On May 11, 1:15*pm, JS wrote:
* In my experience, XC Soar does't always install easily. Once the
program is running, getting all the files you need (especially
terrain) isn't as simple as with SeeYou PDA or PNA or WinPilot (I've
only installed WP on PDAs). No experience with LK8000. To be honest, I
prefer the $2500 Altair to display XC Soar. Not a touch screen, but
very bright and clear with buttons next to where you would ordinarily
touch. It's necessary to design the panel around it.
* There are quite a few cheap Chinese PNAs available in bulk from Hong
Kong, and some even locally as single units. TRKA, how does the less
than $100 unit you bought and configured work? The cheapest ones I've
built would be a Navigon with SeeYouPNA (and a later failure
installing XC Soar on the same device), or a HP 310 with XC Soar. The
Navigon works great, HP too after much suggestion that it's parents
weren't married. It still has no terrain. Neither are particularly
readable.
* I heard the XC Soar terrain file generator problem is from having
too large a task area?
Jim

On May 10, 10:42*pm, TRKA wrote:

One question

what makes this device so expensive please?

I see a normal cheap chinese Navigation device with no additional
gear.
Also if this is additional gear it will cost about 10$

So lets calculate

Cheap chinese Navigation device : 60-100$
Additional Gear : 10$
Software : 0$ (XCSoar and LK8000) is FREEWARE

Never had a problem installing XCSoar or the terrain data on PDA's or
the MIO C320, which is done by a hack and using a SD card. The MIO is
pretty crummy in daylight though, and Al's statement that his PNA is
better than a HP 39XX in sunlight is interesting. If his device is
indeed more viewable than a 39XX and can be connected to an approved
data logger it becomes a very nice low cost option.