Help requested with Soaring Flight Software Comparison Table

Hi Henryk,

I have added every flight software option I am aware of. Some of them are
somewhat obscure, but I want the table to be as complete as possible. My
goal is to create a resource for glider pilots. Hopefully customers will
appreciate my efforts and buy from me.

When I say that some of the software packages are obscure, I mean that there
may be few pilots using them. I will not name names, but I am not referring
to GPS_LOG which is popular.

Please review the GPS_LOG column on the web site. I'm sure there are many
errors. The table is only as good as the data I receive.

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Henryk Birecki" wrote in message
...
"Walter Kronester" wrote:

Very interesting table, thank you!
Please do not forget the free GPS_LOG
http://www.soaringpilotsoftware.com/GPS_LOGpage.htm


I would like it if Paul Remde included GPS_LOG WinCE in his
comparison. But the table lists software he sells, so in that context
the omission makes sense.

Henryk Birecki
(GPS_LOG WinCE developper)

OK, for completeness here are GPS_LOG WinCE entries to the table. Some
of these cannot be captured in yes/no answers and some entries
immediately bring to mind other entries that should be there like "All
calculations are wind compensated" (answer yes for GPS_LOG), "needed
altitude takes terrain into consideration" (yes again), but then I and
forms never agree.

Feature GPS_LOG WinCE

Price --- free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map ---- no, gives a
list of 8 best reachable sites instead
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints ---- yes (one turnpoint)
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling ---- "yes, and in
""straight flight"" if data (IAS,heading) available"
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes ---- no
"Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst)" ---- 5 (what do you expect
) - user customizeable
Differential Final Glide ---- yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support ---- yes
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map ---- yes (with
alarms)
"Topographical Maps (roads, lakes, elevation lines, etc.)" -----
yes
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts ----- no (pretty, but....)
In-flight optimization of OLC flights ------ "displays distance
given number of legs, does not check rule compliance"
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight ------ no
Thermal Histogram ----- "no, but keeps track of the average climb"
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once ----- no
Climb Maximizer ------ yes
Thermal Average ------ yes
Terrain Elevation ------ yes


Compatibility with GPS Flight Recorders
PA - Receive position and GPS altitude from the flight recorder
Pr - Receive pressure altitude from the flight recorder
Lg - Download Flight Logs from the flight recorder to the Pocket
Tsk - Make an IGC Approved Task Declaration in the Flight Recorder
Wp - Upload Waypoints and tasks from Pocket PC to Flight Recorder
MC - Exchange MacCready between the Pocket PC software and the flight
recorder
Ps - Tie software password to flight recorder serial number
"S - Edit Setup Parameters in the flight recorder such as waypoint
arrival radius, units, etc."
Flight Recorder or Flight Computer


"""Generic"" GPS (Garmin, Transplant, etc.)" ---- "PA,Pr (Garmin
Summit…)"
Borgelt B50 with Volkslogger ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk(may depend on
wiring), MC (to PPC)"
Cambridge Aero Instruments GPS-NAV ---- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
Cambridge Aero Instruments 302 and 302A ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk, MC (to
PPC)"
Filser LX20 ----- "PA,Pr, Tsk (?? - if the same as Colibri)"
Garrecht Volkslogger ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
LX Navigation Colibri ------ "PA,Pr,Tsk"
"LX Navigation LX160, LX7000" ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
LX Navigation LX1600 ------ "PA,Pr,Tsk"
Scheffel Automation Themi ---- "PA (if NMEA),????"
Westerboer VW921 ----- "PA(this unit does not output GPS
altitude),Pr"
Zander ------ "PA,Pr"

Henryk Birecki

"Paul Remde" wrote:

Hi Henryk,

I have added every flight software option I am aware of. Some of them are
somewhat obscure, but I want the table to be as complete as possible. My
goal is to create a resource for glider pilots. Hopefully customers will
appreciate my efforts and buy from me.

When I say that some of the software packages are obscure, I mean that there
may be few pilots using them. I will not name names, but I am not referring
to GPS_LOG which is popular.

Please review the GPS_LOG column on the web site. I'm sure there are many
errors. The table is only as good as the data I receive.

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Henryk Birecki" wrote in message
.. .
"Walter Kronester" wrote:

Very interesting table, thank you!
Please do not forget the free GPS_LOG
http://www.soaringpilotsoftware.com/GPS_LOGpage.htm


I would like it if Paul Remde included GPS_LOG WinCE in his
comparison. But the table lists software he sells, so in that context
the omission makes sense.

Henryk Birecki
(GPS_LOG WinCE developper)

Hi Henryk,

Certainly no table is going to be perfect, but I'm doing my best. Thank for
your feedback.

Does GPS_LOG really have a "Climb Maximizer" similar to WinPilot and Themi
that directs you to the center of the thermal? Cool!

Paul Remde

"Henryk Birecki" wrote in message
...
OK, for completeness here are GPS_LOG WinCE entries to the table. Some
of these cannot be captured in yes/no answers and some entries
immediately bring to mind other entries that should be there like "All
calculations are wind compensated" (answer yes for GPS_LOG), "needed
altitude takes terrain into consideration" (yes again), but then I and
forms never agree.

Feature GPS_LOG WinCE

Price --- free
Reachable airports are highlighted on the moving map ---- no, gives a
list of 8 best reachable sites instead
Final Glide Around Multiple Waypoints ---- yes (one turnpoint)
Calculates wind speed and direction while circling ---- "yes, and in
""straight flight"" if data (IAS,heading) available"
Wind speed and direction at several altitudes ---- no
"Large Fonts (5 is best, 1 is worst)" ---- 5 (what do you expect
) - user customizeable
Differential Final Glide ---- yes
Turnpoint Area Task Support ---- yes
Special Use Airspace displayed on moving map ---- yes (with
alarms)
"Topographical Maps (roads, lakes, elevation lines, etc.)" -----
yes
US Sectional Aeronautical Charts ----- no (pretty, but....)
In-flight optimization of OLC flights ------ "displays distance
given number of legs, does not check rule compliance"
FAI 28% Rule Turnpoint areas displayed in flight ------ no
Thermal Histogram ----- "no, but keeps track of the average climb"
Tracks statistics for multiple tasks at once ----- no
Climb Maximizer ------ yes
Thermal Average ------ yes
Terrain Elevation ------ yes


Compatibility with GPS Flight Recorders
PA - Receive position and GPS altitude from the flight recorder
Pr - Receive pressure altitude from the flight recorder
Lg - Download Flight Logs from the flight recorder to the Pocket
Tsk - Make an IGC Approved Task Declaration in the Flight Recorder
Wp - Upload Waypoints and tasks from Pocket PC to Flight Recorder
MC - Exchange MacCready between the Pocket PC software and the flight
recorder
Ps - Tie software password to flight recorder serial number
"S - Edit Setup Parameters in the flight recorder such as waypoint
arrival radius, units, etc."
Flight Recorder or Flight Computer


"""Generic"" GPS (Garmin, Transplant, etc.)" ---- "PA,Pr (Garmin
Summit.)"
Borgelt B50 with Volkslogger ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk(may depend on
wiring), MC (to PPC)"
Cambridge Aero Instruments GPS-NAV ---- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
Cambridge Aero Instruments 302 and 302A ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk, MC (to
PPC)"
Filser LX20 ----- "PA,Pr, Tsk (?? - if the same as Colibri)"
Garrecht Volkslogger ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
LX Navigation Colibri ------ "PA,Pr,Tsk"
"LX Navigation LX160, LX7000" ----- "PA,Pr,Tsk"
LX Navigation LX1600 ------ "PA,Pr,Tsk"
Scheffel Automation Themi ---- "PA (if NMEA),????"
Westerboer VW921 ----- "PA(this unit does not output GPS
altitude),Pr"
Zander ------ "PA,Pr"

Henryk Birecki

"Paul Remde" wrote:

Hi Henryk,

I have added every flight software option I am aware of. Some of them are
somewhat obscure, but I want the table to be as complete as possible. My
goal is to create a resource for glider pilots. Hopefully customers will
appreciate my efforts and buy from me.

When I say that some of the software packages are obscure, I mean that
there
may be few pilots using them. I will not name names, but I am not
referring
to GPS_LOG which is popular.

Please review the GPS_LOG column on the web site. I'm sure there are many
errors. The table is only as good as the data I receive.

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Henryk Birecki" wrote in message
. ..
"Walter Kronester" wrote:

Very interesting table, thank you!
Please do not forget the free GPS_LOG
http://www.soaringpilotsoftware.com/GPS_LOGpage.htm


I would like it if Paul Remde included GPS_LOG WinCE in his
comparison. But the table lists software he sells, so in that context
the omission makes sense.

Henryk Birecki
(GPS_LOG WinCE developper)

"Paul Remde" wrote:

Certainly no table is going to be perfect, but I'm doing my best.

I agree on that wholeheartedly.

Thank for your feedback.


Does GPS_LOG really have a "Climb Maximizer" similar to WinPilot and Themi
that directs you to the center of the thermal? Cool!


Well, I do not know what the other software does (never used it), but
GPS_LOG WinCE does go into a mode where it shows you where you should
circle to be in lift. It is a highly enlarged view of track where lift
is color coded and width of line indicates "more than" running average
or "less than" average. It is very effective (even on black and white
screen) for me, but then... I am biased . Ask GPS_LOG WinCE users.

Henryk

I use Henryk's software exclusively and
in my opinion the feature Henryk mentions
can definitely be called a "Climb Maximizer".

One very quick glance per turn, very effective in
assisting in finding and staying in the core
of the thermal.

David


Henryk Birecki wrote in message . ..
"Paul Remde" wrote:

Certainly no table is going to be perfect, but I'm doing my best.

I agree on that wholeheartedly.

Thank for your feedback.


Does GPS_LOG really have a "Climb Maximizer" similar to WinPilot and Themi
that directs you to the center of the thermal? Cool!


Well, I do not know what the other software does (never used it), but
GPS_LOG WinCE does go into a mode where it shows you where you should
circle to be in lift. It is a highly enlarged view of track where lift
is color coded and width of line indicates "more than" running average
or "less than" average. It is very effective (even on black and white
screen) for me, but then... I am biased . Ask GPS_LOG WinCE users.

Henryk

Henryk Birecki wrote:

When listing GPS_LOG WinCE capabilities I made a mistake.

Cambridge Aero Instruments GPS-NAV ---- "PA,Pr,Tsk"

should be "PA,Tsk"

Henryk Birecki