The ADS-B unit stopped answering or reports a failure
What ArduPilot says:
- ADSB: Transceiver heartbeat timed out
- ADSB Sagetech MXS: System Failure
- ADSB Sagetech MXS: Transponder Failure
- ADSB Sagetech MXS: Initialization Timeout. Failed to initialize.
“Transceiver heartbeat timed out”: a uAvionix unit on MAVLink had been sending its health report, and none has come for 15 s. “Sagetech MXS: Initialization Timeout”: the transponder did not answer the set-up messages in the first 20 s. “Transponder Failure” and “System Failure” are fault flags the Sagetech unit itself sends. In each case other aircraft may no longer see you, and you may no longer see them.
What to do, most likely first
The unit lost power or its connector came loose.
FixCheck the unit's supply and its cable at both ends before the next flight.
The serial port or its baud rate does not match the unit.
Check
ADSB_TYPEmust be your unit (1 uAvionix MAVLink, 3 uAvionix UCP, 4 Sagetech MX series), and a serial unit's port needsSERIALn_PROTOCOL35.FixSet the port's protocol and baud rate to what the unit's manual gives, and reboot.
The transponder itself is faulty.
FixWhere a working transponder is a legal requirement, do not fly until the unit is repaired.
Parameters to look at
| Parameter | What it is |
|---|---|
ADSB_TYPE | ADSB Type |
SERIAL1_PROTOCOL | Telem1 protocol selection |
SERIAL2_PROTOCOL | Telemetry 2 protocol selection |
SERIAL3_PROTOCOL | Serial 3 (GPS) protocol selection |
SERIAL4_PROTOCOL | Serial4 protocol selection |
The code that sends it
ADSB: Transceiver heartbeat timed out
libraries/AP_ADSB/AP_ADSB_uAvionix_MAVLink.cpp AP_ADSB_uAvionix_MAVLink::update() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
ADSB Sagetech MXS: System Failure
libraries/AP_ADSB/AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS.cpp AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS::handle_ack() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
ADSB Sagetech MXS: Transponder Failure
libraries/AP_ADSB/AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS.cpp AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS::handle_ack() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
ADSB Sagetech MXS: Initialization Timeout. Failed to initialize.
libraries/AP_ADSB/AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS.cpp AP_ADSB_Sagetech_MXS::update() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1