{"id":594,"date":"2014-07-05T14:23:07","date_gmt":"2014-07-05T12:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/104.131.255.213\/specular\/default\/?page_id=594"},"modified":"2026-07-22T23:18:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T21:18:44","slug":"software_first_steps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/tutorials\/software_first_steps\/","title":{"rendered":"OpenVario Software"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1>The First Steps Regarding the Software of Your Glide Computer<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h3>Preparing the Micro SD Card<\/h3>\n<p>Before you can use the OpenVario glide computer, you need to flash the Linux image to the micro SD card. This image includes the Linux operating system, display settings and XCSoar. The OpenVario will not boot without this SD card. Once an SD card has been written to, it can be written to again and again using the procedure described below. We recommend an SD card size of 4 GB.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span><strong>How to flash the image to the SD card?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Download the tool<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.balena.io\/etcher\/\">balenaEtcher<\/a> here.<\/li>\n<li>Download the OpenVario image from the <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\">official Github page.<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>Every display type has its own image. The name of the file includes the display type:<\/li>\n<li>For the 5.7\u2033 OpenVario by SteFly, please use the image with \u201e\u2026-openvario-57-lvds.rootfs.img.gz\u201c file name. <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/22304\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-glibc-ipk-22304-openvario-57-lvds.rootfs.img.gz\">Image 22304<\/a><\/li>\n<li>For the 7\u2033 OpenVario by SteFly, please use the image with \u201e\u2026-openvario-7-CH070.rootfs.img.gz\u201c file name. <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/22304\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-glibc-ipk-22304-openvario-7-CH070.rootfs.img.gz\">Image 22304<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li>Start the tool balena Etcher.<\/li>\n<li>Select \u201eFlash from file\u201c and select the downloaded OpenVario image file. There is no need to manually unzip the file. Etcher will do this for you.<\/li>\n<li>Select the correct SD card. Be careful to select the correct one! All files on the SD card will be deleted during the next step!<\/li>\n<li>Hit \u201eFlash!\u201c and wait a moment while the image is flashing.<\/li>\n<li>Now you can install the SD card in your OpenVario and start the device.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher.jpg\" width=\"1902\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher.jpg 1902w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-350x199.jpg 350w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-600x341.jpg 600w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-1024x581.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher-1536x872.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\" class=\"wp-image-9738\" title=\"balenaEtcher\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h3>Software Overview<\/h3>\n<p>Wenige Sekunden nach dem Einschalten des OpenVarios bzw. nachdem es mit Strom versorgt wurde sollte das Display aufleuchten und das OpenVario f\u00e4hrt hoch. XCSoar startet automatisch.<\/p>\n<p>After a short first test of XCSoar you can make some further adjustments in the software. Therefore power the device off and restart it. The OV-Menu can be accessed by pressing the \u201cESC\u201d-key (or X button) during boot, while the progress-bar is visible.<\/p>\n<p>For a detailed overview of the OpenVario menu, have a look at the video follow this link:<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.openvario.org\/doku.php?id=projects:series_00:software:ov-menu\">OV-Menu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>What you should setup:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Display rotation<\/li>\n<li>Language (only English or German available)<\/li>\n<li>Calibrating pressure sensors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Then you should upload some files by USB stick:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Maps<\/li>\n<li>Waypoints<\/li>\n<li>Airspace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The USB-stick for the OpenVario must be formatted as <span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>FAT32<\/strong> The stick requires a certain directory tree structure to be operational. Have a look at this page:<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.openvario.org\/doku.php?id=projects:series_00:software:usb-stick\">OpenVario USB-Stick<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_image_1 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USB-stick-structure-OpenVario.png\" width=\"242\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USB-stick-structure-OpenVario.png 242w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USB-stick-structure-OpenVario-223x300.png 223w, https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USB-stick-structure-OpenVario-9x12.png 9w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" class=\"wp-image-17153\" title=\"USB stick structure OpenVario\" alt=\"USB stick structure OpenVario\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_4 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_6 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Dann wird der USB Stick in das OpenVario gesteckt und das Ger\u00e4t eingeschaltet. W\u00e4hrend des Hochfahrens erscheint erst das OpenVario Logo und anschlie\u00dfend ein Countdown (Starting XCSoar \/ OpenSoar ... ,Press ESC for menu). W\u00e4hrend der Countdown herunterz\u00e4hlt, die X Taste der Kn\u00fcppelfernbedienung oder des Rotary Moduls dr\u00fccken. Es \u00f6ffnet sich ein Men\u00fc. Hier dann zur Schaltfl\u00e4che \"Upload\" navigieren und okay dr\u00fccken. Nun k\u00f6nnen Daten transferiert werden. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_7 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_5 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_8 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h3>OpenSoar<\/h3>\n<p>Wie auch auf dem neuen SteFly NAV ist es m\u00f6glich und wird auch empfohlen, von XCSoar auf OpenSoar upzugraden. OpenSoar ist eine Abspaltung \/ Fork von XCSoar und verf\u00fcgt \u00fcber einige Funktionen, die in XCSoar noch nicht umgesetzt sind. So lassen sich z.B. Kartneupdates einfacher aufspielen und der Speicherplatz auf der SD-Karte kann besser genutzt werden. Eine \u00dcbersicht \u00fcber die verschiedenen Versionen und die Software-Ver\u00f6ffentlichungen finden sich unter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensoar.de\/releases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"OpenSoar.de\">opensoar.de<\/a>. Uwe Augustin, der Entwickler von OpenSoar, hat eine Anleitung erstellt, die wir an dieser Stelle gerne verlinken: <a href=\"https:\/\/opensoar.de\/releases\/v7.42.22\/OV-3.22.0\/OpenVario-Upgrade.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"OpenVario Upgrade PDF\">OpenVario Upgrade PDF<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_6 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_9 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_cta_0 et_pb_promo et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_promo_description et_multi_view_hidden\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_wrapper\"><a class=\"et_pb_button et_pb_promo_button\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Map-Airspace-Waypoint-Update-auf-SteFly-NAV-OpenVario_de.pdf\" data-icon=\"\uf1c1\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Karten, Luftraum und Wegpunkte Update auf SteFly NAV \/ OpenVario<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_cta_1 et_pb_promo et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_promo_description et_multi_view_hidden\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_wrapper\"><a class=\"et_pb_button et_pb_promo_button\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Map-Airspace-Waypoint-Update-on-SteFly-NAV-OpenVario_en.pdf\" data-icon=\"\uf1c1\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Map, Airspace, Waypoint Update on SteFly NAV \/ OpenVario<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_10 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2525,"menu_order":73,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[vc_row][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text][lightbox image_link=\"http:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/DSC01013.jpg\"][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text][h3_heading]Preparing the micro SD card[\/h3_heading]\r\n\r\nBefore you can use the OpenVario glide computer, you need to flash the Linux image to the micro SD card. This image includes the Linux operating system, display settings and XCSoar. The OpenVario will not boot without this SD card.\r\n\r\n<strong>How to flash the image to the SD card?<\/strong>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Download the tool <a href=\"https:\/\/www.balena.io\/etcher\/\">balenaEtcher here<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Download the latest OpenVario image from <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/\">this page<\/a>. [detailed description below]<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Start the tool balena Etcher.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Select \"Flash from file\" and select the downloaded OpenVario image file. There is no need to manually unzip the file. Etcher will do this for you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Select the correct SD card. Be careful to select the correct one, the files will be deleted on the SD card!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Hit \"Flash!\" and wait a moment to flash the image.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Now you can install the SD card in your OpenVario and start the device.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/balenaEtcher.jpg\" \/>\r\n\r\n<strong>Which OpenVario image should you download?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nYou will find two important information in the file name of the downlaod link. The display type:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>For the 5.7\" OpenVario by SteFly, please use the image with \"...-openvario-57-lvds.rootfs.img.gz\" file name.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>For the 7\" OpenVario by SteFly, please use the image with \"...-openvario-7-CH070.rootfs.img.gz\" file name.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe XCSoar version:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Last official release<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Testing image (...testing... in file name)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nOur experience is that you can use the latest XCSoar testing image without any bigger problems.\r\n\r\nLatest image for 5.7\" OpenVario:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/20193\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-glibc-ipk-20193-openvario-57-lvds.rootfs.img.gz\">Official XCSoar version<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/20193\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-testing-glibc-ipk-20193-openvario-57-lvds.rootfs.img.gz\">Testing XCSoar version<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nLatest image for 7\" OpenVario:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/20193\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-glibc-ipk-20193-openvario-7-CH070.rootfs.img.gz\">Official XCSoar version<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/Openvario\/meta-openvario\/releases\/download\/20193\/OpenVario-linux-openvario-image-testing-glibc-ipk-20193-openvario-7-CH070.rootfs.img.gz\">Testing XCSoar version<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text][h3_heading]Software overview[\/h3_heading]\r\n\r\nAfter powering on the device, the display should get bright after a few seconds and the OpenVario boots up. XCSoar starts automatically.\r\n\r\nBut after a short test of XCSoar you can make some further adjustments in the software. Therefor power the device off and restart it. The OV-Menu can be accessed by pressing the \u201cESC\u201d-key during boot, while the progress-bar is visible.\r\n\r\nFor a detailed overview of the OpenVario menu, have a look at the video (click on picture) or follow this link: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.openvario.org\/doku.php?id=projects:series_00:software:ov-menu\">OV-Menu<\/a>\r\n\r\nWhat you should setup:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Display rotation<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Language (only English or Germany available)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Calibrating pressure sensors<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThan you should upload some files with USB stick:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Maps<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Waypoints<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Airspace<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe USB-stick for the OpenVario must be formatted as <strong>FAT32<\/strong>. The stick requires a certain directory tree structure to be operational. Have a look at this page: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.openvario.org\/doku.php?id=projects:series_00:software:usb-stick\">OpenVario USB-Stick<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text][lightbox image_link=\"http:\/\/stefly.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/OpenVario_Software_walkthrough.jpg\" video=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qppuKiylH_Y&amp;t=2s\"][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-594","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/594\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stefly.aero\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}