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Upgrade handheld GPS, or save for panel mount?
I am thinking about upgrading my aging Garmin 195. The new inexpensive
WAAS-enabled offerings from Lowrance make it almost irresistible, and my Garmin is losing value in the used market fast. As I see it, my options are to upgrade the handheld or just grit my teeth and save up for a panel-mount. My home airport should have a GPS approach sometime in the next 2 years, about the same time I will be pursuing an instrument rating. The cheapest solution, obviously, is to do nothing and just hold onto the 195. It works great, if slow, and has a big screen. In 2 years it will be worthless, so perhaps this isn't the cheapest solution after all. Right now I could upgrade to the Lowrance 500 for about $100 net, and have a fancy new GPS with an obstruction database that will be current for a few years to come. Another option is AnywhereMap, which would give me WAAS, color, and lots of other features, albeit at a premium, or---while I'm dreaming---save up for a tablet PC and have the king of all handheld systems, but I'd need to hold onto my 195 or buy another handheld to feed it GPS data. Or, I could start saving for an IFR panel-mount, maybe a used King 89b---I believe the last discussion I heard put the unit plus installation at around $4500, which is coincidentally about 10x the cost of the handheld, for a unit similar in speed and function to my old 195 but with a smaller screen. But, I could use it for approaches. So.... do nothing net cost: $250 (value of GPS now, dwindling to $100 in 2 years) upgrade handheld net cost: $100 sell 195, buy AnywhereMap net cost: $400 buy tablet, keep GPS net cost: $2000 or more panel mount: net cost: $4500 Am I missing anything? |
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