UniF5B program
The UniF5B program enables flight data to be read from a Unilog and displayed in a form convenient for F5B. Using the cursor and variable time scales all Unilog data can be examined, plus additional calculated data on motor time and watt.minutes over different parts of the flight. The data can be stored in a file and retrieved later. An on-line display panel allows the Unilog to be used instead of a voltmeter or clamp ammeter. A third panel allows the Unilog to be set up, with a quick setup for F5B. The program is available on Windows and Linux.
Windows version
The Windows version uses .net 3.5 which is downloaded free and automatically from Microsoft when the program is installed. It is available on http://www.f5b.co.uk/uploads/UniF5B-5KW-19Apr2010.zig for Internet Explorer and http://www.f5b.co.uk/uploads/UniF5B-5KW-19Apr2010.zip for others such as Firefox. Download and unzip the file. Then change the filename setup.aha to setup.exe. Connect to the internet then click on setup.exe. If you do not have .net 3.5 on your computer it will be downloaded automatically for you, and then the program installed. I suggest you just close the HTML directory page that the installation opens to let you see what it has done. Start the UniF5B program from the Windows Start Menu.
The latest version from April 2010 has a fix where power over 5KW is correctly calculated.
To play with the program download the file http://www.f5b.co.uk/uploads/Last-S14.uni which is a recording of my last flight of 2008. Use the UniF5B open menu to read this file which is then automatically displayed. The main analysis tool is the cursor. Switch the display to 30 seconds to look at the first climb. Position the cursor to see the current and voltage, etc, at any point. Read the time to the next climb, please note that it was freezing cold and an "old" battery! The motor time and watt.minutes used are calculated from the beginning of the display. The Unilog gives the cumulative watt.minutes. Click at the start of the next climb which will then move to the beginning of the display so that you can analyse it.
This program does not need Excel but it does need the USB driver which you MUST download from the SM website. This is THREE times faster than the default one which you will get from FTDI/Microsoft (watch out that you have not already got the slow one). With the driver installed you can connect to the correct COMport as indicated in the Control Panel Device manager. Then click on the Load data button to see your last flight.
This Windows version was designed with a display of 1024x768 in mind. It can be used on a 1024x600 display using the scroll bar, thanks to Alan. Not too bad as the main graphic area is only 700x500.
Linux version
The Linux version was designed from the start to work on a 1024x600 display to suit the new Netbooks. It has the same functionality and "look". Files are interchangeable between versions, noting only that the Windows version adds the .uni file extension automatically whereas this is up to the user in Linux when saving the data. The program is very "lightweight" and starts up quickly. It is ideally suited to a robust, no moving part, LED backlit, cheap netbook.
The program is open source, with a single source file available on http://www.f5b.co.uk/uploads/UniF5B.c The program is written in C and uses GTK+ which is native on many Linux machines. It also needs the ftd2xx libraries available on the FTDI web site. Instructions are given at the top of the source file, but installation should be entrusted to your local friendly Linux guru. I wrote it for my Acer Aspire One. Alan has also got it working on a Linux device. Nigel tells me that it could also work on Macs as the required drivers are available.
The default location for flight files is user/flights, but of course any other location can be chosen in the open and save dialogs. Download the file Last-S14.uni as above for Windows, create the flights directory and put the file there. Start up the program and open this file. Then continue as for Windows above. Connection to the Unilog is simpler using the Device menu, but I fear it may not cater for more than one FTDI device connected at a time.
