I have been using a Palm OS Sony Clie PEG-SJ22 (The cheapest PDA I could
find with a good color screen - $120). I coupled this with Fortuna U2 Serial
"mouse" GPS unit ($100) - this is a WAAS capable GPS using the SiRF Star II
chip-set. There are many types of GPS using this chip-set so they will all
have about the same capability. The GPS receiver is attached to the glare
shield and gets pretty good reception. The PDA is mounted with a G-Force GPS
Mount from PropellerHead (http://prophead2003.sectorlink.org/G-Force.htm)
which is excellent.

For software I use CoPilot (http://www.palmflying.com/copilot.html) which is
probably the very best bit of aviation software you don't have to pay for
(its free). It is simply an excellent flight planning program when coupled
to the (also free) current waypoint database from Paul Tomblin
(http://navaid.com/CoPilot/). For navigation I use a program called Flight
Master GPS (http://www.palmflying.com/mininav.html) which integrates very
well with CoPilot (Plan your flight on CoPilot and then fly it with Flight
Master). Flight Master is very reasonably priced ($40) and provides a basic
moving map (GPS waypoints only, no airspace boundaries or terrain) and an
excellent HSI.

I have tried some of the other GPS moving map programs available for Palm
OS - I haven't really been satisfied with any of them. And frankly, the good
HSI is the more important instrument for me as this setup is designed to be
the battery based navigation backup in case of a complete power loss in IMC.
I'm sure I could fly a pretty good emergency non-precision approach with the
Flight Master HSI. You need a good color screen on the PDA to really make
Flight Master useful IMO. The setup works great, but it did take me a little
while to gather/make the cables I needed to connect the GPS, PDA a battery
backup box for the GPS and the plane power socket.

-Brenor

"Toks Desalu" wrote in message
news:4menc.7845$iF6.848904@attbi_s02...
I was wondering if anyone experience using handheld PC for navigation
along
with gps receiver and mapping software? If so, are they effective?
Toks