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#11
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Cheap Glide Computer
On Nov 5, 9:57*pm, Brad wrote:
On Nov 5, 6:10*pm, Tim Taylor wrote: On Nov 5, 5:59*pm, RT wrote: On Nov 5, 9:42*am, Uncle Fuzzy wrote: I just put together a REALLY cheap system for budding LVVSA XC pilots to use. *Here's the breakdown: iPAQ 3870 - ebay $22.50 including shipping (I bought a 'lot' of 5) New battery - $20.00 Bluetooth GPS from Semsons $23.60 including shippinghttp://www.semsons.com/amabg108blgp.html XCSoar - Free I haven't determined if I can make OLC valid files yet. I use a homemade prayer wheel that I copied from a free program off the web somewhere. *For the cost of laminating two pieces of paper, one screw, a nut, and a washer I have a fail proof circular computer. And it has a scale on the side for measuring distances on a sectional LOL! map too. It is as you said: Praying you read it correct in rough conditions. Praying you figured the winds correct. Praying you have time to redo the calculations for that second airport when the conditions deteriorate. Praying you estimated you position correctly. Sorry the days of praying have been gone for 40 years. I saw the secret, I deserve to make that airport.................I do, I do, I do.................! |
#12
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Cheap Glide Computer
RT wrote:
I use a homemade prayer wheel that I copied from a free program off the web somewhere. For the cost of laminating two pieces of paper, one screw, a nut, and a washer I have a fail proof circular computer. And it has a scale on the side for measuring distances on a sectional map too. And it still works when the electrics fail. Nick |
#13
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Cheap Glide Computer
On Nov 6, 3:09*am, Nick Hill wrote:
RT wrote: I use a homemade prayer wheel that I copied from a free program off the web somewhere. *For the cost of laminating two pieces of paper, one screw, a nut, and a washer I have a fail proof circular computer. And it has a scale on the side for measuring distances on a sectional map too. And it still works when the electrics fail. Nick Does it work when you forget the chart? A much more likely occurance than electrics failing. Richard |
#14
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Cheap Glide Computer
On Nov 6, 3:09*am, Nick Hill wrote:
RT wrote: I use a homemade prayer wheel that I copied from a free program off the web somewhere. *For the cost of laminating two pieces of paper, one screw, a nut, and a washer I have a fail proof circular computer. And it has a scale on the side for measuring distances on a sectional map too. And it still works when the electrics fail. Nick Great if you've enough room in your cockpit to manipulate the charts. I don't. In the last 15,000 kilometers of cross country flying I've done, and the other 200+hours of just-for-fun flying, I've had exactly ONE problem with my flight computer, and that was fixed by a push of the reset button. I have had more 'chart' failures than that. Trying to re-fold the chart when I fly off the section I have open often results in torn charts, and always results in quite a bit of time I'm NOT able to keep my eyes out of the cockpit. I'll stick to my 'situation at a glance' system for now. |
#15
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Cheap Glide Computer
I skip the wheel and go straight to praying. usually every flight
right after tow release. Tony |
#16
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Cheap Glide Computer Update
On Nov 6, 9:39*am, Tony wrote:
I skip the wheel and go straight to praying. usually every flight right after tow release. Tony Update: The system works great, but I might recommend a different Bluetooth GPS unit. The one I linked to in the original post has a pretty consistant altitude error, of more than 200 feet. The horizontal position is consistantly quite good. |
#17
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Cheap Glide Computer Update
On Nov 9, 11:26*am, Uncle Fuzzy wrote:
On Nov 6, 9:39*am, Tony wrote: I skip the wheel and go straight to praying. usually every flight right after tow release. Tony Update: * The system works great, but I might recommend a different Bluetooth GPS unit. *The one I linked to in the original post has a pretty consistant altitude error, of more than 200 feet. *The horizontal position is consistantly quite good. That's pretty cool.... How is XCSoar working out for you? Have you used it in competition? Does it handle beer can start gates correctly (arm/auto start based on radius or altitude, calculate distance from actual start point...)? How well does it handle MATs... particularly w.r.t. to adding turnpoints in flight? Think I've finally had it with winpilot -- developer appears completely uninterested in fixing (glaring) faults of interest to US contest pilots. The docs with XCSoar are hugely better... I would use this on an ipaq 38** or 39** with nmea provided by C302. tia, Evan Ludeman / T8 |
#18
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Cheap Glide Computer Update
On Nov 9, 8:26*am, Uncle Fuzzy wrote:
On Nov 6, 9:39*am, Tony wrote: I skip the wheel and go straight to praying. usually every flight right after tow release. Tony Update: * The system works great, but I might recommend a different Bluetooth GPS unit. *The one I linked to in the original post has a pretty consistant altitude error, of more than 200 feet. *The horizontal position is consistantly quite good. That altitude error is likely because the GPS is not using the WGS 84 ellipsoid. An issue with some GPS including those built into PDA/PNA/ cell phones etc. Darryl |
#19
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Cheap Glide Computer Update
On Nov 9, 11:53*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Nov 9, 8:26*am, Uncle Fuzzy wrote: On Nov 6, 9:39*am, Tony wrote: I skip the wheel and go straight to praying. usually every flight right after tow release. Tony Update: * The system works great, but I might recommend a different Bluetooth GPS unit. *The one I linked to in the original post has a pretty consistant altitude error, of more than 200 feet. *The horizontal position is consistantly quite good. That altitude error is likely because the GPS is not using the WGS 84 ellipsoid. An issue with some GPS including those built into PDA/PNA/ cell phones etc. Darryl That was my initial wag, but the manual states it is using the WGS 84 model. Whatever the reason for the error, that error may be the reason the unit is soo cheap. I have asked a couple others in the club to bring their Bluetooth GPS units out to the field for some comparison testing (and maybe a BBQ!) |
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