I-Pad

Or a 7" version

http://www.tootoomart.com/product-2995168-LF70B++7/'/'portable+GPS+navigation+/

Forget all that expensive ****....

Check this out... 4.3" display, integrated GPS, runs CE6. less than
$100 plus you can add a copy of XCSOAR for free.

http://www.tootoomart.com/product-3069387-4.3

I know what I will be testing this summer.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The big catch with those cheapie units you guys are posting links to
is their low screen resolution. Only ~270 or ~240 lines of pixels? :-
P
(they also have small battery capacities from what I can tell)

Since none of these "roll your own" systems are going to be IGC-legal
for badges/records, why not simply use an IGC-legal external computer/
logger with its own GPS (a la the ewMicroRecorder or similar)?

Ditching the GPS component from the PDA/PNA means a simpler device
with a much lower power consumption level. Seems to me that there are
a lot of non-graphical (but IGC-legal) loggers and flight computers
out there, and most work fine. Its the moving-map/navigation aspect
that needs work - so why not concentrate on that?

And If your GPS fails, you _do_ have charts in your plane... don't
you??

--Noel

On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:22:14 -0800, noel.wade wrote:

Ditching the GPS component from the PDA/PNA means a simpler device with
a much lower power consumption level. Seems to me that there are a lot
of non-graphical (but IGC-legal) loggers and flight computers out there,
and most work fine. Its the moving-map/navigation aspect that needs
work - so why not concentrate on that?

Power consumption isn't a problem once you've connected the PNA to your
main battery: looked at that way, it doesn't really matter where the GPS
engine is because it will be sucking on your 12v supply no matter where
its installed.

In the UK, anyway, PNAs are both cheaper than PDAs and there's a much
bigger range available, so they are the obvious beasts to buy. Their main
drawback is the lack of any form of serial port provide a NMEA feed to a
logger or a decent vario.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Jan 29, 11:22*am, "noel.wade" wrote:
The big catch with those cheapie units you guys are posting links to
is their low screen resolution. *Only ~270 or ~240 lines of pixels? *:-
P

All the IPAQ 3600/3800/3900 most of us have been flying with for years
have the same screen res.
470/240 is not a problem in fact it makes the screen refreshes faster
than units with higher res. but same speed processors.


(they also have small battery capacities from what I can tell)

Thats why you wire them into the ships power like a regular IPAQ
solution.


Since none of these "roll your own" systems are going to be IGC-legal
for badges/records, why not simply use an IGC-legal external computer/
logger with its own GPS (a la the ewMicroRecorder or similar)?

Most flights flown can use the software generated IGC files to post to
OLC which is what 99% of flights are.
If you want to get badges or records then you will have a full IGC
logger in your possession anyway


Ditching the GPS component from the PDA/PNA means a simpler device
with a much lower power consumption level. *Seems to me that there are
a lot of non-graphical (but IGC-legal) loggers and flight computers
out there, and most work fine. *Its the moving-map/navigation aspect
that needs work - so why not concentrate on that?

The integrated GPS uses a lot less current than an separate device.
Have you even seen the latest versions of XCSOAR?


And If your GPS fails, you _do_ have charts in your plane... don't
you??


Charts LOL of course and they are all up to date as well.

Regards

Al

On Jan 29, 11:22*am, "noel.wade" wrote:
The big catch with those cheapie units you guys are posting links to
is their low screen resolution. *Only ~270 or ~240 lines of pixels? *:-
P

All the IPAQ 3600/3800/3900 most of us have been flying with for years
have the same screen res.
470/240 is not a problem in fact it makes the screen refreshes faster
than units with higher res. but same speed processors.


(they also have small battery capacities from what I can tell)

Thats why you wire them into the ships power like a regular IPAQ
solution.


Since none of these "roll your own" systems are going to be IGC-legal
for badges/records, why not simply use an IGC-legal external computer/
logger with its own GPS (a la the ewMicroRecorder or similar)?

Most flights flown can use the software generated IGC files to post to
OLC which is what 99% of flights are.
If you want to get badges or records then you will have a full IGC
logger in your possession anyway


Ditching the GPS component from the PDA/PNA means a simpler device
with a much lower power consumption level. *Seems to me that there are
a lot of non-graphical (but IGC-legal) loggers and flight computers
out there, and most work fine. *Its the moving-map/navigation aspect
that needs work - so why not concentrate on that?

The integrated GPS uses a lot less current than an separate device.
Have you even seen the latest versions of XCSOAR?


And If your GPS fails, you _do_ have charts in your plane... don't
you??


Charts LOL of course and they are all up to date as well.

Regards

Al

Couple of clarifications (not that I don't appreciate the humor and
consider this a "light-hearted" topic...

1) Yes, I'm a huge user of XCSoar - I even put together a short video
tutorial, which is on the XCSoar site. Someday I'll finish the other
videos in the series that I intended to make...

2) What I was trying to say was that most people _already_ have a GPS
in their cockpit somewhere. Buying a PNA or other device with its
_own_ GPS means having extra current draw/power-demand. I don't care
if its the internal battery or ship's power - duplicating functions
like that is wasting usable electrons, period. ;-P

--Noel