How to test what the transponder sends?

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joomie
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:49 am

How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by joomie »

Hi!


I made several flights in the Pilotedge network with the Flightfactor A320 Ultimate and now I had problems with the transponder.
My feeling is, that this was the first controller really checking my transponder signal since I did it as always and have
not changed the simulator or aircraft.

The ground controller told me, that the transponder is not in altitude reporting mode.

When I clicked on ident he could se me for some seconds, but then the transponder switched back off and didn't send anything.

So how can one solve this? Which dataref should carry what value on ground and in flight? Or is there any software I can install to see the side of the controller?

My setting was like this:
TCAS_Setting.JPG
TCAS_Setting.JPG (78.09 KiB) Viewed 4002 times
Many thanks,
joomie
Last edited by joomie on Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
X-Plane 11.00pb3, Win 10 (64bit), ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING, Intel Core i7 6700K@4.5 GHz, Inno3D iChill GTX 1080 X3 (no OC), 32GB DDR4 RAM, ASUS Strix SOAR sound card, 1.25 TB SSD, SAMSUNG SUHD 55'' TV 3840x2160, TrackIR5.4.2
Marcus Becker
Posts: 982
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:12 pm

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by Marcus Becker »

Looks to me like your transponder is in STBY mode (bottom right). Change it to TA/RA and you're all set.
Image
joomie
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:49 am

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by joomie »

I think I tried it with TA/RA setting first and switched to STDBY later.
Hope, there is a way to check the other end or have some guidance describing how I can debug that by monitoring datarefs.
X-Plane 11.00pb3, Win 10 (64bit), ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING, Intel Core i7 6700K@4.5 GHz, Inno3D iChill GTX 1080 X3 (no OC), 32GB DDR4 RAM, ASUS Strix SOAR sound card, 1.25 TB SSD, SAMSUNG SUHD 55'' TV 3840x2160, TrackIR5.4.2
zerofay32
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:34 am
Location: Grove City, Ohio

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by zerofay32 »

Another thing I would try is to move the top-Left switch from AUTO to ON and see if that helps.
Andrew Fay
PilotEdge V-3; CAT-11; I-11; Skyhigh 10
Commercial Pilot/Instrument ASEL/AMEL- KOSU / Commercial sUAS
joomie
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:49 am

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by joomie »

I‘m not sure but think that I‘ve tried nearly every possible combination.
I will try it again later.
The switch at the top left should normally stay on AUTO and altitude
reporting should start when airborne, right?
If that‘s the case I‘d like to know why the GROUND controller at Santa Ana airport insisted on
the alt reporting and gave me no pushback clearance yesterday early evening ?
X-Plane 11.00pb3, Win 10 (64bit), ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING, Intel Core i7 6700K@4.5 GHz, Inno3D iChill GTX 1080 X3 (no OC), 32GB DDR4 RAM, ASUS Strix SOAR sound card, 1.25 TB SSD, SAMSUNG SUHD 55'' TV 3840x2160, TrackIR5.4.2
zerofay32
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:34 am
Location: Grove City, Ohio

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by zerofay32 »

SNA and other large airports use Airport Surface Detection Equipment (Usually noted on the Airport Diagram as "ASDE-X in use") and will require aircraft to have the transponders set to mode C or S before issuing a taxi clearance. If the auto function is coded correctly, then Mode C wouldn't be activated until the unit detects takeoff. So you would need to manually select Mode C ON for airports that use ASDE-X.
Last edited by zerofay32 on Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Andrew Fay
PilotEdge V-3; CAT-11; I-11; Skyhigh 10
Commercial Pilot/Instrument ASEL/AMEL- KOSU / Commercial sUAS
joomie
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:49 am

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by joomie »

Okay, thanks. New to me. Learning :-)
Will try at the same airport again this evening.
X-Plane 11.00pb3, Win 10 (64bit), ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING, Intel Core i7 6700K@4.5 GHz, Inno3D iChill GTX 1080 X3 (no OC), 32GB DDR4 RAM, ASUS Strix SOAR sound card, 1.25 TB SSD, SAMSUNG SUHD 55'' TV 3840x2160, TrackIR5.4.2
kullery
Posts: 398
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:13 am
Location: Medina, OH

Re: How to test what the transponder sends?

Post by kullery »

AIM was changed a few years ago to make it standard practice to operate transponder on the ground due to the extensive use of Airport Surface Detection Equipment. ATC will advise if they want it switched off (standby).
Ken Ullery - PPL-SEL, 1G5
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