Re: GA cockpit weather

[David Megginson]

"Michael 182" > writes:

> What is the state of the art (or science) with downloading near real-time
> weather (five minute updates) in a GA plane? I just started to look into
> this, and came across WSI in flight. They appear to offer an uncertified
> service for about $3,500 for the receiver, or certified and panel mounted
> for $5,000. On top of that you pay a subscription ($600/yr or $20/day) and
> you have to provide a display - ranging from a PDA to a panel mounted MFD.

Check out the Cheap *******s:

http://www.cheap*******software.net/

The software and actual weather info is free. You need to buy a Palm
VII (or a Palm V with a wireless modem), and you need a subscription
with palm.net (for the Palm VII):

http://www.palmone.com/us/wireless/service/account/serviceplans.html

I haven't tried it yet, personally -- I'm not sure if there's any
coverage in Canada.


All the best,


David

[Teacherjh]

>>
Check out the Cheap *******s:

http://www.cheap*******software.net/
<<

Great service - I use it too. But it's not real time. The radar maps are about
half an hour old. A lot can happen in half an hour.

Jose

(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

[Ron Natalie]

"Teacherjh" > wrote in message news:20030826221208.15796.00000846@mb-
>
> Great service - I use it too. But it's not real time. The radar maps are about
> half an hour old. A lot can happen in half an hour.
>
None of the Datalink NEXRAD is going to be any better. They're all delayed at
least 15 minutes.

[Jon Carlson]

IIRC, I think the guy at the WxWorx booth claimed no more than a
minute or two delay between when they receive the radar data (which
takes 5-6 minutes for a complete sweep, so it could be that old) to
when it hits your receiver. I think he said the outside limit was 5
minutes, i.e. 10 minutes max age. I could be off by a minute or so on
these numbers, but there was no 15 minute delay anywhere...

-Jon C.


"Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "Teacherjh" > wrote in message
news:20030826221208.15796.00000846@mb-
> >
> > Great service - I use it too. But it's not real time. The radar
maps are about
> > half an hour old. A lot can happen in half an hour.
> >
> None of the Datalink NEXRAD is going to be any better. They're all
delayed at
> least 15 minutes.
>
>

[David Levy]

My experience has been 15 - 30 minutes.
30 minutes max.

"Teacherjh" > wrote in message
...
> >>
> Check out the Cheap *******s:
>
> http://www.cheap*******software.net/
> <<
>
> Great service - I use it too. But it's not real time. The radar maps are
about
> half an hour old. A lot can happen in half an hour.
>
> Jose
>
> (for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

[Tom S.]

"Rich Badaracco" > wrote in message
...
> I don't know what the state of the art is but I've also been looking for
an
> inexpensive way to get near real-time nexrad while I'm in the cockpit. I
did
> run across a service which provides nexrad images which are no more than 5
> minutes old. Check out this site http://www.flightbrief.com/. AOPA and EAA
> members get it at a rather hefty discount.

They require you to buy a one-month (refundable) membership JUST TO ENTER
THE WEBSITE.

Back to the drawing board.

[Rich Badaracco]

I agree. For that price I'd sign up in a second.

"JerryK" > wrote in message
...
> It is definitely a chore trying to get weather in flight. Obviously there
> is a market, but at the current time the solutions appear too expensive or
> have connectivity issues. What we need is something that requires
> $500-$1000 total for hardware and $10 or less a month.
>
> jerry
>
>

[Tom S.]

"JerryK" > wrote in message
...
> It is definitely a chore trying to get weather in flight. Obviously there
> is a market, but at the current time the solutions appear too expensive or
> have connectivity issues. What we need is something that requires
> $500-$1000 total for hardware and $10 or less a month.

Not while the FAA bureaucracy is in town.

I wonder what the cost difference is between cable and satellite broadcast?

[Phil Verghese]

David Megginson > wrote in
:

> The software and actual weather info is free. You need to buy a Palm
> VII (or a Palm V with a wireless modem), and you need a subscription
> with palm.net (for the Palm VII):

The Palm VII is discontinued, but you can get them pretty cheap on eBay.
You could also buy a new Palm i705 (about $160 and much smaller than the
VII) which also works with palm.net. I used it on a recent trip with great
results. Yeah the weather can be up to an hour old, but I use the
information to make big routing changes, not to thread my way through the
cells.

http://www.palmone.com/us/products/palmi705

Be sure to check the coverage map:
http://www.palmone.com/us/products/palmi705/map.html. It's pretty spotty
out west, but pretty good in the east.

Phil
www.pfactor.com