GPS Question.... Yet Again

Hi Mike!

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 18:51:10 -0800, Mike 'Flyin'8'
wrote:

Dave,

Thanks for your input! So if I mount the AM1000 on the Yoke, it does
not block any of the instruments in the cockpit?

I am 5' 9" , partner is 6'4". He says no, the knob on the mount
blocks the 0 -800 RPM portion of the tach for me if I sit perfectly
straight..shift my head to the right an inch or two, and my answer is
no as well...

When you turn the Yoke, does the AM1000 stay vertically aligned, or
does it turn with the yoke?

It turns with the yoke..


Since the AM500 and AM1000 are pretty much the same unit (Except for
size) Is the extra $200 a good trade off for screen size?

Yes, absolutely for us...

I have not
seen either of these units in person so I am not sure how dramatic the
difference on the screen is... I drew out two boxes that are the exact
size of the units, and the AM1000 is quite a bit bigger... I am
certainly leaning toward either the AM500 or AM1000, but trying to
justify the money in my head... If the AM500 does exactly what I
want, and the screen/button size is usable then I would be happy. If
however, the buttons are too small to be easily used during flight,
then I would be very disappointed. My currrent solution is jsut not
working... The PDA using GPS software and a CF card. It is just not
practical. How the heck am I supposed to use the little stylus during
flight... :-)

I don't know either... the AM 1000 has large widely spaced buttons,
easily reached with your thumbs while firmly holding the yoke.

We tried several, and the most difficult was a Garmin 196 mounted at
arms length in the center of the panel. OK on the ground, but in rough
air, just try to push a small (correct) button at arms length with
you (and your hand) moving opposite to the panel in rough conditions.


Obviously you thought the cost was worth the extra size on the
screen... I am just afraid the size of the unit would block some of
my view in the cockpit.

As above, not an issue with us on our 1974 "M" model

What about using this AirMap 1000 on a
suction cup mount connected to the lower left side of the front
windscreen? Workable?

Yes, should work OK, but when it gets bumpy, having your
thumbs/hands/buttons/GPS and yoke locked together takes the pain out
of the operation..

..
We REALLY happy with the AM..But that is just us, YMMV!

Good luck..

Happy to answer any other ???? U may have...

As you may guess by now, we tried several (in other 172's) and we
shopped hard

Dave

Thanks Dave. Appreciate your input. I actually placed the order for
the AM1000 today. I will first try the Yoke Mount as suggested and if
it becomes a distraction I will get one of those suction cup mounts
for the windscreen. I think I will like the yoke mount, however, I am
not so sure I will like the GPS turning with the yoke, that may be the
gotcha for me...



On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:38:47 -0400, Dave
wrote:

Hi Mike!

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 18:51:10 -0800, Mike 'Flyin'8'
wrote:

Dave,

Thanks for your input! So if I mount the AM1000 on the Yoke, it does
not block any of the instruments in the cockpit?

I am 5' 9" , partner is 6'4". He says no, the knob on the mount
blocks the 0 -800 RPM portion of the tach for me if I sit perfectly
straight..shift my head to the right an inch or two, and my answer is
no as well...

When you turn the Yoke, does the AM1000 stay vertically aligned, or
does it turn with the yoke?

It turns with the yoke..


Since the AM500 and AM1000 are pretty much the same unit (Except for
size) Is the extra $200 a good trade off for screen size?

Yes, absolutely for us...

I have not
seen either of these units in person so I am not sure how dramatic the
difference on the screen is... I drew out two boxes that are the exact
size of the units, and the AM1000 is quite a bit bigger... I am
certainly leaning toward either the AM500 or AM1000, but trying to
justify the money in my head... If the AM500 does exactly what I
want, and the screen/button size is usable then I would be happy. If
however, the buttons are too small to be easily used during flight,
then I would be very disappointed. My currrent solution is jsut not
working... The PDA using GPS software and a CF card. It is just not
practical. How the heck am I supposed to use the little stylus during
flight... :-)

I don't know either... the AM 1000 has large widely spaced buttons,
easily reached with your thumbs while firmly holding the yoke.

We tried several, and the most difficult was a Garmin 196 mounted at
arms length in the center of the panel. OK on the ground, but in rough
air, just try to push a small (correct) button at arms length with
you (and your hand) moving opposite to the panel in rough conditions.


Obviously you thought the cost was worth the extra size on the
screen... I am just afraid the size of the unit would block some of
my view in the cockpit.

As above, not an issue with us on our 1974 "M" model

What about using this AirMap 1000 on a
suction cup mount connected to the lower left side of the front
windscreen? Workable?

Yes, should work OK, but when it gets bumpy, having your
thumbs/hands/buttons/GPS and yoke locked together takes the pain out
of the operation..

.
We REALLY happy with the AM..But that is just us, YMMV!

Good luck..

Happy to answer any other ???? U may have...

As you may guess by now, we tried several (in other 172's) and we
shopped hard

Dave


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike,

I will get one of those suction cup mounts
for the windscreen.


You'll be pulling it out of the carton the AM1000 came in - it's
included.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Garmin has a beanbag mount for the smaller portables. I keep mine
on the glareshield with a piece of anti-skid rubber velcro'd to
the bottom of the portable. There's no "head down" issue. I've
tried the portable on the yoke and really hate it because that's
where I keep the list of freqs I need.

Since Garmin has officially declared the Pilot III as discontinued
(but still supported with database) you could pick up a used one
very reasonably and use that for a while and get used to it.

Then turn around and sell it to buy something more fancy later on.

I was researching the same thing 4 months ago.
Excellent suggestions from members of this group led me to purchase the
Airmap 1000.

No regrets.

No need for the external antenna (in a 172 or 152).

The screen, when mounted on the yoke does not block any of my
instruments. It looks huge in the pictures, but is a good size for the
yoke, in my opinion. Of course, I originally found myself looking at
the unit when I should have been doing my scan of both the sky and
instruments. With practice, I no longer do this.

Whatever unit you get, I highly recommend sitting in the right seat
while a friend flies and messing around with the unit. Folks told me to
play with it at home, but it's nice to do it in a moving plane.

Use of a wrist strap with the Airmap 1000 would probably result in
carpal tunnel syndrome.

I'm in the SF Bay area and find the unit telling me the actual
boundaries of airspaces to be quite useful. With the secional, I know
I'm 'close' but never actually sure of my position.

The runway guidance feature is useful when approaching an unfamiliar
airport.

Then again, I'm a new pilot with 150 or so hours.

Jonathan

In Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:
Ok, first off, Sorry to do this to everyone yet again.... I can not
find all the information I seek, so I ask all the experts here. I am
looking for information about the units I list below to help me make a
decision.

I am in the market for a protable GPS. I am not sure which way to go,
but I can say for cerrtain the about $600 is all I want to spend.
Pretty much will settle for Grey Scale....

This means I am in the range of Airmap 1000, Airmap 500, Garmin 96, or
if I push the $'s a bit a Garmin 196 may be within reach, but I think
the wife would not be happy if I spent that much on a "toy." Though,
I have tried to be convincing that it is a life saver in the event of
emergency. Did I leave any decent units out that I should also
consider?

So.... Here are my questions...

Airmap 1000 Questions:
-Is the Airmap 1000 a bit too big for a portable GPS device?
-Is the Wrist strap even worth messing with on a device this large?
-Will this GPS device receive signals reliable without use of the
external antenna?


Airmap 500 and Garmin 96 Questions:
-Sensitivity good without external antenna? (In a C172)
-Again, Is the wrist strap worth even trying? Does it get in the way?

Garmin 196
-It looks like this device has the ability to set on top of the dash
in the plane with the antenna exposed through the windscreen. So I
would imagine if left on top of the control panel an external antenna
is not necessary. So, would an external be needed?
-With the previous in mind, is this device usable if left on top of
the panel?
-Can you reach up and accurately press buttons as needed?
-Is the screen large enough to see if left sitting on top of the
Panel?


General Questions:
How do the GPS Yoke mounts work? I do not own a plane and rent, so is
the Yoke Mount easibly removable, or should I forget that idea all
together and just use a wrist strap? Does it work on a Cessna 172
without getting in the way? Is the wrist strap even worth messing
with?


Of the 4 GPS devices I have listed in or near my price range which is
the best all around device for the money? I think the most important
thing to me is the ability to acquire a signal without the use of an
external antenna. I do not want wires running through the airplane
getting in the way and interfering with the flight controls.

Additionally, I want it to be usable while flying without causing too
much distraction. By that I mean I do not want to be head down trying
to figure out what button to push to switch modes. Single button
presses to switch between functions would be ideal.

Since I do not fly long trips a lot, battery life is not of real
concern. I would be happy with about 4-5 hours battery life.



Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike,

How do the GPS Yoke mounts work? I do not own a plane and rent, so is
the Yoke Mount easibly removable, or should I forget that idea all
together and just use a wrist strap? Does it work on a Cessna 172
without getting in the way? Is the wrist strap even worth messing
with?


I would forget about wrist straps, period. The yoke mounts from RAM (I
know they come with the Lowrances, don't know the Garmins) are excellent
and work real well in Cessnas. Also, for stick aircraft or added
felxibility, you will get a suction cup mount from Lowrance included in
the price, too. If the suction cup is well designed - and everything
from RAM is - the plane will break before it comes off.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas,

Also, for stick aircraft or added
felxibility,


Oh, and if you fly out of Carlsbad, as the photos on your site seem to
imply, you WILL fly stick aircraft. Check out Pinnacle's DA40. One
flight and you'll never look back.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Carlsbad indeed. I am still a new pilot, so I am not ready to jump out of
my C172 just yet. :-) I am certaily anxious to try some new planes
though.

Thomas Borchert wrote:
Thomas,

Also, for stick aircraft or added
felxibility,


Oh, and if you fly out of Carlsbad, as the photos on your site seem to
imply, you WILL fly stick aircraft. Check out Pinnacle's DA40. One
flight and you'll never look back.

--
Mike Flyin'8
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Carlsbad indeed.


Are you flying with Pinnacle? I rented there last fall and really liked
the outfit. Very professional. First place I've seen to turn away a
prospective renter after the non-satisfactory check-out (another
German, not very fluent in English and neither, it seemed, in Cessnas).

Their DA-40 isn't much more expensive than the new 172s, if you factor
in the higher speed - and it is a world apart. I'd recommend making the
transition as soon as possible, if only because flying different types
tremendously widens a pilot's horizon. Also, the visibility out of the
"flying bubble" will blow you away, pure and simple.

I might be coming back next fall...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas,

I fly with a club, Pacific Coast Flyers. I actually live in Temecula, so
it is about an hour drive to the airport. I am thinking of getting checked
out at our local airport (French Valley) F70 to make my drive only 10
minutes.

Are you flying with Pinnacle? I rented there last fall and really liked
the outfit. Very professional. First place I've seen to turn away a
prospective renter after the non-satisfactory check-out (another
German, not very fluent in English and neither, it seemed, in Cessnas).


--
Mike Flyin'8
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
http://flying.4alexanders.com