This guide shows you how to use your SOAR hardware for receiving, converting, presenting and transmitting ARINC 429 data with the ZEUS software.

Installation

Connect your SOAR hardware device to your PC via the supplied USB cable and install the USB drivers found on the ZEUS installation CD. Also install the ZEUS software from the CD and run it!

In order to make your databus activities as easy as possible, ZEUS provides you with a framework which stores all your databus specific information: data definitions, display and transmit cycles, in a single file (called a ZEUS Package).

For data definitions select the Definitions tab at the bottom of the Package Explorer, here you can define the characteristics of the available ARINC channels (Tx Speed, Amplitude etc.), name & define SSM/SDI parameters for receive and transmit labels and create multiple data items for label data conversion.

Data items are definitions which allow you to apply conversion routines to all or parts of a label for later use when displaying data. When defining a data item you can select, at bit level, the position of the sign and MSB and the data length.

Supported conversion types for data items include: 2's complement, Binary, BCD, Discrete, Enumerated List, Hex etc. Other conversion are available upon request.

Once you have defined your databus labels and data items you can now arrange them for display on a collection of pages. Select the Display tab at the bottom of the Package Explorer for display management. Any number of Display pages can be created and grouped together in logical Page Groups for easy navigation.

To add a label or data item control onto your page simply select the Definitions tab in the Package Explorer and drag the label or data item onto the page. You can then format and position your various label/data item controls to suit your needs using the control's property dialog.

Alternatively, you can use the page editing tools in the main toolbar to add Labels and Textboxes to your page manualy. You can then use the control's property dialog to format and link to individual databus elements.

To create and manage your Tx channel transmit cycles, hit the Transmit tab at the bottom of the Package Explorer.

Each Tx channel can have a number of 'Sets' defined which hold the data values and timing of databus information you wish to transmit. Defining multiple Sets allows you to simulate different conditions for your databus and you are able to atomically  switch between sets by making the set 'Active' or by creating an action button to switch sets.

Data values can be defined in raw label format or by using your defined data items. Label transmission timings are defined by using a collection of 'Minor Cycles' which can hold a number of labels and are spaced by a predefined time (in millliseconds). When running, minor cycles will transmit their labels at the predetermined minor cycle spacing period.

In order to speed up transmit cycle creation it is possible to drag data definitions from the package explorer onto a minor cycle to instantly create a label to transmit.

Once you have created your ZEUS package, with at least one display page as a minimum (definitions and transmit cycles can be defined as and when required), you are able to hit the Run button and see real-time ARINC 429 data on your display as you want it.

Its as simple as that!

Other Features

Other capabilities of the ZEUS software include:

1. Variety of display control types including: LEDs, Charts, Images etc.
2. Interactive displays with actions and triggers for production systems.
3. Data logging, playback and conversion to any format you require.
4. Databus Search facilities that can be used instantly to see what labels/messages are being used on your databus in familar graphical display.
5. Import/Export of databus definitions and transmit cycles.
6. API access at various levels

For further information download the ZEUS on-line help file and take a look at Step by Step guides 1 & 2 for ARINC 429 operation.

< Back to the Quick Start Guide