LX Navigation Helios Variometer
General Description
LX Navigation Helios Variometer is “all–in one” standalone speed to fly variometer, final glide calculator and simple navigation system with internal backup battery, audio warnings and vario beeps. The unit has Flarm input to connect Flarm units to the system. It is the smallest vario system with outline dimensions of 60mm x 60mm with standard 57mm cut–out. It will fit into every glider panel. LX Helios has built in high precision digital sensors based on latest MEMS technology for altitude, vario and G–force. All sensors are sampled with more than 100Hz sample rate. All real time data is shown on its indicator. Vario data is shown with mechanical needle via stepper motor. As integral part it has 1.8″ sunshine readable LCD display to show all user defined data during flight. For accessing all system options, a rotary switch with a push button is used. A doubleseater installation is possible by adding LX Helios Repeater on system CAN bus. For backup and safety reason, it has internal battery, which will work for about three hours after main power supply is disconnected. Integral charger will charge up backup battery when external power supply is connected (12V).
Classic vario scale – Helios comes with a classic analogue variometer scale.
Clear interface & legible data – Composed with great amount of functionalities, It’s user interface stays very legible and easy to use.
One multifunctional rotary knob – On the left hand side of the Helios is a single rotary knob that allows you to scroll or push-press through the system.
Standalone or with Zeus – Helios can be used in two different configurations, as Standalone all in one vario unit or in pair with Zeus navigation unit.
Internal backup battery – The unit has a built in rechargeable battery that serves for up to three hours of autonomy.
The smallest vario – Device measures only 60 mm x 60 mm x 75 mm and can be fitted in every glider instrument panel.
LX Navigation Helios is a special order item and may take up to four weeks for delivery.
Why LX Navigation?
LX Navigation is one of the oldest glider navigation brands. Its founders started experimenting with glider computers way back in the 70's and the Company has been working on improving your flight performance ever since.
Throughout the last 40 years or so it has been working on instruments that most pilots will have used at some time. In fact our equipment can be found in almost any gliding club!
LX Navigation equipment has always been ground–breaking.
LX Navigation motto?
Be the first. Be the best. Be different.
Features
• Extremely bright direct sunlight readable display
• Integrated G–meter (g–forces recorder)
• 3–axis gyroscope
• 3–axis accelerometers
• Completely new design using latest pressure transducers technology
• Extremely fast vario data acquisition
• Rotary knob with push function, for simple and effective handling
• OAT probe input (outside air temperature)
• OAT sensor is not included in basic set
• Internal beeper (for Flarm warnings…)
• Flarm port (input of Flarm data)
• CAN Bus, for connection to other devices
• External SD Card interface, for firmware updates
• Standard 57 mm size, the smallest vario ever built
• Built in rechargeable battery serves for up to three hours of autonomy
• Charging of battery is realized via main power
• Pre–loaded polar database
Functions
• Variometer
• Speed–to–fly function
• Final glide calculator based on external GPS data
• Simple navigation to Home (take–off location)
• Flarm radar screen
• Thermal assistant screen
• System extensions: Second seat configuration, Remote control operation (LX Joy)
• Logbook
• Flight information with Barograph
• Altitude warning
Compare and Decide
Vario Indicator | |||||
Size | x95mm |
x52mm |
x52mm |
x52mm |
x52mm |
Display | |||||
Battery | |||||
IGC Flight Recorder | |||||
MOP Sensor | |||||
AHRS | |||||
Bluetooth | |||||
WiFi | |||||
AIRPORT Navigation | |||||
TASK Navigation | |||||
TURNPOINT Navigation | |||||
AIRSPACE Support | |||||
PNA/PDA connectivity | |||||
FLARM input |
Structure of Main Pages
To switch between main pages use left/right rotation of rotary switch. Complete structure of main pages is seen bellow.
* Only when any external GPS source is connected to LX Helios
** Only when Flarm is connected to LX Helios.
Vario Page
Vario page is most commonly used page while flying. On this page many basic information can be found.
On top and bottom different values are shown. For list of all available options please refer to Setup/Indicators section.
In middle row different status icons are shown:
– Main battery indicator (outline of symbol is white):
3 green bars – more than 12.0V.
2 yellow bars – more than 10.8V
1 red bar – less than 10.8V.
– Backup battery indicator (outline of symbol is red):
3 green bars – more than 80% left.
2 yellow bars – between 20% and 80% left.
1 red bar – less than 20% left.
– Thermal icon:
Circle with arrow – thermal mode
– GPS status:
Green arrow – GPS ok (3D)
Red arrow – GPS bad.
– Flarm icon:
Is visible when Flarm is detected on system
– Yellow arch shows vario average
– Wind indicator and ground speed are displayed under status icons.
– Above wind indicator there is needle indication:
• Var–Vario
With press on enter button, pilot can change volume, MC, ballast and bugs values. To exit from sub option, press enter until it disappears or wait for 2s and vario page will be active again. To change any of the values above use rotary switch.
Thermal Assist Page
This page is seen only when any GPS source is connected to Flarm port at BR19200.
Thermal assistant page can assist pilot when thermaling to get better sense how thermal looks like. Thermal is presented with use of different colored dots.
Default color scheme:
White colored dots shows maximum climb detected in last turn.
Width of dot represents strength of climb/sink.
Red dots represents climb.
Blue dots represents sink.
MC color scheme:
White colored dots shows maximum climb detected in last turn.
Width of dot represents strength of climb.
Red dots represents climb which is stronger than 1.2*MC setting.
Yellow dots represents climb in range of 0.8*MC and 1.2*MC setting.
Blue dots represents climb less than 0.8*MC setting.
If MC setting is less than 0.5m/s, default color scheme is used!
In the middle, wind indicator is shown as a green arrow with numerical indication for direction and speed. Wind arrow is track up orientated.
Other marks on this page:
• Avg: Integrator value of vario.
• M: Maximum value in thermal – white dot.
Upper and lower navboxes are configurable in TA Setup:
• TAvg : Average of thermal from start of circling until “now”.
• Gain: Altitude gain from start of circling until “now”.
• Alt: current QNH altitude
• Netto: netto vario
To access TA setup, press enter on this page.
Auto TA: It is possible to enable automatic switch to thermal assistant from any other page when circling is detected.
Max. beep: Position of max thermal (white dot) can be reported as a beep. If thermal beep is enabled, LX Eos will generate beep always when you are at position of maximum climb (white dot).
Beep offset: Maximum thermal is announced with beep sound if max beep is enabled. Set beep offset in second here. Beep will be generated before you reached maximum thermal.