In article ,
"Stephen McNaught" wrote:
A couple thoughts on using a PDA with aviation moving map software,
regardless of which software you use. A PDA is a computer, so all "issues"
associated with computers affect PDAs. Some are better than others, have
more memory, faster processors, better screens, bluetooth, wifi, etc...
Performance will be based on the machine selected. Secondly, the GPS is not
part of the software itself. The software takes the information from the GPS
receiver, and displays it in whatever format the software was written. Some
GPS receivers were not built with aviation in mind, and for various reasons,
the altitude reported by the receiver to the software can be off, and the
software won't know, regardless of which software you use.


As far as "computers" go, it is my understanding that many/most MFD
manufacturers are basing their systems on Windows. Not sure what Garmin
uses, but I guarantee that it's a computer running software that has
bugs.

In my opinion, if you're going to use a Tablet or PDA for flight, it
needs to be a one-trick pony. Clean out everything that you don't need
for the moving map and weather, and don't install anything else. You do
need to be computer savvy, but you don't need to be a computer expert.
You do need to be able to follow directions (Control Vision provides
decent directions), as the PDA or Tablet systems do require some manual
coordination to get working--they are more complex than a one-button
startup, but they also offer greater functionality.

I purchased the AnywhereWx system a few weeks ago, and from what I've
seen so far, I am convinced that what everyone told me is true--weather
uplink is invaluable for IFR flight. The moving map is nice and the
system is very feature-rich.

If I was an exclusive VFR pilot, I would have stayed with my Garmin
GPSMAP 195. The PDA/Tablet systems offer capabilities not found in a
handheld GPS, and are continually updated and enhanced. I've never used
a Garmin 296, but I've seen them, and I would be hard-pressed to pay
that kind of money when I could get a PDA-based system with more
capability (and potential) for less money.



JKG