Anywhere Map with XM weather

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.

Of course, that's why we use MEAN sea level!
--
Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas 672 MSL
N7NZ

Not yet. Garmin's materials explain the GDL69 display option, when
released for the GNS430/530 will have a limited display set until the
WAAS upgrades are implemented on those boxes.

Then again, I have been waiting for the WAAS upgrade on my 530 for over
a year past Garmin's original date of availability...

I went with NavAirWx. Experience with activation issues with the WxWorx
box is the shutdown routine. XM is supposed to be sending an automatic
firmware update for the boxes in the near future. For now, NavAir users
have had very good luck by being patient and using the software file
exit routine.

See you at OSH, Ron...

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

After spending many hours using a Pocket PC for navigation and weather,
I feel that PDA solutions can offer tremendous value but are not for
everyone.

If you are tech savvy and do not need the PDA for primary navigation
you can potentially save many thousands of dollars vs. the cost of
panel mount units and proprietary weather data feeds.
Keep in mind that the underlying PDA operating systems are imperfect
and can fail you at inconvenient times. Are you ready and willing to
perform soft resets, define Bluetooth connections, proactively manage
memory (i.e., don't run a bazillion applications at once), move
files, configure Internet properties and acclimate to a screen with
tiny fonts?
If not, go straight for a dedicated aviation handheld or panel unit and
get regional NEXRAD on your cell phone. That will keep you out of the
worst weather. All NEXRAD data is minutes-old information regardless of
how much you spend to get it and is not suitable for picking your way
through storms.

For missions that include hard IFR, I would want an in-panel display
with a satellite NEXRAD receiver and an independent storm scope. The
PDA would then make a good backup.

One benefit of having a PDA is the wide range of aviation specific
software applications. Mix and match to suite your needs without being
locked into the offerings of a single vendor. Much like choosing a
wine, start at the low end and work your way up. When you find one you
like, stop.

If you have a Pocket PC and an in-cockpit Internet connection
(satellite or 'cell' phone), you can get a moving map with NEXRAD
for a monthly cost equivalent to a couple quarts of Aeroshell 15w-50.

I cringe when I read about pilots spending thousands of dollars on PDA
based solutions. Hundreds is about right, not thousands. If that spare
change is burning a hole consider spending it on training or maybe a
2nd AI.

Search google using = Pocket PC Moving Map NEXRAD METAR
for some on-topic links.

Most people I've talked to about cell phone use in flight report no
signal above maybe 3000 AGL unless it's a satellite-based system. I've
tried mine at 5000 AGL and got nothing.

However, I do agree with your analysis of the PDA systems. I have one
and would never use it as primary.

In article .com,
wrote:
For missions that include hard IFR, I would want an in-panel display
with a satellite NEXRAD receiver and an independent storm scope. The
PDA would then make a good backup.

I'm sorry, I just don't see much difference between the PDA-based
systems and a dedicated handheld when it comes to primary
navigation--neither one is approved for primary navigation in IFR, but
when they're working, they are at least equals. The PDA beats the pants
off of the handheld when you add weather or geo-referenced approach
plates (for situational awareness.)

I'm not sure how weather uplink to a certified panel system would be any
different than weather uplink to a PDA or Tablet. As far as I know, the
weather providers and products provided are the same. Most of the
PDA-based products being marketed today rely on GlobalStar, WSI, or XM
for weather feeds.

To me, the NEXRAD part of weather uplink is only part of the weather
picture. Echo tops are invaluable (especially in the summer), and
METARs and TAFs are certainly helpful. Live TFR updates are also nice.
I have a StrikeFinder, so lightning data simply backs up the
StrikeFinder. Show me the handheld that can do all of that. Show me
the panel-mount that does it better for a competitive price.

You do not have to be a computer expert to use the PDA systems, but you
do have to pretty much dedicate them to one application, and that is the
moving map/weather application. Most Windows systems would run very
well if they were dedicated to only one application, not connected to
the Internet, and had nothing else installed on them.



JKG

Matt Barrow wrote:

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.

I remember learning this as a kid and not understanding. Is this just tidal
difference? Otherwise, why doesn't it balance out?

- Andrew

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

In article ne.com,
Andrew Gideon wrote:
Such as?

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


Well, the weather is the biggest thing for me. The AI capabilities are
also intriguing, though I haven't really researched those capabilities
much at this point. The ability to have all of the NACO IAPs at your
fingertips is another capability that may be useful. The Cones of
Safety is another nice feature that could be invaluable in an emergency.

And then, there's the price. $115/year gets me 28 day updates to the
database. A minimum of $30/month gets me basic weather and
up-to-the-minute TFR displays (via XM). $150/year gets me all of the
approach plates in the United States. Even if I don't want weather or
approach plates, I still pay $115/year (as opposed to $300 from Garmin)
to get the database updates.

Don't get me wrong, the current handhelds from Garmin and others are
very nice units. They are probably less fragile and represent a
simpler, more refined, and more compact solution for those who want to
grab something off the shelf and go at the touch of a button. But for
the IFR pilot, they lack enough functionality (primarily weather) to
make the premium price over the PDA units questionable at least.

The PDA units aren't for everyone, but if you do more than
weekend-warrior type stuff and fly in or around the weather routinely,
then you may want to consider some form of weather uplink, and the PDA
seems to be the most cost-effective route to accomplish that mission at
this point.


JKG

Jonathan Goodish wrote:

TheÂ*abilityÂ*toÂ*haveÂ*allÂ*ofÂ*theÂ*NACOÂ*IAPsÂ* atÂ*your
fingertips is another capability that may be useful.

How well do these work? Inside the outer marker isn't where I want to be
scrolling around on a PDA?

There are larger devices which can display an entire plate, but they start
to look cumbersome to me (unless mounted into the panel, of course).

- Andrew