XC Soar

This site is to make using XCSoar easy. I have been using XCSoar on XH4700 for a few years and I believe that it is the best PDA/PNA program for soaring.

Latest updates (28 Aug 2011) - 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 Radar 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]
Main XcSoar Forum on Nabble -> [link]
LK8000 official site -> [link]
LK8000 Forum -> [link]
Terrain generator for XCSoar -> [link]

NOTE: XCSoar development got split into 2 groups from version 5.2.4:
- Old team keep developing XCSoar
- Paolo who forked,developing his LK8000, that is especially designed for PNAs.
I personally stayed with original XcSoar, now in an excellent rel.6. On the other side, especially for PNA, you might have a look on LK8000 that is very good too.

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 6.1) - 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). Plse use right cab as per your PDA Operatin system (for 38xx/39xx - PPC2000, HX4700 depends on WM you use - PPC2003 or WM5).
- Now you need to get map, waypoints, airspaces etc. downloaded & configured
READY to FLY Tomek set for PDA- here is the best approach, just use my data set (based on rel. 6.1). Everything is configured, all data available, just change name for logger, your glider polar, connection parameters etc - you ready to go. All files required for Germany, Alps, FR, or PL are there.
- Download my Set here -> [link] (22MB) -> updated 22 May 2011
- Unzip & save directly on your SD Card (so you have two directories XCSoar6 & 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, set communication, chose your home location and you ready to go.

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 2010 (freshly updated & created):

Germany 2011-> [link] UPDATED
Switzerland 2011 in 2 versions MIL On (weekdays) -> [link] & MIL Off (weekends) -> [link]
Austria 2011 -> [link]
Italy 2008 (modified! - only north) -> [link]
France in two versions full 2011 (very complex) -> [link] and modified ALPS version I prepared myself for flying around Sisteron -> [link] UPDATED
Poland 2011 -> [link]
Slovenia 2009-> [link]
Czech Republic 2011-> [link]
Spain 2010 -> [link]
Netherlands 2011 -> [link]
UK 2011 -> [link]
Norway 2010 -> [link]
Slovak 2011 -> [link]
Hungary 2011 -> [link]
All in one ZIP -> [link] UPDATED

Waypoints [top]

It is top up to date list covering Germany, Alps, PL, CZ and FR. It contains airports, some waypoints like passes or mountains and most importantly outlanding fields (from SIP, France catalog and others). Plse note that outlanding waypoints are coded to use with outlanding catalogs - see my Outlanding -> [link] pages for more details.

Waypoints De+Alps file in CUP (SeeYou) format compatible with SIP 2009 -> [link]
Additional file with comments & extra info (like runway, elevation, frequency, describtion) for SIP 2009-> [link]
Waypoints for SIP 2011-> [link]
Waypoints Describtion for SIP 2011-> [link] UPDATED

Plse remember that you should use both files as they match through waypoint 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]
Howeer I very much recomend you to use SIP that is constantly updated unlike OLG.

Maps [top]

You can generate your own maps on XCSoar web page -> [link]. Maps can be generated with two terrain resolution: normal resolution (9arc) or high resolution (3arc). I recomend to use normal one.

I share here most commonly used maps in normal resolution:

Germany -> [link]
ALPS -> [link]
CZ+SK -> [link]
Poland -> [link]
France -> [link]
Spain -> [link]

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 above files must be stored in main data directory -> XCSoarData

WM 6.1 for HX4700 - you can download my upgrade set here -> [link] (48MB)
WM 6.5 for HX4700 - you can download my upgrade set here -> [link] (43MB)