Anywhere Map with XM weather

I just ordered Anywhere Map with XM weather today using a wireless Compaq
4700 PDA. It sounds like the display and features are a lot better than the
Garmin 430/530 with XM weather, as far as the moving map, terrain avoidance,
and weather displays go, although it is not IFR approved and it has no COM
capability, of course. It is MUCH cheaper. I've been waiting for ground
based radar in the cockpit for 20 years.

I would like to hear comments from others who have tried this product. I
have only seen the Aviation Consumer review and the Anywhere Map web site.

DB

Had one, didn't like it, sent it back. Display was slow, and the altitude
was reading 400ft below actual altitude. Could have been the PDA, but I
doubt it. I sent it back and bought a Garmin 296...Hope it works better for
you. Good luck.


"Doodybutch" wrote in message
...
I just ordered Anywhere Map with XM weather today using a wireless Compaq
4700 PDA. It sounds like the display and features are a lot better than
the Garmin 430/530 with XM weather, as far as the moving map, terrain
avoidance, and weather displays go, although it is not IFR approved and it
has no COM capability, of course. It is MUCH cheaper. I've been waiting
for ground based radar in the cockpit for 20 years.

I would like to hear comments from others who have tried this product. I
have only seen the Aviation Consumer review and the Anywhere Map web site.

DB

Was that some time ago? I've heard that they've improved the product
because too many people were complaining.

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 06:20:17 -0500, wrote:

Had one, didn't like it, sent it back. Display was slow, and the altitude
was reading 400ft below actual altitude. Could have been the PDA, but I
doubt it. I sent it back and bought a Garmin 296...Hope it works better for
you. Good luck.


"Doodybutch" wrote in message
...
I just ordered Anywhere Map with XM weather today using a wireless Compaq
4700 PDA. It sounds like the display and features are a lot better than
the Garmin 430/530 with XM weather, as far as the moving map, terrain
avoidance, and weather displays go, although it is not IFR approved and it
has no COM capability, of course. It is MUCH cheaper. I've been waiting
for ground based radar in the cockpit for 20 years.

I would like to hear comments from others who have tried this product. I
have only seen the Aviation Consumer review and the Anywhere Map web site.

DB

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.

I think a dedicated unit like the Garmin 296 is a great setup, if you are
just going to use it as a moving map GPS, and don't need the other functions
of a PDA. I use a PDA with a Garmin GPS 10 Bluetooth GPS receiver, and the
atltitude, is usually within 10 feet of my indicated atltude on the
altimeter. The GPS 10 does have a couple magnets in it though. So you have
to be aware where you place it. (The magnets are designed so you could
"stick" the receiver on the hood of your car, or roof, etc.. )

"Jon A." wrote in message
news
Was that some time ago? I've heard that they've improved the product
because too many people were complaining.

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 06:20:17 -0500, wrote:

Had one, didn't like it, sent it back. Display was slow, and the altitude
was reading 400ft below actual altitude. Could have been the PDA, but I
doubt it. I sent it back and bought a Garmin 296...Hope it works better
for
you. Good luck.


"Doodybutch" wrote in message
...
I just ordered Anywhere Map with XM weather today using a wireless
Compaq
4700 PDA. It sounds like the display and features are a lot better than
the Garmin 430/530 with XM weather, as far as the moving map, terrain
avoidance, and weather displays go, although it is not IFR approved and
it
has no COM capability, of course. It is MUCH cheaper. I've been waiting
for ground based radar in the cockpit for 20 years.

I would like to hear comments from others who have tried this product.
I
have only seen the Aviation Consumer review and the Anywhere Map web
site.

DB

Stephen McNaught wrote:
A couple thoughts on using a PDA with aviation moving map software,

snip

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.

snip

I can't let this go by without pointing out the biggest reasons for GPS altitude
to be perceived as inaccurate. These are all *systemic* reasons and have nothing
to do with the quality of the GPS receiver, or whether it was built with
aviation in mind.

- GPS position calculation in the vertical axis has less precision than in the
horizontal plane because of the geometry. A small error in measuring the time of
arrival of the GPS signal translates into a larger error in the vertical axis
than in the horizontal. Users' expectation that the altitude will be as precise
as the horizontal location is misplaced.

- GPS altitude is usually presented as the height above whatever ellipsoid that
the GPS uses as an earth model. This is not the same as the height above MSL. I
think the difference can be a few hundred feet.

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 10:02:22 -0400, Dave Butler wrote:

Stephen McNaught wrote:
A couple thoughts on using a PDA with aviation moving map software,

snip

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.

snip

I can't let this go by without pointing out the biggest reasons for GPS altitude
to be perceived as inaccurate. These are all *systemic* reasons and have nothing
to do with the quality of the GPS receiver, or whether it was built with
aviation in mind.

Additional data follows...

Many years ago, prior to WAAS, and prior to SA being turned off,
altitude would regularly be several hundred feet different than
indicated on the altimeter.

However, with SA shut off, and a WAAS enabled receiver, the accuracy
in the Z domain is much improved. As an empirical reference - I have
a Garmin 295, which has WAAS capability. The delta between indicated
altitude and GPS altitude is always less than 500 feet, and usually
is less than 100 feet.

"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1114523965.843239@sj-nntpcache-5...
- GPS position calculation in the vertical axis has less precision than in
the
horizontal plane because of the geometry. A small error in measuring the
time of
arrival of the GPS signal translates into a larger error in the vertical
axis
than in the horizontal. Users' expectation that the altitude will be as
precise
as the horizontal location is misplaced.

Trivia (AIC): When a ship travels through the Panama Canal, it actually
gains/loses about 25 feet from entry to exit depending on the direction of
travel. Sea Level is not 100.0% level.

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

Jonathan Goodish wrote:

TheÂ*PDA/TabletÂ*systemsÂ*offerÂ*capabilitiesÂ*notÂ*foundÂ* inÂ*a
handheld GPS, and are continually updated and enhanced.

Such as?

I like the "electronic AI" feature that Controlvision offers. What else is
there that should be tempting me?

- Andrew

wrote:
the altitude
was reading 400ft below actual altitude.

Compared to what? Was that on the ground or in the air?
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM