Handheld GPS Recommendations?

[Shirley]

Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or cautions?
What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't? Thanks
in advance!

[Apa]

I would recommend www.cockpitgps.com.

It's a must have - a great work! You should get an answer to all of your
questions there.

Apa


"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or
cautions?
> What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't?
Thanks
> in advance!
>

[Ardna]

I have an Lowrance Airmap 500 and love it. Ships with yoke mount, Mapcreate
6 software, a MMC/SD card reader, a 32mb card for the Airmap and an external
antenna all included.

For approx $400, well worth the money. Has an excellent HSI screen.

Ardna



"Apa" > wrote in message
. cable.rogers.com...
> I would recommend www.cockpitgps.com.
>
> It's a must have - a great work! You should get an answer to all of your
> questions there.
>
> Apa
>
>
> "Shirley" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or
> cautions?
> > What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't?
> Thanks
> > in advance!
> >
>
>

[Thomas Borchert]

Shirley,

> Shopping for a handheld GPS.
>

Well, a few questions to narrow the field:

1. What's your budget?
2. Do you want color?
3. Do you want land navigation, too?
4. Do you own a PocketPC PDA?

Many people tend to look only at the Garmin line of products. However,
Lowrance has a very attractive range, too, and both Jay Honeck and
Aviation Consumer like the AvMap EKP.

Depending on what you need, the choice is more or less between

1. Small, cellphone form factor, light, ultraportable - the Lowrance
Airmap 500 and the new line of Garmins fill that bill

2. Big display greyscale unit. The Lowrance Airmap 1000 and the Garmin
196 do that - at different prices.

3. Big screen color display. Airmap 2000, Garmin 296 and newer, AvMap.

If you answer 4. in the positive, you might want to use your PocketPC
with some software - might provide more options, but adds the "hassle"
factor of PCs.

if you need car nav, too, the Airmap 2000 seems to be the most
cost-effective solution.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Cub Driver]

I use a Garmin III Plus, civilian model. See
www.pipercubforum.com/garmin.htm

Sometimes I hanker for a 196, sometimes for a 296. Meanwhile the plain
vanilla version gets me where I'm going and is marvelously thrifty
with batteries.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

[Shirley]

Thomas Borchert borchert_thomas asked:

>1. What's your budget?

Open to all, just don't want to buy the most expensive if it has a lot of
features I'll never use, and don't want to buy one for half the price and wish
I'd gotten the one with everything!

>2. Do you want color?

That's one of the things I wanted input on. How important is it? Does it make
it easier or more difficult to see? I've heard that the color one is harder to
see in sunlight. Is that true?

>3. Do you want land navigation, too?

Not my first criteria, but wouldn't mind having it.

>4. Do you own a PocketPC PDA?

No.

>Many people tend to look only at the Garmin line
>of products.

That's all I've seen/read about so far.

>the new line of Garmins fill that bill

I was about to take the plunge and get the Garmin 296 when someone said that at
Oshkosh, Garmin just introduced a two new ones for half the price. Do they have
half the features, too? How do they compare to the 196 and 296?

Is the G296 the ultimate, "probably won't ever need anything else" choice?

[Thomas Borchert]

Shirley,

don't forget, you're getting my take on this. YMMV.

> >2. Do you want color?
>
> That's one of the things I wanted input on. How important is it? Does it make
> it easier or more difficult to see? I've heard that the color one is harder to
> see in sunlight. Is that true?

I don't think so. If the planes you fly usually have a panel mount color unit and
the handheld will be a pure back-up, IMHO you don't need color. In all other
cases, it makes the map much better to read.

>
> >3. Do you want land navigation, too?
>
> Not my first criteria, but wouldn't mind having it.

The upscale color units come with that as an option. What you want, though, is
true turn-by-turn instructions, ideally with voice annunciation. Garmin's 296 has
an add-on kit (for a fee) for that with no voice, AFAIK. Lowrance promises that
feature AFAIK including voice for a future free software upgrade to the 2000c.
Not sure about AvMap.


> I was about to take the plunge and get the Garmin 296 when someone said that at
> Oshkosh, Garmin just introduced a two new ones for half the price. Do they have
> half the features, too? How do they compare to the 196 and 296?

They do have fewer features, among them a much smaller display and fewer display
options. Look at the Garmin site for specifics.

>
> Is the G296 the ultimate, "probably won't ever need anything else" choice?

Probably not. It all depends on your needs and preferences. As I said, I think
the Lowrance units are VERY interesting, since they tend to offer the same or
more at a lower price - e.g., look for the accessories that are included. Also,
if you want a truly luxurious display, the AvMap looks awesome. Don't know about
their support, but my simple e-mail inquiry regarding international mapping went
unanswered. They are definitely the smallest company of the three - which can be
both good and bad.

Look at the price for database updates, too, although you'll probably only need
one per year or so.


--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Michael]

Thomas Borchert > wrote
> Well, a few questions to narrow the field:

I would add a few:

Will you fly IFR? Will you have an IFR GPS when you do? With moving
map?

> Many people tend to look only at the Garmin line of products. However,
> Lowrance has a very attractive range, too, and both Jay Honeck and
> Aviation Consumer like the AvMap EKP.

Frankly, I have been very underwhelmed with the Lowrance products.
They're well-built and they work fine, but the user interface feels
like it was designed by an engineer with the help of a low time pilot.
I find it counter-intuitive; an airline pilot friend of mine bought
one of the high end models (a 1000, I think, which, it terms of
price/performance blows away the Garmin) and found it unusable - he
bought a Garmin and is selling the Lowrance on Ebay.

My suggestion is try before you buy - and by try I mean make a flight
with one. You may discover that you like the Lowrance user interface
just fine since you're not already used to something different; then
again you may not.

Another friend of mine has a PDA-based system; I find it essentially
unusable since it requires the use of the stylus. On the other hand,
I don't normally use a PDA at all. If you use your PDA all the time,
you may find it to be the most convenient system.

A lot of this will depend on how you use the GPS - for VFR-only use,
you can get by with something that will just **** you off when you get
a reroute IFR. All I'm saying is, don't overlook the user interface.
At this point, most GPS units have more functionality than the average
pilot really needs. What really differentiates them is the user
interface.

Michael

[Hankal]

>A lot of this will depend on how you use the GPS - for VFR-only use,
>you can get by with something that will just **** you off when you get
>a reroute IFR

One reason I have the AvMap. Ease of operation and big screen
Hank 172 driver

[john smith]

Shirley wrote:
> Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or cautions?
> What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't? Thanks
> in advance!

Four years ago I paid $800 for a Garmin GPS 195.
It had the largest screen at the time and battery life was 6-8 hours per
set of six AA batteries.
As with all electronics technology, Moore's Law applies.
We now have bigger, brighter, color, battery efficient portable GPS units.
I certainly canot afford to replace my "old" handheld unit just because
something better has come along. I don't feel I have gotten my moneys
worth out of it, so I will continue to use it for many more years, as
long as it continues to work properly.
Several ways to save money are:
a)purchase something fairly new on eBay that the original owner found
deficient and is willing to get rid of at a loss.
b) purchase used (a couple years old).
c) purchase a factory remanufactured/reconditioned unit.

[Radu Tenenbaum]

You can find a used one on ebay for approx $700. I've had mine for several
years and it was a major improvement over the 195. I mount mine using a RAM
suction cup and it sits on top of the glareshield. Very readable, even in
direct sunlight.

Right now I'm lusting for a 296, but I think I'll wait until they come up
with a GPS/XM Weather combo unit.

Radu


"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or
cautions?
> What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't?
Thanks
> in advance!
>

[XMnushaL8y]

Bill French wrfrench wrote:

>I bought an AirMap 1000 and for the first
>day or so was also underwhelmed.
>But after reading through the manual and
>a 1300 mile round trip to Oshkosh and back
>I've changed my mind.
>The large screen and large engineer type
>butons certainly make it easy to use in bright
>sunlight and turbulence.
[snip]
>Price was right and screen size means a lot
>when your eyes get older.

Thanks to you and others who replied. A big screen is important to me ... my
eyes aren't what they used to be either! Where did you buy the AirMap 1000?

[Kees Mies]

(Shirley) wrote in message >...
> Shopping for a handheld GPS. Anyone have recommendations, advice, or cautions?
> What features are "must haves"? Which did you think you'd use but don't? Thanks
> in advance!

I bought a Lowrance 500 about two months ago.
The only disadvantage so far is the minute character size.
With my old GPS55 just a glance was enough, with this one I really have to look.
Apart from that it is a great light weight unit.

Before you buy anything just try it, and check what parts you have to buy extra.
With some models you have to buy mounts, cables, adapters etc. separate.

-Kees.

[Darrel Toepfer]

Cub Driver wrote:

> I use a Garmin III Plus, civilian model. See
> www.pipercubforum.com/garmin.htm

Thanks for the link. I have had a 3+ for many years and a 3 Pilot (came
with a recent 172 purchase) and you've provided a method to get more
aviation use out of it (the 3+). The primary for our plane(s) has been
the Lowrance Airmap 1000, we're on our second one (2000c wasn't
available yet). I do however have a Magellan 315 that always has the
most current airport database information, its available for free from here:

http://home.stny.rr.com/bkw/315

The 315's are by far the cheapest thing I've found out there. I picked
mine up for $125 and that included the power adapter, serial interface
and Datasend software (required for POI transfers). Reception has been
excellent, even back inside the cabin mounted on the yoke. I have
however seen more satellites at the same time, on the 3+. The 315 will
hold around 18,000 POI's (Points of Interest), which allows me to do all
of the 48 states, VFR/ILS and NDB approaches and Seaplane bases. You
have to be careful to not overload it, Datasend will state that you are
under the limit, but actually you do exceed it and it will fault during
the transfer. A drawback of this unit over the others, is that it
doesn't display roads. On the road I use a notebook with mapping
software that gives visual/audible turn by turn instructions though...

> Sometimes I hanker for a 196, sometimes for a 296. Meanwhile the plain
> vanilla version gets me where I'm going and is marvelously thrifty
> with batteries.

I use rechargeables in the 3+ and assumed that they were replenished
with external power. A recent trip to/from Ohio showed that they aren't...

One downfall of the 315 is that it has an internal backup battery that
cannot be user replaced. It is normally recharged by the 2 AA batteries
and if it geaux's south, it'll eat those overnight. Otherwise a good 5
hours or more is likely with battery only operation from Alkaline or
rechareables. Much more I assume if the internal battery is still good.
Downside of pulling the batteries after every use is the need to
reinitialize each time you fire it up...

[john smith]

Bill how low can you dim it at night?
Is it dim enough that it doesn't illuminate the cockpit?
Or, is it dim enough that you can just read it?

Bill French wrote:
> I bought an AirMap 1000 and for the first day or so was also underwhelmed.
> But after reading through the manual and a 1300 mile round trip to
> Oshkosh and back I've changed my mind.
> The large screen and large engineer type butons certainly make it easy
> to use in bright sunlight and turbulence.
> It has three basic screens - one of which is the satelite display -
> rarely used.
> The other two are the HSI screen and Map Screen - each of these has sub
> screens that work well and are intuitive to use once you understand the
> layout.
> Price was right and screen size means a lot when your eyes get older.

[Cub Driver]

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 05:43:25 -0500, Darrel Toepfer
> wrote:

>The 315 will
>hold around 18,000 POI's (Points of Interest), which allows me to do all
>of the 48 states, VFR/ILS and NDB approaches and Seaplane bases.

Eventually I found that I had too many waypoints in my Garmin, so I
downloaded everything to the computer (using EZGPS software) and
massaged them a bit and made them into two databases, one with
everything I might ever need, the other with the few dozen that I use
on a monthly basis. Then I erased the Garmin's memory and uploaded
just the short version. I make sure that home plate is the first entry
:)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

[Darrel Toepfer]

john smith wrote:

> Bill how low can you dim it at night?
> Is it dim enough that it doesn't illuminate the cockpit?
> Or, is it dim enough that you can just read it?

Its completely adjustable (Menu option), just like the Garmins...

[kage]

My gripe about Garmin is their aviation database. There are no aviation
businesses listed in "City Select" in the auto kit.

So you have an "Aviation" 296 with their latest database and when you get to
an airport there are no FBOs listed, none. But you can find a McDonalds on
Airport Road.


Karl


"Cub Driver" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 05:43:25 -0500, Darrel Toepfer
> > wrote:
>
> >The 315 will
> >hold around 18,000 POI's (Points of Interest), which allows me to do all
> >of the 48 states, VFR/ILS and NDB approaches and Seaplane bases.
>
> Eventually I found that I had too many waypoints in my Garmin, so I
> downloaded everything to the computer (using EZGPS software) and
> massaged them a bit and made them into two databases, one with
> everything I might ever need, the other with the few dozen that I use
> on a monthly basis. Then I erased the Garmin's memory and uploaded
> just the short version. I make sure that home plate is the first entry
> :)
>
> all the best -- Dan Ford
> email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)
>
> The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
> Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

[Andrew Gideon]

john smith wrote:


> Several ways to save money are:
> a)purchase something fairly new on eBay that the original owner found
> deficient and is willing to get rid of at a loss.
> b) purchase used (a couple years old).
> c) purchase a factory remanufactured/reconditioned unit.

Of purchase something modular.

I'd not thought of this before, but what you're writing makes a lot of
sense. And this would lead one to purchase a PDA solution, I think. The
PDA can be replaced - larger screen, better battery life, faster CPU, etc.
- w/o replacing the software or the GPS itself.

Hmm.

- Andrew

[Newps]

Andrew Gideon wrote:


>
> Of purchase something modular.
>
> I'd not thought of this before, but what you're writing makes a lot of
> sense. And this would lead one to purchase a PDA solution, I think.

I have a PDA solution but it is a weak second. I have a Dell Axim X5
and I have tried several of the software packages available. First off
the screen is not bright enough. Second PDA's are not designed for the
airplanes environment. The buttons are too small and too touchy to get
a positive result. The PDA is fragile compared to your GPS. Third,
using a stylus in flight is a joke.


The
> PDA can be replaced - larger screen, better battery life, faster CPU, etc.
> - w/o replacing the software or the GPS itself.

I just got a new Garmin 96C which is a color unit with the same screen
size as my III Pilot. So far I like it and it also has auto and marine
settings. It also comes with software to upload routes and manage your
waypoints.