REFLECTOR:GRT EIS

Scott Derrick reflector@tvbf.org
Fri, 10 Oct 2003 11:33:15 -0600 

Ronnie,

Hows the visibility of the unit in all lighting conditions?

Are you using its fuel gauge/flow system?  Does it automatically adjust when you add fuel?

Can you set any of the warning parameters to what you want?

Its not a pretty as the VM, but it looks pretty good to me.  The only thing I noticed that I didn't like was the bars for volts, amps , etc..  I would want them all to line up in the middle if all was working normally, so a quick scan would tell you all was well.

Scott


On Fri, 10 Oct 2003 12:20:32 -0400, Ronnie Brown wrote:
> For those of you who haven't purchased a system yet, I can highly
> recommend the highly functional, very useful, and excellent value
> Grand Rapids Technologies EIS http://www.grtavionics.com/ - and if
> you must have a color display he has that too - or will soon.
> Support from GRT is excellent!
>
> I had originally considered the VM but decided to save the panel
> space and $$$ and chose the EIS.  It isn't as "sexy" looking, but
> considering everything, I made the right choice FOR ME.
>
> I have been flying for 6 months and have 90 hours on my Velocity.
> My EIS 4000 has worked flawlessly, takes up little valuable panel
> space and is my super highly intelligent IDIOT LIGHT.  It monitors
> everything, limits can be set on anything - high, low, rate, etc as
> needed.  I don't have to monitor anything - except when setting
> engine RPM and monitoring EGT when leaning. Any alarms trip a
> master alarm light then I look at the EIS and the parameter in
> alarm is flashing.  EASY!  I have fuel flow, fuel pressure, MAP,
> header tank level, for my optional inputs. And during my flight
> testing, I hooked my Laptop to it and recorded all of my engine
> temps, flows, pressures, every second. Love it!
>
> Ronnie Brown
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Derrick" <scott@tnstaafl.net>
> To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 11:41 AM
> Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Vision Micro guys
>
>
> | I also have the same setup Chuck has, VM with the VM-1000, fuel
> gages, OAT-CHT and clock. |
> | I won't repeat Chucks comments but I will heartily second them
> and add a few comments to them. The lack of interconnection between
> my vision fuel gages  and the vision system is really irritating.
> Makes the fuel warning system a joke.  My clock is always set to
> flight time, because its a pain to change it, the interface is
> clumsy too. I have a countdown timer in my Terra Nav unit that is
> simple and easy to use. I never use the vision clock for a timer. |
> | in addition. |
> | 1.)  The inflexibility of the settings is frustrating.  Not being
> able to set the warning values for Low Voltage, or High RPM or any
> other the others is a big negative in my opinion.  I called VM and
> they said oh just send it in , pay a whopping engineering fee for
> custom settings and your good to go! So my plane has to be down for
> weeks and I have to pay a huge amount just to have my Low Voltage
> warning come on 1/2 a volt lower than the factory setting.  I
> should be able to set individual parameters myself in the plane.. |
> | 2.) Not being able to suppress a warning makes you ignore them.
> If Low Voltage comes on I don't want it flashing in my face for an
> hour or two if I decide I can make it home on battery power.  I
> should be able to suppress the warning for a few minutes or for the
> rest of the flight. I put tape over the VM1000 on one flight
> because of just that.  Having a red flashing warning that your are
> completely aware of for two hours is useless and distracting.  So I
> covered it up and sacrificed all the other warnings because of a
> lame interface that was interfering with flight ops. |
> | 3.) The 100 or so individual connectors to the sensors is a joke.
>  30's technology. |
> | 4.) The visibility of the unit in high light conditions is very
> poor. When flying into the sun its completely unreadable even with
> the back lighting turned way up. |
> | As I said before, I would probably not install a VM in a new
> plane. I think there are comparable units available that address
> all the shortcomings for a comparable or better price. Its a very
> cool looking unit, one of the coolest in my opinion, gets lots of
> ooh's and ah's when people see it, but it falls short on the
> operating side. | | Scott | | On Fri, 10 Oct 2003 09:30:14 -0400,
> Chuck Jensen wrote:
> | > Well, as long as we have VM's attention, I'll pass along some |
> > thoughts of my own. I have a VM-1000 with satellite gauges for |
> > OAT/CAT, chronometer, fuel gauges and the alarm and checklist | >
> window. Given the cost of the Vision equipment (compared to the | >
> price and capability of other units on the market) the
> | > shortcomings, such as ones noted below, are difficult to
> understand. | >
> | > 1. Inability to download engine data to a computer or other
> links. | > To do a single engine lean test requires writing down
> nearly a | > hundred numbers and over 500 digits. Virtually
> everyone allows | > downloading of data, VM should also | >
> | > 2. Lack of flexibility. My fuel gauges are highly accurate and
> | > reliable. Accordingly, I have no interest in having to reset
> the | > fuel computer on the VM-1000 each time I add fuel. But if I
> don't, | > the alarm panel keeps flashing at me and I have to
> acknowledge it | > every few minutes. The idea that individual
> values and alarms can | > not be turned on/off seems so 20th
> century. | >
> | > 3. The chronometer is virtually unusable. With a dinky twist
> knob | > and non-intuitive set of selections, I consider it wasted
> panel | > space. Provide a 2 1/4" unit that has a couple items of
> interest, | > such as local/UTC/flight time, and a LARGE digital
> timer that can | > be actuated with a button on our control stick
> for timing, then | > they'd have something worth putting in a
> panel. | >
> | > I "like" my VM-1000, but I don't "love" it due to the noted | >
> shortcomings. VM started with a great product but it has digressed
> | > to just a good product as the competition has caught up to, or
> | > passed, VM in cost, features, flexibility and functionality. | >
> | > So here's hoping that some of these items will get fixed and
> that | > the fix doesn't cost us an arm-n-leg. I suspect my
> improvement | > list is not all inclusive and others have
> contributions they'd like | > to make. It's a good sign VM wants to
> join the list so they can | > get direct feedback. The acid test is
> what they do with the | > information. | > | > Chuck Jensen | > | >
> | > -----Original Message-----
> | > From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-
> admin@tvbf.org]On | > Behalf Of Brian Michalk Sent: Thursday,
> October 09, 2003 11:42 PM | > To: reflector@tvbf.org Subject:
> REFLECTOR:Vision Micro guys | > | >
> | > The guys from Vision Micro have joined the list. They heard the
> | > noise going on over here and wanted to join. | > | > Brian
> Michalk <http://www.michalk.com>
> | > Life is what you make of it ... never wish you had done
> something. | > Aviator, experimental aircraft builder,
> motorcyclist, SCUBA diver | > musician, home-brewer, entrepreneur
> and mostly single | > | > | >
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