Again, GPS advice...

[[email protected]]

So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
another portable.

Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing
comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever
even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
seem to be anymore!

The search, then, is on. Garmin appears to be off my list unless
someone can give me a compelling reason to change my mind. XM weather
is of almost zero interest to me (another subscription service is not
something I want or need). I do have a need to plot a flight plan
directly into the device from its own control panel. So far, it looks
like I can get a better GPS by looking at the EKP IV or the Lowrance
2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
winner.

Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
pricing? And the EKP?

Thanks in advance!

Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com

[Casey Wilson]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
>
> [stuff deleted]
>
>
>t the EKP IV or the Lowrance
> 2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
> winner.
>
> Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
> go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
> pricing? And the EKP?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Greg Chapman
> http://www.mousetrax.com

I have a Lowrance 2000c. Wouldn't leave home without it. As with the
rest of the field, you will dig into your pocket now and again to keep the
database updated. Even the VFR data gets old eventually. Kind of like flying
with an old sectional, if you get my meaning. Seriously consider paying a
few extra $$ for the terrain avoidance, also. I have it, and while I might
not stake my life on it [or anything else but my MKII eyballs] I find it to
be a useful add-on.
On the down side, it is not much help in the car except to give you
ground speed. Final destination ETA on the ground is typically 10 to 20
minutes optimistic on long trips. LOL, it does get more accurate, the closer
you get to your [final] destination.
Hope this helps.
--
Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

[Newps]

So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
can be had for about $400.




wrote:
> So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
> has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
> another portable.
>
> Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing
> comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever
> even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
> seem to be anymore!
>
> The search, then, is on. Garmin appears to be off my list unless
> someone can give me a compelling reason to change my mind. XM weather
> is of almost zero interest to me (another subscription service is not
> something I want or need). I do have a need to plot a flight plan
> directly into the device from its own control panel. So far, it looks
> like I can get a better GPS by looking at the EKP IV or the Lowrance
> 2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
> winner.
>
> Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
> go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
> pricing? And the EKP?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Greg Chapman
> http://www.mousetrax.com
>

[[email protected]]

On Feb 5, 10:17 pm, Newps > wrote:
> So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
> can be had for about $400.
>

I would were it not for the way batteries work. Best I can tell, it's
been 3 years since the Pilot III ended production. Those internal
batteries are not replaceable (without glue) and they are aging every
day, whether they are in use or not.

Thanks, though!

Greg

[[email protected]]

What do you think of the on-device route planning? Are you satisfied
with the device's sensitivity? Sounds good so far!

Thanks!

Greg

On Feb 5, 9:05 pm, "Casey Wilson" > wrote:

> I have a Lowrance 2000c. Wouldn't leave home without it. As with the
> rest of the field, you will dig into your pocket now and again to keep the
> database updated. Even the VFR data gets old eventually. Kind of like flying
> with an old sectional, if you get my meaning. Seriously consider paying a
> few extra $$ for the terrain avoidance, also. I have it, and while I might
> not stake my life on it [or anything else but my MKII eyballs] I find it to
> be a useful add-on.
> On the down side, it is not much help in the car except to give you
> ground speed. Final destination ETA on the ground is typically 10 to 20
> minutes optimistic on long trips. LOL, it does get more accurate, the closer
> you get to your [final] destination.
> Hope this helps.
> --
> Regards,
>
> Casey Wilson
> Freelance Writer
> and Photographer

[tony roberts]

Lowrance 2000c is superb value.
I switched from Garmin a few months ago & love it

Tony


Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Morgans]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Feb 5, 10:17 pm, Newps > wrote:
>> So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
>> can be had for about $400.
>>
>
> I would were it not for the way batteries work. Best I can tell, it's
> been 3 years since the Pilot III ended production. Those internal
> batteries are not replaceable (without glue) and they are aging every
> day, whether they are in use or not.

There was a discussion regarding changing that type of battery. It is
doable, and by putting a temporary battery on jumpers, you can do it without
dumping the settings. If it has a reset button to restore the functions,
just unsolder one and put another one in with silver bearing solder and hot
glue.
--
Jim in NC

[Thomas Borchert]

> Does anyone here see something I'm missing?

Not really.

> Is the Lowrance the way to
> go?

Well, the Airmap 600c is also interesting, IMHO. The 2000c is bigger,
with a larger screen at the same resolution. If size is no problem, the
2000c is it.

> And the EKP?

Largest display of them all. Very large. Huge. If you're into that, it's
the one to go for. There's also a smaller unit from AvMap called
GeoPilot Plus - is that offered in the US? If so, it can be made into a
turn-by-turn street navigator for a fairly low price. No battery in that
unit, though.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[[email protected]]

wrote:
> So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
> has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
> another portable.

A bit of Googling shows http://forums.gpscity.com/showthread.php?p=11088 .
Digi-Key currently lists three variations on that battery; all of them
sell for less than $2 in quantity 1. Unfortunately Digi-Key has a $5
surcharge on orders under $25, plus you'll pay a few bucks shipping -
maybe $12 total. Mouser only has one variety, also for just under $2,
but they don't have the surcharge on small orders - maybe $7 total.
Radio Shack does not have this battery. A local electronics distributor
_might_ have this battery.

If you're not sure which end of a soldering iron to hold, you might
inquire at local TV/VCR repair shops to see if they would be willing to
swap the battery for you.

The link above also mentions having Garmin change the battery; have you
checked with Garmin to see if they will still service this model?

I also realize that you may have some money burning a hole in your
pocket. :) If you buy a new GPS, then fix the old one, you've got
a second one for the copilot's yoke, or for in the car, or whatever.
Or, if you can fix the Pilot III successfully, you've got some time to
compare new models and maybe wait for a deal.

Matt Roberds

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, said:
>even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
>seem to be anymore!

With all the hoopla about the 396 and the 496, the price of used 296s is
pretty good. And the 296 with the car kit makes a great dual-purpose GPS
- fly to the destination, pull it out and slap it in the rental car, and
away you go.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://blog.xcski.com/
Never meddle in the affairs of NT. It is slow to boot and quick to crash.
-- Stephen Harris

[[email protected]]

Oh, no fear there! Solder splatter and my jeans are familiar with each
other. I've just decided to declare the device as end of life. If I'd
been completely candid, I'd have also mentioned the fact that the
newest DB I can find for this device is almost 4 years old. I think a
refresh is in order.

So if I get a new one, the old device will probably wind up becoming
useful in some other way and will definitely represent zero loss
should I foul up the battery replacement...but that only becomes
possible if I've another on hand to fly with. Rather than buy myself
back into the Garmin trap with the same built in calendar trap, I
figured it's time to reshop the entire proposal. That seems to be my
basic reaction when I'm not satisfied with the results I got out of
the first foray.

Thanks for the excellent suggestion!

Greg

On Feb 6, 5:07 am, wrote:
> wrote:
> > So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
> I also realize that you may have some money burning a hole in your
> pocket. :) If you buy a new GPS, then fix the old one, you've got
> a second one for the copilot's yoke, or for in the car, or whatever.
> Or, if you can fix the Pilot III successfully, you've got some time to
> compare new models and maybe wait for a deal.
>
> Matt Roberds

[Casey Wilson]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> What do you think of the on-device route planning? Are you satisfied
> with the device's sensitivity? Sounds good so far!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Greg

First, unless you have someone in the airplane to do either the flying
or the button-mashing, I don't recommend doing on-device route building.
With that out of the way, I do program the unit from the front panel while
sitting at the kitchen table -- on occasion. The advantage to programming
with my desk-top or lap-top is the larger database in the computer compared
to what you have on the SD card in the unit and the versatility of the
computer mode.
From Radio Shack I picked up a gizmo to plug in a wall socket and
provide 12VDC power for the unit at the table. You will want to get one of
those.
I have had no significant problems sitting at the table and capturing
enough satellites using the internal antenna. Occasionally, the satellite
constellation will be sparse and the unit will drop in and out. Putting the
remote antenna [that came with the unit] in the kitchen window fixes that. I
have flown with the 2000C clamped on the yoke of the C-172 I fly and had no
problems acquiring with the internal antenna -- but as a matter of course, I
use the remote antenna on the glareshield. I don't have it velcro'd down so
sometimes in bumpy air it bounces in my field-of-view. I seldom use the
external antenna when I use the 2000C in the car on the road.

Summary: The on-device programming is adequate, but I prefer using the
computer. The sensitivity is fine on internal antenna, but I prefer using
the external. Most of my trips are to destinations I've already loaded and
saved on the SD disk so the only time I have to do any programming is a new
destination or for a different set of scenery. [Most of those are also
covered by previous trips.]

--
Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

[Jay Honeck]

> Lowrance 2000c is superb value.
> I switched from Garmin a few months ago & love it

We've got a 2000c on the pilot's yoke, and a Garmin 496 in an Airgizmo
panel dock on the co-pilot's side.

The 2000c is a better GPS than the 496, for roughly 1/6th the cost of
the Garmin. It has a bigger, better display, and I like the way it
displays things better.

That said, the 496 does things the 2000c can't. Airport diagrams,
AOPA information, live weather, TFRs, and road trips are just a few of
thel things that the Garmin does well.

If you don't need any of those things, the 2000c is the best GPS value
on the market, period.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dave[_1_]]

Yes, it most certianly is!

Dave

On 5 Feb 2007 18:47:18 -0800, wrote:



Is the Lowrance the way to
>go?




>
>Greg Chapman
>http://www.mousetrax.com

[Blueskies]

I really like my Lowrance 2000c. Came with all the fixin's also, so no need to buy any other mounts for it. The battery
life is poor, but that is the only limitation I have discovered. Contrary to the other post, I have no problem
programming it either on the ground or enroute...


> wrote in message oups.com...
: So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
: has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
: another portable.
:
: Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing
: comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever
: even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
: seem to be anymore!
:
: The search, then, is on. Garmin appears to be off my list unless
: someone can give me a compelling reason to change my mind. XM weather
: is of almost zero interest to me (another subscription service is not
: something I want or need). I do have a need to plot a flight plan
: directly into the device from its own control panel. So far, it looks
: like I can get a better GPS by looking at the EKP IV or the Lowrance
: 2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
: winner.
:
: Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
: go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
: pricing? And the EKP?
:
: Thanks in advance!
:
: Greg Chapman
: http://www.mousetrax.com
:

[[email protected]]

Casey Wilson > wrote:
> From Radio Shack I picked up a gizmo to plug in a wall socket and
> provide 12VDC power for the unit at the table. You will want to get
> one of those.

If you're using a desktop PC to program the GPS, you've probably already
got a good +12 V source inside the PC. Each four-wire disk drive power
connector has two ground wires in the middle, +5 V on one end, and +12 V
on the other. Connect a fuse holder and a cigarette lighter receptacle
to +12 V and ground. Put a 2 to 5 A fuse in the fuse holder and you've
got a +12 V source to run your GPS, recharge your cell phone, etc. It's
probably not a good idea to plug in an actual cigarette lighter element
because that draws quite a bit of current (9-10 A or so).

Of course, the wall-plug supply is portable, if you want to play with
the GPS or recharge its internal battery at a remote location. Rat
Shock's 22-505 power supply is stunningly overpriced at $30; any store
that sells cell phone accessories should be able to sell you the same
thing for $10 or so.

Matt Roberds

[Blanche]

Greg:

I, too, have the Garmin III Pilot and find it incredibly cost-effective.
If it does everything you need, why not just have the battery replaced.
Unfortunately, Garmin has a flat rate for repairs on this unit (mine went
back over the summer) of $150, IIRC. Another option is to find a
working one on eBay or Craigs List (local advantage!)