Pirep request: FlightPrep vs 396

[Jim Burns]

I've seen plenty of pireps on the Garmin 396, but is anybody using the
FlightPrep software with the Motion Computing tablet and XM
Weather/GPS/Electronic Flightbag options??

Also, is there any software/hardware combination when using a laptop or
tablet that can take advantage of the XM Radio output such as the 396 does?

Thanks as always,

Jim

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Jim Burns" > wrote in message
...

> Also, is there any software/hardware combination when using a laptop or
> tablet that can take advantage of the XM Radio output such as the 396
> does?
>

If there is it would link from here
http://www.xmradio.com/weather/aviation.html

[Jonathan Goodish]

In article >,
"Jim Burns" > wrote:

> I've seen plenty of pireps on the Garmin 396, but is anybody using the
> FlightPrep software with the Motion Computing tablet and XM
> Weather/GPS/Electronic Flightbag options??
>
> Also, is there any software/hardware combination when using a laptop or
> tablet that can take advantage of the XM Radio output such as the 396 does?


In my experience, the PDA/Windows solutions all require tinkering to get
working and to continue working. If you don't mind the tinkering, they
can provide you with some capabilities that the 396 lacks. For
navigation and weather, though, none of them beat the simplicity and
reliability of the Garmin 396.

Regarding XM audio, the WxWorx receiver used with PDA/Windows systems
does not have an audio tuner. It does have an antenna pass-through, to
which you can connect an appropriate tuner, such as the Roady2. Because
the WxWorx receiver has no audio tuner, there is no way for XM audio via
a software solution.


JKG

[cwby-flyer]

Jonathan Goodish wrote:
> In my experience, the PDA/Windows solutions all require tinkering to get
> working and to continue working. If you don't mind the tinkering, they
> can provide you with some capabilities that the 396 lacks. For
> navigation and weather, though, none of them beat the simplicity and
> reliability of the Garmin 396.
>
> Regarding XM audio, the WxWorx receiver used with PDA/Windows systems
> does not have an audio tuner. It does have an antenna pass-through, to
> which you can connect an appropriate tuner, such as the Roady2. Because
> the WxWorx receiver has no audio tuner, there is no way for XM audio via
> a software solution.
>
>
> JKG

Excellent points - I have the AnywhereMap system running on an Ipaq
5500. It's wonderful when it works, but some tinkering is required to
get everything just right. Of course, I'm in the computer industry, so
tinkering with computers is a bit of a hobby and the whole process is
kinda fun. If you find this type of thing a pain the a**, the PDA
route is not for you.

The nice part about needing the dedicated audio receiver for XM with
the WxWorx is that I use the same one (RoadyXT) in my plane, my truck,
the hangar and the house - so only one subscription to pay for!

Mike

[Longworth]

Jim,
I was interested in the same thing but after seeing a slew of
laptops and desktops with sudden hard drive failures, I gave up on the
idea of using laptop or tablet PC for weather/GPS/electronic flightbag
option. Hope to see tablet PC using flash memory only in a near
future. I am looking forward to the introduction of the Lowrance 2000
with XM weather this summer. It will blow Garmin 396 out of the water
if it also allow approach chart display.

Hai Longworth

[Jonathan Goodish]

In article . com>,
"Longworth" > wrote:
> I was interested in the same thing but after seeing a slew of
> laptops and desktops with sudden hard drive failures, I gave up on the
> idea of using laptop or tablet PC for weather/GPS/electronic flightbag
> option. Hope to see tablet PC using flash memory only in a near
> future. I am looking forward to the introduction of the Lowrance 2000
> with XM weather this summer. It will blow Garmin 396 out of the water
> if it also allow approach chart display.


The AirMap 2000c has a ways to go before it will surpass the 396. The
2000c isn't even as capable as the 296, and although the screen is
larger, it has about half the resolution of the 296/396. I doubt that
Lowrance will add approach chart capability, and if they do, I doubt
that it will be very practical on the existing screen.

I would love to see Lowrance release a unit that is competitive with the
396, but they have a long way to go from the 2000c to get to that point.



JKG

[Jim Burns]

Anybody know if a solid state HD NAND would be an option? Are there any
currently on the market in volume and are there any models large enough?
Jim

"Longworth" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Jim,
> I was interested in the same thing but after seeing a slew of
> laptops and desktops with sudden hard drive failures, I gave up on the
> idea of using laptop or tablet PC for weather/GPS/electronic flightbag
> option. Hope to see tablet PC using flash memory only in a near
> future. I am looking forward to the introduction of the Lowrance 2000
> with XM weather this summer. It will blow Garmin 396 out of the water
> if it also allow approach chart display.
>
> Hai Longworth
>

[Thomas Borchert]

Jonathan,

> I would love to see Lowrance release a unit that is competitive with the
> 396, but they have a long way to go from the 2000c to get to that point.
>

They have a long way to go to make something equally expensive, too. Don't
compare apples and oranges...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Jonathan Goodish]

In article >,
Thomas Borchert > wrote:
> > I would love to see Lowrance release a unit that is competitive with the
> > 396, but they have a long way to go from the 2000c to get to that point.
> >
>
> They have a long way to go to make something equally expensive, too. Don't
> compare apples and oranges...


I wasn't--that was the original poster. You get what you pay for.


JKG

[Victor J. Osborne, Jr.]

I'm replacing my 20gig HD w/ a solid state HD for my EFB. I got tired of
the repeated HD failures.
--

Thx, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.

> Anybody know if a solid state HD NAND would be an option? Are there any
> currently on the market in volume and are there any models large enough?
> Jim

[Jim Burns]

Thanks Jim,
Can you give us some details of: PC? HD's (both failed and SS), EFB package?
Altitudes normally flown or possible reasons for HD failures?

Thanks!!!

Jim B

"Victor J. Osborne, Jr." > wrote in message
...
> I'm replacing my 20gig HD w/ a solid state HD for my EFB. I got tired of
> the repeated HD failures.
> --
>
> Thx, {|;-)
>
> Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
>
> > Anybody know if a solid state HD NAND would be an option? Are there any
> > currently on the market in volume and are there any models large enough?
> > Jim
>
>

[Victor J. Osborne, Jr.]

I use the NavAero EFB w/ the T-Pad 800 touch screen. The computer portion
uses a dedicated computer w/ 3 USB's and various other ports. They're going
to replace the HD w/ a 17gig solid state. I've seen larger ones but I need
them to reload the software and stand by the power requirements, so I depend
on them. Having done this (2nd setup) I would only go with the solid state
solution in the future.

I routinely fly an A36 at 9-12,000ft. The hard drive crashes after 1-2
hours. With 3 hrs to Florida or New York, that's a problem. I use the EFB
for XM weather, terrain and other functions.

Thx, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.

"Jim Burns" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks Jim,
> Can you give us some details of: PC? HD's (both failed and SS), EFB
> package?
> Altitudes normally flown or possible reasons for HD failures?
>
> Thanks!!!
>
> Jim B
>
> "Victor J. Osborne, Jr." > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm replacing my 20gig HD w/ a solid state HD for my EFB. I got tired of
>> the repeated HD failures.
>> --
>>
>> Thx, {|;-)
>>
>> Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
>>
>> > Anybody know if a solid state HD NAND would be an option? Are there
>> > any
>> > currently on the market in volume and are there any models large
>> > enough?
>> > Jim
>>
>>
>
>