Stratus 4 Pilot's Guide

Stratus 4 Interface

Compatible Flight Apps

Stratus 4 is optimized for Stratus Insight and Stratus Horizon Pro, but also offers a GDL 90 interface for other popular flight apps.

Stratus Horizon Pro displays AHRS information when connected to Stratus 4. The app also provides ATC audio playback and transcription features to Stratus portable receivers and other devices.

Stratus Insight displays AHRS, ADS-B weather, and ADS-B traffic. Other Stratus 4 compatible features include Synthetic Vision, pressure altitude, and flight data recording. For more information about Stratus Insight, refer to the Stratus Insight Pilot’s Guide.

For a list of other compatible flight apps, visit stratusbyappareo.com/ stratus-compatible-apps. Compatible flight apps run on Apple Watch®, iPad®, iPadOS®, iPod touch®, Mac®, and macOS®.

NOTE: You must have either Stratus Horizon Pro or Stratus Insight to apply Stratus 4 firmware updates.

Battery Care

The receiver contains a lithium battery and can run off of battery power for about eight hours when it is new. Use the following guidelines for maximum battery lifespan and safe operation.

• Do not store the receiver in direct sunlight or environments where temperatures are more than 113°F (45°C) or are lower than -4°F (-20°C). Remove unit from aircraft when not in use.
• Do not store the receiver for long periods of time without charging. This can permanently damage the overall battery capacity.
• The receiver contains a fan inside the battery compartment that will turn on if the battery reaches a high temperature. The fan draws ambient air in through vents on the front of the receiver and pushes out warm air through vents on the back.
• Do not incinerate or puncture the receiver or the battery.
• Dispose of the receiver in accordance with local requirements for the recycling of electronic appliances and batteries.
• Check with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules before carrying the receiver in checked luggage.

Batteries are consumables and will need to be replaced over time. It is normal for a lithium battery to lose capacity after many charge and discharge cycles or if it is subjected to high temperatures. A battery replacement kit can be purchased from Appareo.

Mounting Options

Stratus 4 can be mounted using the window mount or connected to an external antenna for more mounting options.

Turning Receiver On or Off

After mounting, press the power button to power on the receiver. If Stratus 4 is moved after being powered on, it must be re-calibrated in Stratus Horizon Pro or Stratus Insight.

Using Auto Power-On and Power-Off

By default, Stratus 4 will power on only when the power button is pushed. It will automatically power off after 30 minutes of no movement or GPS signal. This can be disabled in Stratus Horizon Pro.

Enable Stratus 4 to automatically power-on whenever the receiver receives power by enabling the Turn on When Plugged In switch in the Stratus Horizon Pro settings page. For more information about adjusting receiver settings, see page 25.

NOTE: If the receiver automatically powered on but you removed external power, the receiver functions differently depending on your aircraft speed.

• Traveling under 5 knots: receiver powers off after 30 seconds.
• Traveling over 5 knots: receiver stays on and uses battery power.

To override the automatic power-off, press the power button after removing external power.

Connecting to Stratus 4

Your tablet or phone must be connected to the Stratus Wi-Fi network (not Bluetooth) for the receiver to communicate with the app. Multiple devices in the cockpit can be connected to the receiver at the same time. Receiver Wi-Fi network security can be configured in Stratus Horizon Pro.

NOTE: The Stratus Wi-Fi network provides a wireless connection between the receiver and flight apps. It does not provide an internet connection.

1. Tap the Settings icon on your tablet or phone’s home screen.
2. Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled. Tap the Stratus wireless network, displayed under Choose a Network, to connect. Your Wi-Fi network name is on the label on the back of your receiver.
   When your tablet or phone is connected to the Stratus wireless network, a checkmark appears next to the network name.
4. Verify that the receiver is connected in the settings page of Stratus Insight or Stratus Horizon Pro.

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Calibrating Stratus 4

Stratus 4 is automatically calibrated to its mounting position a few seconds after being powered on. Do not power on Stratus 4 until it is mounted.

If Stratus 4 is moved after being powered on, it can be re-calibrated to straight and level in Stratus Horizon Pro or Stratus Insight. If your aircraft isn’t straight and level, the alignment can be manually adjusted in the app.

Using AHRS

Stratus 4 can be used for backup AHRS (attitude, heading, and reference system) in Stratus Insight and Stratus Horizon Pro to enhance situational awareness.

For the most accurate AHRS information, ensure that the receiver is mounted parallel with the centerline of the aircraft running front to back, and the arrow on the bottom of the receiver points in the direction of flight.

WARNING: AHRS data provided by the receiver should be used for supplemental purposes only.

Using Stratus Insight

Use Stratus 4 with Status Insight for maximum functionality and features. Some compatible features are listed below.

Weather

Stratus 4 receives ADS-B weather data and relays this information to your app.

Flight Data Recording

Stratus 4’s flight data recorder records position, speed, attitude, and barometric altitude data during each flight. You can manually record a flight or enable automatic flight recording in the app. Flights can be exported and viewed in Stratus Insight. About 20 hours of data can be stored in Stratus 4’s built-in memory.

Pressure Altitude Sensing

Stratus 4 has a pressure altitude sensor that sends uncorrected barometric pressure information to your app. This information is viewable while using the app and is also recorded in the flight data log.

Synthetic Vision

Using the altitude information provided by Stratus 4, Synthetic Vision shows a 3-D picture of terrain and obstacles where you are flying.

Viewing ADS-B Traffic

Stratus 4 receives 978 MHz and 1090 MHz traffic information from ADS-B ground stations and ADS-B Out-equipped aircraft and relays it to Stratus Insight and other compatible apps.

If air traffic data is detected by the receiver, it will display in your app relative to your aircraft.

Air-to-Air Traffic

Stratus 4 will only receive air-to-air broadcasts from other aircraft if they are ADS-B Out equipped and within range of the receiver. Air traffic that is not equipped with a UAT ADS-B Out or Mode S Extended Squitter transmitter will not be detected by the receiver air-to-air.

Rebroadcast Traffic

Using its network of ADS-B ground stations, the FAA can rebroadcast a custom traffic report to ADS-B Out equipped aircraft that are within a 15 nautical mile radius and within 3500 feet in altitude of the ADS-B Out aircraft. If your aircraft is not ADS-B Out equipped, it will not receive rebroadcast traffic unless it is within range of an ADS-B Out equipped aircraft that triggers it. If your aircraft is ADS-B Out equipped but is not in contact with an ADS-B ground station, it will not receive rebroadcast traffic.

The FAA can rebroadcast traffic information about aircraft equipped with the following transponder types: Mode C, Mode S, Mode ES, and UAT. Mode A transponders and primary radar targets detected by the FAA are not included in rebroadcasted traffic reports.

Since not all aircraft are ADS-B Out equipped and not all traffic is rebroadcast, the use of the receiver does not eliminate the need for “see-and-avoid” procedures.

Stratus 4 is not an active traffic interrogation system or ADS-B Out device.

NOTE: Stratus 4 is not likely to receive weather or rebroadcast traffic information on the ground because ADS-B information is broadcast by ground stations. The altitude at which Stratus 4 begins to receive weather and rebroadcast traffic information will vary depending on the distance to nearby towers and terrain and other obstacles that may be between the receiver and a tower.

Using the Stratus 4 Display

Status Indicators

Use the indicators at the top of the Stratus 4 display to quickly view GPS lock, ADS-B status, and battery level.

GPS

ADS-B

G-Meter

Shows current acceleration in G’s.

IMPORTANT: If Stratus 4 is moved after being powered on, it will take a few seconds for the G-meter to re-calibrate.

GPS

Shows current ground speed in knots and GPS accuracy in meters. Tap the box to see the number of satellites you’re receiving information from.

ADS-B

Shows the number of ADS-B towers you’re receiving information from and the number of traffic targets that Stratus 4 is monitoring. The number of traffic targets shown is from ADS-B (978MHz) and ES (1090MHz) combined, with duplicates removed.

Apple Find My

Locate your receiver using Apple Find My. Refer to Using Apple Find My on page 24 for more information.

Display Orientation

Tap Settings on the receiver screen, then tap Display Orientation to change the display’s orientation.

Device Info

Tap Settings on the receiver screen, then tap Information to view
device information.

Using Apple Find My

Tap Settings on the receiver screen, then tap Find My Stratus to enable or disable Apple Find My. Once you’ve set up Find My through the receiver, you can locate it through the Find My app on an Apple device. For more information on using Find My, refer to apple.com/icloud/find-my.

Adjusting Receiver Settings

The settings page on the receiver screen and in Stratus Horizon Pro displays general information about the receiver, such as its serial number and firmware version. In the Stratus Horizon Pro app, you can adjust other receiver settings such as auto power-on and LED brightness.

• To access the settings page on the receiver screen, tap Settings.
• To access the settings page in Stratus Horizon Pro, tap the settings icon in the lower left corner.

Updating Firmware

WARNING: Do not attempt to apply firmware updates while in flight.

Receiver firmware updates will be released through Stratus Horizon Pro in-app updates. When you are connected to your receiver and open the app, a message will alert you that there is a firmware update. These updates may enable new capabilities or address known issues.

To apply the update, follow the on-screen instructions. It may take several minutes to update the receiver’s firmware. During the update, do not close the app or power off the receiver. You may need to reconnect the receiver to the app after the update is complete.

Resetting to Factory Settings

Power on the device, then press and hold the power button until the factory reset is complete, as shown on the Stratus 4 display. The factory reset auto-calibrates Stratus 4 and reconfigures it to its default settings.
NOTE: Resetting to factory settings will not delete flight data recorder logs.

Troubleshooting

If the receiver display shows an error when it’s powering on, try the troubleshooting steps below. If the error continues, contact [email protected].

• Power cycle the device.

1. 1. Disconnect Stratus 4 from external power.
   2. Press the power button to power off the device.
   3. Wait 1 minute, then power on the device again.

• Perform a factory reset using the instructions at the top of the page.

Compliance

FCC Declaration

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC limits for Class B digital devices. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by relocating the equipment or connecting the equipment to a different circuit than the affected equipment. Consult an authorized dealer or other qualified avionics technician for additional help if these remedies do not correct the problem.

Operation of this device is subject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Apple Find My Legal Notice

Use of the Works with Apple badge means that a product has been designed to work specifically with the technology identified in the badge and has been certified by the product manufacturer to meet Apple Find My network product specifications and requirements. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or use of this product or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Servicing

A battery replacement kit for Stratus receivers can be purchased from Appareo.

Other issues are not field-serviceable. If you believe your receiver requires repair or maintenance, contact your original retailer for further instruction.

Repairs made outside of a Stratus-approved repair center could void the warranty and may result in further damage to the device.

Warranty

The Stratus Limited Warranty is valid two years after your receiver is shipped from the retailer. To view the full warranty, visit stratusbyappareo.com/resources.

Support

For product support, contact your dealer or original retailer.

[email protected]

stratusbyappareo.com/support

FAQs & Troubleshooting
Answers to frequently asked questions and troubleshooting are found at stratusbyappareo.com/receiver-faqs.