WxWorx flight test

Today was a good day for it, as there were CBs in all directions
around Mobile (so, what else is new?). Around the airport, though, it
was scattered cu. with bright sun, a good test for the Sony notebook's
viewability.

The WxWorx receiver slipped neatly into the Cessna's right front map
pocket (about calf level, for those not familiar). I velcro'd the USB
GPS and the WxWorx antenna to the glareshield up at the base of the
windshield and routed the cables down the right side of the
glareshield. The receiver cable goes right to the WxWorx box in the
map pocket. The GPS USB cable goes directly to the pc and the WxWorx
USB cable comes out of the map pocket and also goes to the pc. Power
for the WxWorx receiver comes from the aircraft cigar lighter outlet,
which is conveniently within inches of the map pocket. This sounds
like a nest of snakes, but everything stowed pretty neatly. As far as
actual clutter to deal with goes, I wound up with the little notebook
pc on the right seat with two USB cables connected to it.

My airplane is parked under a metal shelter, and both the GPS and the
WxWorx receiver had trouble getting locked until I taxied clear. By
the time I was through with the runup, all the WxWorx features were
active. I must say it was a near religious experience to be sitting at
the departure end of the runway and seeng less-than-10-minute-old
NEXRAD and lightning strike data within a 60-mile radius. The Sony
screen was splendid - always easily readable no matter what the sun
angle. I took an hour-long flight around the bay, looking out the
windows at boomers of various sizes and watching them being painted on
the WxWorx screen - just too, too cool.

This thing is great. If it was panel mounted, it would be perfect.
Since I don't feel comfortable spending five figures to make that kind
of thing happen, this will do just fine. It's early days, I know, but
right now I am very satisfied indeed.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM