Moving map query

[Martin Gregorie]

Has anybody used SoaringPilot on a Palm m100?

If so:

- what are its pros and cons?

- how does the m100 display readability compare with an IPAQ 3630 or
3850 in the cockpit?

TIA,
Martin

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :

[bsquared]

That's what I'm using. I've found the readability to be fine. I can't
compare it to the IPAQ because I've never seen one in operation.

The pros: it was inexpensive and easy to connect to the GPS (Garmin eTrex
Venture). It has a lot of capability.

The cons: slow processor and the capacitor that holds the memory while you
change the batteries goes bad so there is a good chance that you will lose
any saved flights and loaded programs each time you change the batteries.

Bsquared

"Martin Gregorie" > wrote in message
...
> Has anybody used SoaringPilot on a Palm m100?
>
> If so:
>
> - what are its pros and cons?
>
> - how does the m100 display readability compare with an IPAQ 3630 or
> 3850 in the cockpit?
>
> TIA,
> Martin
>
> --
> martin@ : Martin Gregorie
> gregorie : Harlow, UK
> demon :
> co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
> uk :
>

[Pete Brown]

Martin:

A good place to make this inquiry is :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soaringpilot/

This is a site dedicated to Soaringpilot user questions.

Martin Gregorie wrote:
> Has anybody used SoaringPilot on a Palm m100?


--

Peter D. Brown
http://home.gci.net/~pdb/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/akmtnsoaring/

[Marc Ramsey]

"Martin Gregorie" > wrote...
> Has anybody used SoaringPilot on a Palm m100?
>
> If so:
>
> - what are its pros and cons?
>
> - how does the m100 display readability compare with an IPAQ 3630 or
> 3850 in the cockpit?

I've run SoaringPilot on an m100, and have also run homebrew software on an m100
and an iPAQ 3950. The m100 doesn't quite have enough processing power to drive
a moving map, so I primarily used it for textual displays (final glide, etc.).
The m100 display has far more contrast than the iPAQ or other color PDAs. It is
quite readable in the cockpit under almost any lighting condition, except near
sunset.

The iPAQ screen is great indoors, but marginal in the cockpit. Under direct
sun, there isn't enough contrast for my nearing 50 year-old eyes, plus glare
becomes a problem at certain sun angles (a good screen protector helps). It's
difficult to distinguish colors, and I'm constantly fiddling with the colors I
use to improve the readability. The 3630 and 3850 do have the older reflective
displays, which are a bit more readable in direct sunlight.

Marc

[Martin Gregorie]

On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 17:02:23 GMT, "Marc Ramsey" >
wrote:

>
>"Martin Gregorie" > wrote...
>> Has anybody used SoaringPilot on a Palm m100?
>>
>> If so:
>>
>> - what are its pros and cons?
>>
>> - how does the m100 display readability compare with an IPAQ 3630 or
>> 3850 in the cockpit?
>
>I've run SoaringPilot on an m100, and have also run homebrew software on an m100
>and an iPAQ 3950. The m100 doesn't quite have enough processing power to drive
>a moving map, so I primarily used it for textual displays (final glide, etc.).
>The m100 display has far more contrast than the iPAQ or other color PDAs. It is
>quite readable in the cockpit under almost any lighting condition, except near
>sunset.
>
>The iPAQ screen is great indoors, but marginal in the cockpit. Under direct
>sun, there isn't enough contrast for my nearing 50 year-old eyes, plus glare
>becomes a problem at certain sun angles (a good screen protector helps). It's
>difficult to distinguish colors, and I'm constantly fiddling with the colors I
>use to improve the readability. The 3630 and 3850 do have the older reflective
>displays, which are a bit more readable in direct sunlight.
>

Thanks for the analysis. FWIW if I go the IPAQ way I'll run XCSoar,
which has an uncluttered, essentially black & white display which
would presumably sort out some of the contrast problems.

It seems that all the PDAs I know about have problems:

- no external power connection for the Palm m100 and slow
- Compaq Aero 1500 displays fade out in a sunlit cockpit
as they get hot
- IPAQ 3630 and 3850 get hot and crash in a sunlit cockpit.

Are there any other WinCE PDAs I should be looking at?

I'm primarily interested in using a PDA system to display a moving map
for general navigation and restricted airspace avoidance.

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :

[Marc Ramsey]

"Martin Gregorie" > wrote...
> It seems that all the PDAs I know about have problems:
>
> - no external power connection for the Palm m100 and slow

You can live without external power, I used NiMH rechargeables, and could easily
get 7 or 8 flying hours per charge. It is slow, though...

> - Compaq Aero 1500 displays fade out in a sunlit cockpit
> as they get hot

True, but keep a white cloth or hat over it until takeoff, and it will be fine.

> - IPAQ 3630 and 3850 get hot and crash in a sunlit cockpit.

My 3950 has never crashed due to heat, even when the temperature exceeds 40C on
the ramp. The screen is also unaffected.

> Are there any other WinCE PDAs I should be looking at?

The Axim is inexpensive, but finding an appropriate mount may still be a
problem.

> I'm primarily interested in using a PDA system to display a moving map
> for general navigation and restricted airspace avoidance.

The upcoming replacement for the low-end Palm Zire interests me. It allegedly
has a decently fast ARM processor running PalmOS 5, 8 mb of memory (instead of
2), an external power jack, and a high contrast monochrome screen like the m100.
The main problem is likely to be finding a way to get GPS data into the thing...

Marc

[jerome]

I use SoaringPilot on a M105 since 2 years, and I am very happy with
it.
If you keep the number of SUA data at minimum, the moving map is very
usable (about 2/3 s refresh time with Afterburner at 24MHz). With
cheap disposable batteries, I get about 10 flight hours: more than
sufficient -even for me!- for a 500km task.
For the battery change problem, I have a good solution: get a 3v
button size battery, 2 thin copper blades attached to each side with
insulating tape and inserted behind the battery contacts while
changing the batteries!
I use SP with a small mouse-shaped Deluo GPS, wich is very convenient.

Have a good flight!

[jerome]

(jerome) wrote in message >...
> I use SoaringPilot on a M105 since 2 years, and I am very happy with
> it.
> If you keep the number of SUA data at minimum, the moving map is very
> usable (about 2/3 s refresh time with Afterburner at 24MHz). With
> cheap disposable batteries, I get about 10 flight hours: more than
> sufficient -even for me!- for a 500km task.
> For the battery change problem, I have a good solution: get a 3v
> button size battery, 2 thin copper blades attached to each side with
> insulating tape and inserted behind the battery contacts while
> changing the batteries!
> I use SP with a small mouse-shaped Deluo GPS, wich is very convenient.
>
> Have a good flight!

Have a look at:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cab78/soarpilot.htm

If you dont read French, at least see the pics!