Hi,

I am developing this type of software. What I have written at the moment is a traditional style flight planner with fuel & w+b calculations and a moving map navigation system for use with digitized maps. It also has NAIPS Access for briefings and flight plan submission. The software has a couple of things I need to iron out and then write a help file but that is it, 2 weeks work max. The thing is, I have no licence from Airservices Australia yet so I hope that works out, if so well all is good If not my product becomes slightly crippled in that the user has to put in all the waypoints manually Or I find another data source and I will likely include NAIPS access

Once I get v1 out I will be enhancing it for Direct3D under Windows Mobile 5 to allow map rotation and then implementing a 3D map, using DEM Data, etc etc under D3D. It should look good but probably will require Dell Axim x50v or x51v for this stuff as they have a nice GPU which performs very well, and at the very least WM5 but it's a big IF direct3d will Render fast enough in software mode.

My site is at http://www.digiflight.com.au but it is nothing there just yet!

I do intend a beta test pretty soon and will announce it on the site and here.

Alex

"Kevin Black" wrote in message ...
Hi,

Firstly I'm in Australia and VFR. I have a Garmin III Pilot, but am also
about to purchase an iPaq PDA. Rather than upgrade to a colour GARMIN
(296/396) at megabucks I thought I could get similar functionality using
the PDA. Costings seem to be PDA nil (it's a sunk cost I'm going to buy
it anyway), Bluetooth GPS AUS$100 or so on e-bay, and the software
(Anywhere map special US$95 and NavGPS US$290).

The Anywheremap seems the standout bargain, at current exchange rates
I'm looking at about an all up cost of AUS$232 for software and GPS.

I'm e-mailing both companies with these questions, but I'm pretty darned
sure they will recommend their own product. For those that have used
either or both (and compared to say a G296):

1. Which of these two would you buy, and why?
2. Functionality compared to Garmin's offering?
3. Ease of use compared to Garmin?
4. Base mapping (Garmin has the intl Pacific Base map for Aus). The
Jepp DB has all of the avaiation info including control zones etc etc.
Do these systems have at least the same info depicted?
5. Updates - If I don't update the Garmin it still works with the 'old'
database. Do these keep functioning without updating the database. I
have no real reason to update more than once a year or so?
6. Any other advice much appreciated....

reply to group or kevinblack at bigblue dot net dot au.

Thanks,
Kevin