XC Soar
This site is to make using XCSoar easy. I have been using XCSoar on XH4700 for more than a year and I believe that it is the best PDA/PNA program for soaring.
Latest updates (25 May 10) - details here->[link]
Program key features & links [top]
Key Features
- Moving map with worldwide topology (vector map with roads & cities) and terrain
- Tasks, waypoints, excellent airspace management
- Thermaling support, end-glide computer, wind calculation
- Flarm support inc. Flarmnet and climbing values, relative height
- OLC approved logger
- Available for PDA, PNA and PC
- Open source, constantly developed and FOR FREE
Best Links
- Official XCSoar page -> [link]
- Download XCSoar from Source Forge ->[link]
- Main XcSoar Forum on Nabble -> [link]
- LK8000 & Paolo's site -> [link]
- LK8000 Forum -> [link]
- Terrain generator for XCSoar -> [link]
NOTE: XCSoar development got split into 2 groups, nothing strange for Open source.
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Old team keep developing XCSoar from version 5.2.4
- Paolo who forked,developing his LK8000 also from version 5.2.4
My suggestion is to use currently a very good 5.2.4 (like in my set) and wait what both teams will prepare. I will test then new versions and give you my recommendation.
XCSoar Installation [top]
There are two ways to install XCSoar - on your PDA internal memory or on SD Card (I prefer SD Card version).
- PDA internal memory (official release 5.2.4.) - XcSoar will be installed on you PDA internal memory like any other program. Data (waypoints, logs, airspaces etc.) will be stored on your PDA under My Documents/XCSOARDATA:
- download CAB file -> [link] for your PDA/PNA and install like any other windows mobile program (copy on PDA and just click CAB file, installation will be done automatically)
- Now you need to get map, waypoints, airspaces etc. downloaded & configured
- PNA version (beta release LK8000 1.22a)- if you have PNA (like HP 314 etc.) you should you newest Paolo's beta version. They work very stabile and has pleanty of great features. Program as well as data will be stored directly on SD card.
- If you like to test LK8000 (no official release so far) ask here -> [link]
- READY to FLY Tomek set for PDA (Germany or Alps or Poland/Czech). Here is the best approach - use my data set (based on rel 5.2.4A). Everything is configured, all data available, just change name for logger & your glider polar - you ready to go. All files required for Germany, Alps or PL_CZ flying are there. This set has hi-res maps in.
- Download my Set here -> [link] (44MB) -> updated 16 Mar 10
- Unzip & save directly on your SD Card (so you have two directories XCSoar & XCSoar data)
- Go to your PDA's file explorer and just run ".exe" file for your PDA - that's it
- customize: enter your name, choice your glider, chose your home location and you ready to go.
- if you like to fly in DE/CZ_PL - just change map set and airspace you like.
Airspaces [top]
Xc soar uses Open Air format for Airspaces. It is very handy, as you can very simple edit the files to your needs, as official releases have often too many information. Here you can download newest collection of my Airspaces files for 2009 (freshly updated & created):
- Germany 2010-> [link]
- Switzerland 2009 in 2 versions MIL On (weekdays) -> [link] & MIL Off (weekends)
- Austria 2008 -> [link]
- Italy 2008 (modified! - only north) -> [link]
- France in two versions full 2009 (very complex) -> [link] and modified ALPS version I prepared myself for flying around Sisteron -> [link]
- Poland 2010 -> [link]
- Slovenia 2009-> [link]
- Czech Republic 2010-> [link] -> UPDATED
- Spain 2010 -> [link]
- Netherlands -> [link]
- All in one ZIP -> [link]
Waypoints [top]
I have freshly prepared waypoint list for Germany & Alps. It contains airports, some waypoints like passes or mountains and most importantly outlanding fields. It is based on modified SIP database + some SeeYou waypoints. Plse note that outlanding waypoints are coded to use with outlanding catalogs - see my Outlanding pages for more details.
- Waypoints De+Alps file in DAT format -> [link]
- Waypoints for Poland & Czech Rep Airports -> [link]
- Additional file with comments & extra info (like runway, elevation, frequency, comments) for De+Alps and PL+CZ together-> [link]
Plse remember that you should use both files as they match through waypoints names.
If you like to use my OLG Outlanding catalog rather than SIP, here are Waypoints with page coding for you -> [link] + file with descriptions for it (only Germany) -> [link]
Maps [top]
You can generate your own maps on XCSoar web page. Maps can be generated with different terrain resolution. Low resolution produces small, fast files but not very detailed, Hi resolution may require quite big files, working slow, especially on old PDA but the detail is excellent. See the example:
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| Low resolution Map (30 ARC) | Hi resolution Map (10 ARC) |
I share here 3 sets of Maps with Low, med and hi resolution. I use hi-res on my HX4700 and it works well. On slower devices use med res and if you do not have SD card - go for low-res map:
- Hi-Res (10 Arc-point per 300m): [Germany] [Alps] [DE_CZ_PL] [France] [Spain] -> NEW
- Med-Res (15 Arc-point per 450m): [Germany] [Alps] [France] [Spain] -> NEW
- Low-Res (30 Arc-point per 1km): [Germany] [Alps] [France] [Poland] [Czech]
- If you like to generate your maps yourself (very easy)
here are some coordinates I used -> [link] and here is generator [link]
full VGA resolution on hx4700 (and similar devices) [top]
You have hx4700 (like me) and believes that it run XcSoar with full VGA resolution (640x480). Wrong - it runs it only with 320x240 pixels. Annoying, right? Here is how to get your hx4700 run XcSoar with its full power.
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Real VGA can change WM 6.1 resolution Here comparison in hi-res [link] |
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Standard 320x240 pixels |
Real VGA 1.1 |
Full VGA 640x480 pixels |
Get it work:
- Starting point: - hx4700 best with windows mobile 6.1 and XcSoar min 5.2.3FB5
- If you do not have WM 6.1 - you can download my upgrade set here -> [lin k] (48MB)
- Download RealVGA 1.1- it will enable hx4700 to run with full VGA -> [link] (2MB)
- Install both "cab" on your PDA, 96dpi is hi-res, 192dpi is standrd low-res. Do not use ozVGA - this one is much better for WM 6.1
- run XCSoar - you must only adjust fonts - go to menu 12 - change customized Fonts to off.
Troubleshooting:
- More description on VGA mode is here -> [link]
- If you like to stay with "WM 2003 SE" - use "SE_VGA" to enable full VGA-> [link]. It might require to install this system update first -> [link]. Caution - never tested it myself!
Other useful features, files [top]
There are some additional useful files for XC Soar:
- Language file for German -> [link]
- Checklist file to store some additional info, see my example -> [link]
- Additional polars
- ASK 23 - [link]
- ASK 21 -> [link]
- Paraglider DHV 2 class -> [link]
All those files must be stored in main data directory -> XCSoarData