbook]...............................................................................25
5.1.3 [Folder: Polars]......................................................................................25
5.1.4 [Folder: Waypoints]................................................................................26
5.2 AIRFOIL................................................................................................26
5.3 INTEGRATORS.......................................................................................27
5.4 WIND & TARGET GLIDE RATIO.................................................................27
5.5 DEVICE.................................................................................................28

5.6 OPERATION...........................................................................................28
5.7 SCREEN-SAVER......................................................................................29
5.8 UNITS...................................................................................................30
5.9 APPLICATION.........................................................................................31
6 Vario Menu................................................................................................32
6.1 Acoustic Vario........................................................................................32
6.1.1 [Auto Mute]..........................................................................................32
6.1.2 [Profile]................................................................................................32
6.1.3 [Bind Bluefly Button]..............................................................................33
6.2 SOUND.................................................................................................33
6.3 TONE MODULATION................................................................................33
6.4 TEC VARIO............................................................................................34
6.5 NETTO VARIO........................................................................................34
7 Volume Control.........................................................................................35
7.1 [Master Volume]....................................................................................35
7.2 [Sound Stream].....................................................................................35
7.3 [Lock]...................................................................................................35
7.4 [System / Vario / Stall]...........................................................................35
Recorder Menu..........................................................................................36
8.1 IDENTIFICATION....................................................................................36
8.1.1 [Pilot Name]..........................................................................................36
8.1.2 [Glider Type].........................................................................................36
8.1.3 [Glider ID]............................................................................................36
8.2 FLIGHT RECORDER.................................................................................37
8.2.1 [Auto Recording]...................................................................................37
8.2.2 [Recorder Mode]....................................................................................37
8.2.3 [Name Scheme]....................................................................................37
8.2.4 [Status]................................................................................................37
8.2.5 [Replay]...............................................................................................37
8.2.6 [Stop]..................................................................................................38
8.2.7 Generating IGC or GPX from FDR files......................................................38
8.3 LIVE TRACKING.....................................................................................39
8.3.1 [Auto Tracking]......................................................................................40
8.3.2 [Status]................................................................................................40
8.3.3 [Start]..................................................................................................40
8.3.4 [Stop]..................................................................................................40
8.3.5 [Interval]..............................................................................................40
8.3.6 [Server]...............................................................................................40
8.3.7 [User]..................................................................................................40
8.3.8 [Password]............................................................................................40
8.4 IGC FILE UPLOAD...................................................................................41
8.4.1 [Status]................................................................................................41
8.4.2 [Select For Upload]................................................................................41
8.4.3 [Show Log]...........................................................................................42
8.4.4 [Server]...............................................................................................42
8.4.5 [User]..................................................................................................42
8.4.6 [Password]............................................................................................43

9 Screen Lock...............................................................................................44
9.1 Locking.................................................................................................44
9.2 Unlocking..............................................................................................45
10 Legal Notes.............................................................................................46
10.1 Disclaimer...........................................................................................46
10.2 Copyright............................................................................................46
11 Privacy Policy..........................................................................................47

1 Safety Notes
You use the TotalVario app entirely at your own risk and responsibility.
•TotalVario is NOT a certified instrument.
•Do NOT make any safety-critical decisions based on this app. Especially,
do NOT rely on it when flying over unlandable terrain.
•Be aware that wrong sensor data or a bad GPS will lead to wrong
calculations.
•Be aware that dislayed values for wind, glide ratio, arrival height are
estimated average values which always include a certain error.
•Fly only under appropriate visual flight conditions.
A special WARNING addressed to HG Pilots
Pilots having problems with their landings often try to use the stall alarm as a helper
to find the correct moment to push out. At the first glance this seems to be a nice
idea. But be aware that this is dangerous for several reasons:
•The pitot sensor can fail
•The pitot calibration can fail
•The instrument/software can fail
•Thermal/turbulent air may trigger the alarm too early or too late
•In strong head wind it is dangerous to push out at all
If you rely blindly on the instrument and the airspeed has an error of only a few km/h
you will push out too early or too late and may injure yourself severely!
Learn to land your hangglider safely by yourself without any instrument. Fly a
hangglider that corresponds to your experience and skills. Only after your landings are
perfect you should proceed to a higher classified model.
There is no other or better way. So NEVER ever rely on the stall alarm!
Also you would need to set the alarm speed nearly equal to the trim speed to get the
alarm right in time to react. Consequently there would be lots of alarms during normal
flight…

2 Main Screen
Hangglider Mode, all Features Enabled
2.1 GPS Compass
Shows the direction of motion relative to ground as reported by the GPS receiver
similar to a magnetic compass. As the GPS reports only one position record per
second a damping factor is applied to smooth the display during slow turns.
Three different symbols in the compass show the direction to
•the current target (yellow rhombus)
•the takeoff location (triangle pointing up) and
•the best entry point of the last stored thermal.

2.2 Glide Ratio
This instrument shows the glide ratio (L/D = lift/drag) over ground. 10 means that
you make 10 meters distance over ground with loosing 1 meter height.
The small white bar is the 'short term' glide ratio calculated from the variometer
(vertical speed) and from the GPS speed over ground. It is calculated over a few
seconds the interval is selectable in the settings.
The yellow triangle is the 'integrated' glide ratio. It is obtained from the ground
distance flown in the past time interval (see settings) divided by the related height
loss. If you fly a few circles within a straight glide and gain some height the triangle
will go up (and afterwards probably down again).
Obviously these two indicators are relevant only in more or less straight glide. If
there is no reasonable data (for example during climb while circling or flying zig-zag)
the markers may not be displayed at all.
The yellow rhombus icon is the geometrical glide ratio (distance / height-difference)
from your current position to the target waypoint (normally either your airfield or the
position automatically set at takeoff).
Target calculations are made without any extra safety margin. If the indicators are all
at the same level the target is NOT safely reachable.
Generally, always make sure that you have an alternative place to land that
you can reach safely.
2.3 Vario
An analog variometer indicating instantaneous (bar) and integrated (triangle) vertical
speed. You can configure the integration time in the settings.
The meaning of the scale numbers depends on the vertical speed unit (settings):
•[m/s] Ranges: 0-4 / 0- (1 = 1 m/s)
•[ft/min] Ranges: 0- / 0-16 (2 = 200 ft/min)
•[knots] Ranges: 0- / 0-16 (2 = 2 knots)
The display switches automatically from the small range to the big range and back.
If an airspeed sensor is used and if the Netto Vario option is enabled in the settings
(and a correct polar curve is configured) the instantaneous vario bar is extended so
that the relative netto climb speed is shown (with blue color on top). The netto vario
can be useful when flying with high speed through regions with 'useable' thermal air.
It is only active when the glide path is more or less straight forward.

2.4 Speed and Course over Ground, Status
Shows GPS data and status. On the top left and right there are text indicators related
to flight recorder status live tracking status and operation mode.
2.5 Baro Altitude
Shows the current Flight Level (top left) and the barometric altitude with the
corresponding Qnh-value. A Bluetooth icon appears if an external sensor is configured
(blue when connected else the icon is blinking).
Furthermore the temperature is shown. This can come from a real sensor depending
on the configuration. If no sensor is available a coarse estimate is shown (based on
standard atmosphere).
Caution: Be aware that this is the barometric altitude!
•The barometric altitude increases if the local atmosphere pressure drops during
flight leading to bad too optimistic display values.
•As usual in aviation the barometric altitude is only correct for standard
atmosphere. Temperature has a significant impact.
•The top value is the speed to fly (STF) for best glide the bottom value is the
configured McCready speed to fly. In flight two triangle icons are displayed on
the small vertical graph the upper one is for best glide the lower one is for the
McCready speed. The STF values will change continously while flying.
The two triangle icons will not be visible while you are flying circles. They
become green if you fly through regions with 'useable' thermal air in which
case you should fly with the speed of minimum sink.
•In flight decide which speed you want to fly and try to keep the related triangle
close to the marker at the middle of the scale. This will be more difficult in
turbulent air. Adapt your speed slowly. If the relevant triangle moves to above
the middle you are too fast (i.e. "flying towards ground"). Otherwise if the
triangle is below the middle you are too slow for the corresponding STF.
You can configure the integration time for the STF display in the settings.
2.6 Airspeed (if configured)
Shows the current speed (TAS or IAS see flight menu) and related information.

On the left the McCready speed indicator is located. This indicator is only relevant
while you are flying straight forward without gaining height.
2.7 Wind / Heading
The compass ring on the left side indicates the true direction of motion (top = current
course).
If a reliable wind estimation is available the wind direction is shown by an arrow on
the compass ring and the wind speed is displayed on the right side.
The orientation of the hangglider / paraglider relative to the direction of motion is
visualized by a corresponding icon. The icon rotates left or right in cross wind. This
helps to interpret the current motion status.
2. Thermal Guide (if configured)
This display box is provided to support thermal flying. Basically it has two modes
•Inside thermal / circling - shows the data when circling in a thermal
•Not in thermal - points to the last "good" thermal that was saved and shows
related data
The minimum average climb speed and altitude gain to classify an updraft as "good"
are configurable (Menu Flight - Thermals). As long as no good thermal is known the
last thermal after takeoff is used (even if weak).
When circling in a thermal the base entry altitude the altitude gain reached and the
average climb speed are displayed. The arrow points to the point of best climb within
the last 60 seconds besides that the related value is indicated. The circle symbol
becomes green when the thermal is classified as good.
Example: Inside a new 'good' thermal
- Overall climb speed so far 1.8 m/s
- Thermal start base height 1930 m
- Now 423 m climbed
- 60 sec best lift 6.9 m/s at about 30° right
When you fly more or less straight in the direction of the last good thermal the
thermal guide points to the best entry position and displays the corresponding

geometric L/D value. The best entry position is usually the highest reachable point in
the thermal given the current average L/D.
Example: Flying towards last 'good' thermal
- Base entry of the thermal was at 1720 m
- Effective climb speed was 0.9 m/s
- L/D to best entry point is 5.5
- Best entry point is at 1.1 km about 45° right
2.9 Target Guide (if configured)
The target screen shows the current target name distance an arrow which indicates
the target bearing and either the geometrical glide ratio or the estimated arrival
height.
If you are flying towards the target the estimated arrival height is shown as soon as a
distance-based glide ratio and an instantaneous speed-based glide ratio (both towards
the target) are available.
Otherwise or if you are far away from the target (10000m or 30000ft) the raw
geometric glide ratio to the target is shown.
If you are within the target radius the height above target is displayed which is the
current barometric (!) altitude minus the target elevation. If you use a waypoint as
target take care that the waypoint elevation is correct !
When the hangglider/paraglider is gaining height or when the glide ratio is too small
or too big for whatever reason the target calculations are skipped (because the result
is not meaningful / not reliable).
To get an estimate for the arrival height fly towards the target for at least as long as
the configured time interval of the integrated glide ratio.
Example: Direction towards target
- 8.8 km distance about 15° ahead right
- estimated arrival 770m above target elevation