re: upgrade

[James Hamilton]

I have an LX5000 and had the version 11.0 upgrade done
to it in April of 2004, including the hardware upgrade
of replacing the display in the main unit. The new
screen is a higher resolution than the original and,
in my opinion, is easier to read.

The V11.0 software turns the LX5000 into a LX7000 PRO
IGC. At the time I had mine done the cost was about
$600 Euro including the screen upgrade.

For me, the upgrades were worth it for racing but at
$900 Euro that may be a tough decision (plus, when
I shipped mine - and it had to go to Canada and then
Slovenia - The shipping and insurance were an additional
$110.00 US). From the time I shipped it until I got
it back took about 6 weeks.

You can go to the LX Navigation website and read the
details for the LX7000 Pro IGC to see what improvements
you will actually have over the LX5000 ( http://www.lxnavigation.s
i/avionics/lx7000proigc.php ).

Also on the LX Navigation site you can download the
latest English version of the operation manual for
the LX5000/V11.0 (which is, according to their site,
the same as the LX7000 Pro IGC).

Hope this helps.

JLH

[[email protected]]

I was faced with a similar choice. In the end I bought a Colibri
because the main problem with my LX5000 was that it is old and non-IGC
approved. The cost of the Colibri was cheaper than the conversion once
shipping was added on from South Africa - and I have the added
convenience of being able to remove the Colibri from the cockpit for
scoring etc. The LX5000 is then a non-IGC backup in case of Colibri
failure. I also didn't want to be without my LX5000 for the period that
it would have been away for the upgrade. Now I only take my laptop to
the glider every couple of months to dump the memory of the LX5000 to
keep a full record of the aircrafts flights.

Clinton
LAK 12