PDA GPS software Which one??

http://www.craggyaero.com/WinPilot.htm

I would suggest dowloading all the software you can and evaluate it yourself
before paying for the licence.

I race gliders with winpilot and a ipac.

Mal

On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 05:39:18 GMT, "Mitchell Schaeffer"
wrote:

This is a good site to review different programs
www.palmflying.com
It includes pocket P.C programs

Mitchell


Good idea but PocketFMS v0.9.59 is reviewed and is now v0.9.60 with
v0.9.61 being developed. Many changes!

Kevin,

1. Which of these two would you buy, and why?

I would buy PocketFMS. It's donation ware, so you determine what it's worth
to you.

2. Functionality compared to Garmin's offering?

Well, on the one hand, PPCs do crash and leave you with all the problems of
a Windows bases system. On the other hand, you gain more possibilities.

3. Ease of use compared to Garmin?

Comparable, but not as stable.

4. Base mapping (Garmin has the intl Pacific Base map for Aus). The
Jepp DB has all of the avaiation info including control zones etc etc.
Do these systems have at least the same info depicted?

Yes.

5. Updates - If I don't update the Garmin it still works with the 'old'
database. Do these keep functioning without updating the database. I
have no real reason to update more than once a year or so?

Yes.

6. Any other advice much appreciated....


--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

In article ,
"Morgans" wrote:
A PDA or TabletPC-based system may be a great way to go for backup, but
I wouldn't want to rely on it for anything--ever.

I always thought portable GPS's were for backup, and just another tool in
the pilot's bag of tricks!

It depends on your definition of "backup." If you don't have an IFR
certified GPS, you can not file for IFR enroute or approaches. However,
I routinely file airways and then ask for direct, effectively using my
portable GPS as a primary navigational reference. As long as you are in
radar contact, this practice is legal.

My point is that the portables from Lowrance and Garmin are more
reliable, and use navigation data that is much more reliable, than many
of the TabletPC/PDA software vendors.

In the case of AnywhereMap, I've found fairly obvious and frequent
errors in their navigation data. They are missing low-level obstacles.
The software does not compute great-circle routes. The software was
otherwise riddled with bugs and quirks that made it impossible to use as
any type of reliable IFR reference, in my opinion. It did do well for
weather display, though it only displays a fraction of the XM weather
information that the Garmin 396 displays. There still exists a bug that
makes it impossible to reliably use the PocketPlates product along with
AnywhereMap--this was going to be fixed "soon" months ago.

If I had a panel-mount GPS with the Jepp database, I probably would have
kept the AnywhereMap system. It should be fine for VFR-only use.




JKG

I have had absolutely no reliability problems with my PDA based unit
with bluetooth GPS.
Michelle

Jonathan Goodish wrote:

In article
,
Kevin Black wrote:


Firstly I'm in Australia and VFR. I have a Garmin III Pilot, but am also
about to purchase an iPaq PDA. Rather than upgrade to a colour GARMIN
(296/396) at megabucks I thought I could get similar functionality using
the PDA. Costings seem to be PDA nil (it's a sunk cost I'm going to buy
it anyway), Bluetooth GPS AUS$100 or so on e-bay, and the software
(Anywhere map special US$95 and NavGPS US$290).




You may save some bucks with a PDA-based system, but you will give up
the reliability and accuracy of a purpose-built unit.

As far as I know, most of the PDA-based systems are geared toward the
domestic U.S. market, and I'm not aware of any of the PDA software
vendors who use the Jepp navigation database. In my experience, even
the domestic U.S. data from these companies is fraught with errors and
inaccuracies, so I can't imagine that foreign data would be any better.

A PDA or TabletPC-based system may be a great way to go for backup, but
I wouldn't want to rely on it for anything--ever.



JKG

Jonathan Goodish wrote:

It should be fine for VFR-only use.

Which is what the OP said was his case ("Firstly I'm in Australia and
VFR.").

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
____________________

Michelle P wrote:

I have had absolutely no reliability problems with my PDA based unit
with bluetooth GPS.

Like you, I've never had a problem with my AnywhereMap software or hardware
setup in flight. However...

"Reliability" can be used to reference a few different aspects of the PDA
system. If the user has to reset the iPAQ due to a driver issue totally
unrelated to the GPS, then the PDA is "less reliable" than a 295 that
they've never had to reset. The flexibility of the PDA-based system (a
strength in my opinion) introduces more opportunity for "reliability"
issues.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
____________________

In article ,
"John T" wrote:
"Reliability" can be used to reference a few different aspects of the PDA
system. If the user has to reset the iPAQ due to a driver issue totally
unrelated to the GPS, then the PDA is "less reliable" than a 295 that
they've never had to reset. The flexibility of the PDA-based system (a
strength in my opinion) introduces more opportunity for "reliability"
issues.


I never had a hardware reliability problem. My reference was to the
software. In the case of AnywhereMap, the bugs in the software and
inaccuracies in navigation data are rampant. A fine backup, certainly,
but not nearly as reliable as a one-button-press Lowrance or Garmin hand
held with the Jepp database.



JKG

Check out WinPilot VFR from my website. The program can be downloaded
and installed on your Ipaq for evaluation. The simulator is fully
functional you have to purchase the license to connect to a GPS.

Terrain Maps and Airport & Airspace data is update monthly for free and
available on the site.

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Kevin Black wrote:
Hi,

Firstly I'm in Australia and VFR. I have a Garmin III Pilot, but am also
about to purchase an iPaq PDA. Rather than upgrade to a colour GARMIN
(296/396) at megabucks I thought I could get similar functionality using
the PDA. Costings seem to be PDA nil (it's a sunk cost I'm going to buy
it anyway), Bluetooth GPS AUS$100 or so on e-bay, and the software
(Anywhere map special US$95 and NavGPS US$290).

The Anywheremap seems the standout bargain, at current exchange rates
I'm looking at about an all up cost of AUS$232 for software and GPS.

I'm e-mailing both companies with these questions, but I'm pretty darned
sure they will recommend their own product. For those that have used
either or both (and compared to say a G296):

1. Which of these two would you buy, and why?
2. Functionality compared to Garmin's offering?
3. Ease of use compared to Garmin?
4. Base mapping (Garmin has the intl Pacific Base map for Aus). The
Jepp DB has all of the avaiation info including control zones etc etc.
Do these systems have at least the same info depicted?
5. Updates - If I don't update the Garmin it still works with the 'old'
database. Do these keep functioning without updating the database. I
have no real reason to update more than once a year or so?
6. Any other advice much appreciated....

reply to group or kevinblack at bigblue dot net dot au.

Thanks,
Kevin
Thank to all for your excellent advice, given me something (actually a
lot) to think about.

The GIII Pilot is a great little unit for VFR use and I'd want the same
sort of functionality. Having said that I'm a little confused at some
of the comments regarding use of GPS for VFR flying. I use the GPS as
to navigate my VFR routes. I have the charts etc as a backup. I use
other NAV aids (ADF/VOR). Whether you say I'm using it as the 'primary'
form of navigation - moot point. E6B calculation errors, wrongly
calculated bearings, wrong markup on map, map sails out of open window,
E6B falls to floor, stuffing around refolding chart..... why is this
vastly superior to a modern GPS, I don't get it. Each have their short
comings and point(s) of failure, be aware and be alert. And just because
a GPS is certified doesn't mean it cannot fail yet IFR GPS approaches
are part of the norm....

I'm doing what you have suggested, downloading as much demo/trail stuff
as I can, hopefully this will give me a feel for the look/feel of the
software.

Again, thanks all for your advice - the big bugaboo for still seems to
be the quality of the data for Aus - with the Garmin etc stuff it's the
Jebb DB so not an issue. I wonder if there's any of the PDA systems
that use the Jepp DB??

Thanks,
Kevin