What electronics are worth buying

On Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 3:47:54 PM UTC-6, John Huthmaker wrote:
With Christmas coming up, what are some things worth asking Santa for? Is there any decent GPS devices that are reasonably priced? I'm thinking around the $500 mark. I already have a handheld transceiver. I have a nice headset for power planes. I have a parachute. At my soaring club, all of the planes are as minimalist as they come. They're all steam gauges. What do you guys consider to be essential modern tech for gliders?

John,

If you are going to be using the club gliders, look at the LX Nano and a good dedicated daylight visible Android phone(I use a Sony Xperia Z3)to install XCSoar or Top Hat on to. Also the LoRa Flarm device would be a good choice for proximity warnings. The Nano and LoRa Flarm are both very portable and you will not need to connect to the gliders electrical system. Total about $650.00 US.

Mike

On Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 7:16:33 PM UTC-7, Mike C wrote:
On Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 3:47:54 PM UTC-6, John Huthmaker wrote:
With Christmas coming up, what are some things worth asking Santa for? Is there any decent GPS devices that are reasonably priced? I'm thinking around the $500 mark. I already have a handheld transceiver. I have a nice headset for power planes. I have a parachute. At my soaring club, all of the planes are as minimalist as they come. They're all steam gauges. What do you guys consider to be essential modern tech for gliders?

John,

If you are going to be using the club gliders, look at the LX Nano and a good dedicated daylight visible Android phone(I use a Sony Xperia Z3)to install XCSoar or Top Hat on to. Also the LoRa Flarm device would be a good choice for proximity warnings. The Nano and LoRa Flarm are both very portable and you will not need to connect to the gliders electrical system. Total about $650.00 US.

Mike

Or even better. Find out what portable soaring software/devices local XC pilots are using, pilots going good XC distances, that will help you. Get what they use. Might be XCSoar, Might be SeeYou Mobile/Oudie, might be ...

No argument on the Garmin inReach, get the Mini and a proper way to mount it on your parachute harness (like an Alan Silver Smak Pak).

SeeYou on a PC is also likely a good investment if you are heading off XC. maybe wanting to do badges, etc.

If you are going to be using the club gliders, look at the LX Nano and a good dedicated daylight visible Android phone(I use a Sony Xperia Z3)to install XCSoar or Top Hat on to. Also the LoRa Flarm device would be a good choice for proximity warnings. The Nano and LoRa Flarm are both very portable and you will not need to connect to the gliders electrical system. Total about $650.00 US.

Mike
Could go Nano4 and skip bluetooth to phone. Pluses and minuses to both solutions. What is LoRa Flarm?

On Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at 1:20:02 PM UTC-6, wrote:
If you are going to be using the club gliders, look at the LX Nano and a good dedicated daylight visible Android phone(I use a Sony Xperia Z3)to install XCSoar or Top Hat on to. Also the LoRa Flarm device would be a good choice for proximity warnings. The Nano and LoRa Flarm are both very portable and you will not need to connect to the gliders electrical system. Total about $650.00 US.

Mike
Could go Nano4 and skip bluetooth to phone. Pluses and minuses to both solutions. What is LoRa Flarm?


The board: http://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wi...e-Edition-MkII
Quick start: http://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wi...I.-Quick-start
Settings description: http://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wiki/Settings
Enclosu http://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/tree/master/case/v5

I switched PLBs from ACR to McMurdo Fastfind Ranger. A motivating factor was periodic battery replacement. The first replacement battery had already used up over a year of its life on the shelf, but I did get a small credit when I complained. The second time around, the battery replacement quote was not that much less than a new Fastfind which is substantially lighter, more compact and has a longer battery life.

I gave my ACR to a ham radio operator who knows how to use a soldering gun.

On Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 2:11:59 AM UTC-4, George Haeh wrote:
I switched PLBs from ACR to McMurdo Fastfind Ranger. A motivating factor was periodic battery replacement. The first replacement battery had already used up over a year of its life on the shelf, but I did get a small credit when I complained. The second time around, the battery replacement quote was not that much less than a new Fastfind which is substantially lighter, more compact and has a longer battery life.

I gave my ACR to a ham radio operator who knows how to use a soldering gun.

At that price I would just crack the case open and find out if I could replace the battery myself. Its highly unlikely they made a battery specifically for this device that couldnt be sourced elsewhere.

On Friday, October 26, 2018 at 4:59:27 PM UTC-4, John Huthmaker wrote:
At that price I would just crack the case open and find out if I could replace the battery myself. Its highly unlikely they made a battery specifically for this device that couldnt be sourced elsewhere.

They also do testing and re-registration of the unit since if I remember correctly the registration will expire with the buttery.

Keep shopping. I had mine done this spring at an authorized ACR repair facility (Marine equipment based). The cost was $80 + $5 return shipping. That works for me.
Craig

Hmm, I see that the cost of battery replacement for the ACR PLBs has gone up a lot since I bought my ACR PLB. Has anybody looked into the current best deal for this? Lowest I've found for a factory-authorized replacement is $125. That's extortion, but still a lot less than buying a new PLB of any make and model.

On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 10:51:04 AM UTC-4, Craig Reinholt wrote:
Keep shopping. I had mine done this spring at an authorized ACR repair facility (Marine equipment based). The cost was $80 + $5 return shipping. That works for me.
Craig

Hmm, I see that the cost of battery replacement for the ACR PLBs has gone up a lot since I bought my ACR PLB. Has anybody looked into the current best deal for this? Lowest I've found for a factory-authorized replacement is $125. That's extortion, but still a lot less than buying a new PLB of any make and model.

Craig: can you tell us where you got that price? That's the price I saw a couple of years back when I decided to buy the PLB, but now the lowest I find is $125, many places quote $170 or more.