Which GPS?

[daveb]

My Garmin GPS 45 has died, :( possibly of old age. I'm thinking of either a Lawrance Airmap 500 or a Garmin GPSMap 96C. I'm in an open frame and seem to leave half my brain on the ground so what something reasonably simple with some sort of mapping. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Dave

[Brian Jackson]

My Garmin GPS 45 has died, :( possibly of old age. I'm thinking of either a Lawrance Airmap 500 or a Garmin GPSMap 96C. I'm in an open frame and seem to leave half my brain on the ground so what something reasonably simple with some sort of mapping. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Dave
I've kinda got my eye on THIS (http://www.thegpsstore.net/detail_GA003222.asp) one.

[Screw]

Screw-In

I rally like my Garmin Pilot III. Gives me all I need in a gyro. I found out just how good it was earlier this week.

Screw-Out

[Texas Armadillo]

Nice set up, screw!

[scottessex]

I was really impressed with the way John's GPS worked!!!

[joeheli]

Screw.. Does the garmin pilot III has altimeter?

[Screw]

Screw-In

No on the altimeter.

The airports on the GPS has runway directions, and if you zoom in to say a 2 mile screen, that sucker will put you on the end of a runway. Don't ask me or Scott how I know. :D

Screw-Out

[joeheli]

Is it very presise? What you really like of your GPS? I am plannig to buy a new GPS but I don't know wish...

[Screw]

Screw-In

I'm very impressed with my GPS. I like being able to pull up any airport I need quickly and getting there safely. I don't have alot of money and that GPS fit my budget more than my desires. I would really like to have Garmin 196. A freind of mine has one and it gives him full flight instruments like altimeter speed ect. I believe his also gives airport info like unicom freqs and AWOS. But his GPS is closer to $800.

I think mine is $379.00 all day at Aircraft Spruce.

I love it for the features I didn't expect, and the price I could afford.

Screw-Out

[Gyrobound]

Has anyone used the Anywhere Map on an IPAQ for their GPS? I was thinking of that since I already own an IPAQ 2210.

Scott

[mcbirdman]

Ummmmm Yes on the altimiter ! Garmin Pilot III.......... guess you got something new to you at no extra price (lol)

[mcbirdman]

Oh I forgot... check sporty's they have a new color gps out that is nice. Can't remember the price but I do remember that it was very competitive. If you are going to spend a little I think it is worth checking out..... Color will/ is getting cheaper....

[KenSandyEggo]

Why would you need mapping in a gyro, especially open frame? All you have to do is look outside at the real thing. I know I go waaaay overboard on my panel, engine, strobes, props and on and on, but for a GPS, simple is better IMO. I have a Garmin that I paid about $100 for a few years ago. I spent 1/2 hour programming in every airport that I had even a remote possibility of ever flying to, and it's easy to add more if you're going to take a trip. It tells me how fast I'm going, what direction I'm heading, how many more miles before I get there and whether I'm on course or not (just follow the arrow). What the heck more do we need in a gyro? I don't see burying our head in a map screen when what the fake picture is showing is right outside anyway. Isn't that why we fly gyros, to see the world from a different perspective than most....low and slow? I've used mine to get in and out of airports in the Los Angeles basin. Ain't no busier airspace than there. You better be looking outside and just glancing at your GPS screen. That's my nickel's worth of pickle anyway.

[Dean_Dolph]

Scott, to answer your question, yes, Chuck E. has! If sees your post then maybe he can give you his impression. If I recall correctly; he gave it a big thumbs up on Norm's Conference.

[Gyrobound]

Thanks Dean, I'll wait to see if he posts and if not maybe I'll see if I can send him a direct email.

Scott

[Caribean_gyro]

I have a fly nav gps. It has better graphics, also is I ever get the maoney I will buy the pc flight box and I will have a an artificial horizon and turn and bank in it. Now the GPS is run by http://www.flynavgps.com/

Love all the features and warnings I get in my moving map. Now when flying at night is kind of weir looking at what is happening in the moving map and looking down inn the dark. The problem with Ipaq is that will cost more , but you get a PC plus other features not included in a 100.00 dollars GPS.

ChuckP

[Gyrobound]

Anyone tried PocketFMS software? It's freeware with weather updates and looks like it would be pretty good. Here is the URL for it.
http://www.pocketfms.com/

Scott

[Tom_Millican]

Scott;

Check this site for software for your ipac:

http://www.pocketfms.com/

Price is pretty good!!

Tom

[Gyrobound]

Tom, that is the url I posted. Have you tried it?
Scott

[Tom_Millican]

Scott;

Saw your url post after I had posted my suggestion. Was at the job so could not get back to you then. Sorry.

Yes/No

I have tried the PocketFMS software; it is still loaded in my PDA. I have not used it in (on?) my open-frame, ultra-lite gyroplane. I haven't fabricated a mount secure enough to carry my Toshiba e740 and don't feel sure enough about my grip to try pulling it out of my pocket and hand-hold it. If I had to choose between losing the e740 and the throttle - I would be out a pretty good pda!

I have used PocketFMS in a C-172 and in my car. Worked well there.

Plus'es: Free
Can configure for several different aircraft.
Can download updated maps and nav data
Free
Easy to switch between screens

Minus'es: Must download entire program to update (only the program, not maps)
Not approved for navigation by FAA
I have not figured out how to change the moving map scale on the PDA.
Uses a lot of memory. (There is a way around this one.)

This should be a good route for you to see if this concept works for you. If you try this and hate it, you found out a lot cheaper than paying for "that other one" and then finding out it was not for you. If you try it and like the concept but not the software - then buy one.

My e740 has both a CF and a SD slot. GPS goes in the CF and a 256M SD card with the program and data in the SD slot. Works for me and still has storage left over. I have seen reference somewere about a GPS receiver for the IPaq which has a SD slot built-in. That might work well for you.

It is fun to switch from the moving aviation map to Pocket Streets! ;-)

Hope this helps,
Tom

[KenSandyEggo]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Garmin-eTrex--Handheld-GPS-Unit--eTrex--/sem/rpsm/oid/37482/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[pwendell]

I've got an Etrex. They're cheap, accurate and very tough. They don't have a moving map, but you don't really need one if you're using the GPS in addition to pilotage, or as a backup to your primary GPS. It runs for a long time on a set of batteries and its so small and light, you can just through it your pocket or flight bag and forget it. It's also helpful if you go down somewhere and need to walk out. The only down sides are that it's not WAAS capable and so in useless for altitude and it's a bit of a pain to manually enter waypoints

[KenSandyEggo]

Altitude? I can eyeball 500 feet without WAAS. Moving map? Look outside. Most of us are probably already there with an open-frame gyro. Even I can see outside real good.

[pwendell]

Altitude? I can eyeball 500 feet without WAAS. Moving map? Look outside. Most of us are probably already there with an open-frame gyro. Even I can see outside real good.

Exactly, that's pretty much what I was saying. We don't need WAAS in a gyro, and, at 500' AGL, we should really be using pilotage as our primary navigational method. The plain Etrex is a great GPS.

[Dean_Dolph]

Here is the link for the makers of Anywhere Map that Gyrobound is referring too. http://www.controlvision.com/

[KenSandyEggo]

Guys, a moving map display in a gyro is the extreme example of overkill. I can't imagine burying your head in the map while others zoom around you and you having no idea of what's happening outside for too long of periods of time. We're already hard to see and have to be on our toes. I just can't see the use for a moving map at the speeds (sloooow) we fly and generally low altitude. What more is it going to tell you than a $100 GPS and looking outside? The 600 bucks you'll save will buy a nice strobe system....which is useful.

[Harry_S.]

AAAWWW Ken!!!

Some guys/gals have money burning a hole in their pocket. They'd like to have all the whistles and bells they can get, installed in or on their machine. If that's what they want, so be it...so long as it don't detract from their, or others, flight safety. Their instructors, should be very emphatic with them, about having their eyes outside the cockpit, other than for the occasional instrument scan.

What I consider a real overkill, is a full IFR panel in a gyro. But...if that will fill their plate...have at it.

I'm really satisfied with my day VFR flying...that fills my plate!!


That reminds me...years ago, I flew hundreds of hours in bare boned Bensen's with just a pith ball wind gauge. That gauge was as useless as.......!! The flying experience was...what can I say...fun!!!


Cheers :)

[KenSandyEggo]

I should talk about bells and whistles with all the crap I've installed on my gyro...but I draw the line at moving maps and an IFR panel. I mean...I have to have SOME scruples.

[lanichol]

I believe there is a new color Etrex. The old Etrex Vista has an altimeter and barometer. It is fairly small and fits nice between the windshield and dash on most cars for the passenger. I have found only a few small ghost towns not in the internal database of towns and highways. It is not designed for aircraft.

What is interesting about Garmin's older GPS is the discontinued Streets and Maps Cd. Two people that worked for me in KC originally work at Garmin in the Cartographic dept. Garmin's Streets and Maps is very detailed in rural areas! Better than any of the other street mapping systems. I have been in extremely remote areas and the cd has very small roads and driveways. But they discontinue their own database and contracted with Nav Tech. The agreement stated they would have to discontinue selling their maps cd. You can find the Streets and Maps cd on ebay, but you can tell from the price that people know it still has value.

Garmin's Streets and Maps cd allow you to download all roads by county. I have loaded 10 or 12 counties in the past.

Back before 911, on certain airlines, you could use a GPS during flight. We flew to Orlando from Kansas and the kids could see exactly where we in our flight and the cities nearby. It was really interesting watching the speed and altitude.

[Rotornut]

Harry you said /

That reminds me...years ago, I flew hundreds of hours in bare boned Bensen's with just a pith ball wind gauge. That gauge was as useless as.......!! The flying experience was...what can I say...fun!!!
lol

I hear lots of stories of the years past and when you look back in the old pra mags it makes you smile. We have come far since those days. MJ :)

[GyroRon]

I like my Garmin 195. I use it in the plane and gyro.

[Harry_S.]

Yes MJ, those were *the days* when we were all learning, having fun and most of us were enjoying it. ;)


Cheers :)

[Rotornut]

Harry, We still have FUN and I sure Hope most Enjoy it. Last Sunday we heard a gyro coming and went outside and sure enough there was Pat McNear flying over. Catfish was out there waving and smiling bet you can guess what he was thinking.

Pat must fly three weekends out of each month. He sure does enjoy it! MJ :)