FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about SD-Link

No. SD-Link was originally developed for use with SkyDemon. Other navigation apps now also support similar functions, such as transmitting frequencies to compatible radios. We'll show you how frequency transmission works step by step on a separate page.

Depending on the app, operating system and radio device, SD-Link can currently be used with, among other things:

• SkyDemon
• Sky-Map
• VFRnav
• EasyVFR
• XCSoar
• other apps based on compatibility

The crucial factor is whether the app supports the appropriate protocol and a Bluetooth Low Energy connection. Unsure which adapter is compatible with your setup?

The SD-Link adapter is a Bluetooth Low Energy ( BLE ) device. Therefore, it is not paired via the operating system's Bluetooth settings like a classic Bluetooth device, but is set up directly in the respective navigation app.

If you have already paired the adapter via the Bluetooth settings, remove it completely there and then set it up again directly in the app. The exact setup process depends on the app—we provide separate step-by-step instructions for several apps.

Yes, that's normal. SD-Link adapters are Bluetooth Low Energy devices. Such devices are often not displayed, or not permanently displayed, in the operating system's standard Bluetooth settings.

Important:

• Do not pair via the operating system's Bluetooth settings.
• If already paired: Delete pairing.
• Then search for the adapter again in the navigation app.
• Check if Bluetooth permissions are enabled for the app.
• On Android, also check location or Nearby Devices permissions if the app requires them.

An SD-Link adapter can only be connected to one app at a time. As long as one app maintains the connection, the adapter won't even appear in the device list of other apps—the second app will then report that no device was found.

Here's how to switch apps:

• In the app that is currently connected, disconnect — or close the app completely.
• Then search for the adapter again in the new app.
• This applies to all supported apps: SkyDemon, Sky-Map, VFRnav, EasyVFR and XCSoar.

The same applies to two phones or tablets. Can two devices be connected to the adapter simultaneously?

No, that's not possible. An SD-Link adapter can only be connected to one device at a time, and only to one app on that device. So, your phone and your companion's phone can't both be connected to the adapter simultaneously. This is normal behavior for Bluetooth Low Energy and not a fault of the adapter.

What this means in the cockpit:

• Using an iPad as the main device and a phone as a backup: possible, but only alternately.
• The pilot and companion do not see the frequency transmission simultaneously on two devices.
• A Bluetooth headset does not interfere — it uses a different Bluetooth profile.

This refers to phones and tablets. Connecting multiple avionics devices to one adapter is a different matter.

Yes. A Bluetooth headset and an SD-Link adapter use different Bluetooth profiles. The adapter is addressed directly by the navigation app via Bluetooth Low Energy, while a headset is typically connected as a standard Bluetooth audio device.

Both can, in principle, be operated in parallel.

The adapter requires a stable power supply during operation. Depending on the adapter type, this is provided by the connected device, an external power supply, or the specific installation configuration.

It is important that the power supply is compatible with the specific installation. Please refer to the installation instructions for your SD-Link adapter.

SD-Link adapters are available for various radios and avionics systems. Exact compatibility depends on the device, interface, protocol, and installation situation.

Currently, we offer solutions for devices from, among others:

• Becker
• f.u.n.k.e
• TQ
• TRIG
• uAvionix
• Dynon
• other devices for compatibility

Unsure which adapter fits your device? Use the product finder or contact us with the exact device name and your desired navigation app.

Yes. SD-Link can be relevant not only for radios, but also for certain autopilots and other avionics systems. The crucial factors are whether the device has a suitable interface and whether the protocol used is supported.

For certain autopilot or avionics installations, the universal adapter can also be used – this is not plug-and-play and must fit the specific installation.

Autopilot installations often differ significantly from simple radio installations. Therefore, we assess each configuration individually. Please contact us beforehand with your exact device information, the available interface, and your desired navigation app.

No. SD-Link adapters are not currently aviation certified.

Our adapters are specifically designed for use in aviation environments and are tested before shipping. However, formal aviation certification is not currently available.

Yes, under certain conditions. Increasingly, radios or autopilots are to be controlled not only by a navigation app, but also by other avionics systems — such as Garmin G3X, Dynon SkyView or a permanently installed panel.

For this to work reliably, the serial transmitters involved must be electrically and temporally decoupled. Without this decoupling, the data sources can interfere with each other or disrupt the transmission.

If you want to control a device from multiple sources, please contact us before purchasing. We will then work together to determine which option is suitable for your installation.

In certain cases, yes, but with limitations. An SD-Link adapter can output its data to multiple receivers, depending on the installation. However, this only works reliably if the connected devices are electrically and protocol-wise compatible with the installation.

If you wish to connect multiple avionics devices with one SD-Link adapter, please contact us beforehand. We will check whether your desired configuration is technically feasible and reliably implementable.

This refers to connected avionics equipment, such as radios, autopilots, or EFIS. Can two mobile phones or tablets be connected simultaneously?

If a previously working connection suddenly stops, it's almost always due to the app's setup – not the hardware. The most common cause: The adapter was also paired in the Bluetooth settings of your tablet or smartphone (iPad, iPhone, or Android). It should only be configured in SkyDemon, not in the system settings.