Getting Started
To take full advantage of Cumulus, you need a PDA with either an
internal or an external GPS receiver and a set of map files. Currently
Cumulus supports the following hardware devices:
- Android devices up release level 2.2.x (FroYo)
- The Nokia Internet Tablets N800/N810 with Maemo OS2008
- The Nokia Internet Tablet N900 with Maemo OS2009
- Linux desktop devices, e.g. Ubuntu
When you start Cumulus, it will create all the necessary data
directories by itself, if they do not already exist. Furthermore you
will be asked once whether you want to download missing airfield or
map files from the Internet. Your decision is valid until to the
termination of the program. If Cumulus is moving faster than 5 km/h,
no downloads are executed. Only enable the automatic download if you
have an active Internet connection running!
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PDA
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As long as the program runs on the PDA and you are on the move, the
automatic shut-down of the screen to save battery life is
deactivated. If you move slower than 5 km/h, the screen is switched
off after your programmed time. If you then move faster, the screen
is automatically switched on again. The speed limit can be configured
in the Look&Feel
settings.
For operation over several hours you need to
supply external power to your PDA. Furthermore, it is recommended
that you switch off all automatic connection or update attempts
(WLAN, version updates, ...) before take-off, as these can rob
Cumulus of resources, slowing it down for a while and irritating you
with popup dialogs.
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GPS
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Any external GPS receiver, such as a Bluetooth GPS mouse or a flight
logger, provided that it outputs NMEA data records, can be connected
to your PDA, using either a serial, a USB or a Bluetooth connection.
Cumulus can be used without a GPS receiver, but is far more useful
with it.
Once you manage to connect your GPS to Cumulus,
select the correct device and baud rate in the GPS Settings. Refer to your GPS
manual for the correct settings. The most common devices are:
- /dev/ttyS0 - RS232 serial device
- /dev/rfcomm0 - Bluetooth device
- /dev/ttyUSB0 - USB device
The default NMEA connection speed is 4800 bps on a RS232 serial
channel.
If you have a Nokia Internet Tablet N800/N810 or N900, it is
not necessary to set up a special GPS device. Available devices will
be recognized automatically during Cumulus start-up, unless you want
to connect to a GPS device via USB. In this case you have to select
the USB device from the GPS configuration options.
If you have an Android device with a built in GPS nothing
has to be setup. To external GPS devices is only a connection
possible via Bluetooth radio. Note the following exception!
After every startup of Cumulus under Android the GPS receiving must
be enabled by hand. To do that press the Android menu key, select
the entry GPS on and choose the desired device (internal or
Bluetooth). Bluetooth devices must be paired before Cumulus is
started. Cumulus does not support BT pairing!
Once your GPS device is set up, press the key G
or click on the GPS status indicator in the status bar to check the
GPS status. You can remove the GPS status page with the Escape key or
with the close button.
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Personal
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In Personal Settings you define the coordinates of your home position
in the area in which you fly. The setting is important to ensure an
unskewed map rendering! See Personal
Settings for more details.
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Glider
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Define your preferred gliders in Glider Settings. See Glider Settings for more
details.
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Maps
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Cumulus uses the same maps as KFLog, the KDE Flight Logger.
Download the maps, airspaces and airfields you need to your PC and
install them from there in your PDA. See Maps
for more information. Airfields and map files can be downloaded
automatically by Cumulus, if you enable this option at start-up.
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Waypoints
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Cumulus uses waypoints to facilitate navigation. You can either edit
the waypoint files on the PDA or prepare them on a PC using KFLog
and then transfer them to the PDA. See waypoints for more details.
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Tasks
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Cumulus also supports the definition of flight tasks. You can either
create and edit a task file on the PDA or prepare it first on your PC
using KFLog before transferring it to the PDA. See here for more
details on tasks.