PDA GPS software Which one??

Check out WinPilot VFR from my website. The program can be downloaded
and installed on your Ipaq for evaluation. The simulator is fully
functional you have to purchase the license to connect to a GPS.

Terrain Maps and Airport & Airspace data is update monthly for free and
available on the site.

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Kevin Black wrote:
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
Thank to all for your excellent advice, given me something (actually a
lot) to think about.

The GIII Pilot is a great little unit for VFR use and I'd want the same
sort of functionality. Having said that I'm a little confused at some
of the comments regarding use of GPS for VFR flying. I use the GPS as
to navigate my VFR routes. I have the charts etc as a backup. I use
other NAV aids (ADF/VOR). Whether you say I'm using it as the 'primary'
form of navigation - moot point. E6B calculation errors, wrongly
calculated bearings, wrong markup on map, map sails out of open window,
E6B falls to floor, stuffing around refolding chart..... why is this
vastly superior to a modern GPS, I don't get it. Each have their short
comings and point(s) of failure, be aware and be alert. And just because
a GPS is certified doesn't mean it cannot fail yet IFR GPS approaches
are part of the norm....

I'm doing what you have suggested, downloading as much demo/trail stuff
as I can, hopefully this will give me a feel for the look/feel of the
software.

Again, thanks all for your advice - the big bugaboo for still seems to
be the quality of the data for Aus - with the Garmin etc stuff it's the
Jebb DB so not an issue. I wonder if there's any of the PDA systems
that use the Jepp DB??

Thanks,
Kevin

It looks like MountainScope offers coverage for both Australia & Europe
- http://www.mountainscope.com/international.jsp

Mike

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

Alex Shoemack wrote:

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

Alex, make sure that you're sitting down when ASA give you a quote
for their electronic data.

MC wrote:

Alex Shoemack wrote:

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


Alex, make sure that you're sitting down when ASA give you a quote
for their electronic data.

Hey guys! I've come across a new instrument to assist with navigational
challenges- better than GPS or PDA systems by far.

It comes standard with the largest database of Australian waypoints I've
ever encountered.

The display is extremely realistic and rendering in 3-dimensional colour
graphics is available at the greater magnifications.

The range of display magnifications is almost infinite- far beyond what
is required by most Private Pilots, and sufficient for the most
demanding applications (The Space Shuttle had at least one of these
installed for all flights.)

Any visible waypoint can be selected by simply pointing at it on the
display.

The memory requirements are negligible- and power consumption is
extremely low (although it can rise if "open architecture" is used- this
is an option on some models).

There are literally no buttons. The display is set up so that it becomes
active as soon as the aircraft engine is started, and all functions are
engaged by simply examining the display and pointing at the required track.

The display remains perfectly oriented irrespective of the attitude of
the aircraft, although it has a fixed reference which cannot be changed.

You might think with such demanding specifications that this is an
expensive instrument- but they are quite affordable- although some
regular maintenance is required.

I have found that a disadvantage of the available display magnification
range is that at the larger magnifications the scroll rate becomes
unacceptably rapid.

It is, unfortunately, available only in VFR versions. However, if IFR
conditions are encountered the display notifies the pilot immediately.

It is known as the Wide INertial Device for Orientation of Waypoints



Or WINDOW, for short.....:-)

Coop
g,d,r

Or WINDOW, for short.....:-)

The last time I tried to buy one of those with attached hardware, it was
out of my price range - sigh..... And the running costs were a little
over the top as well...

Cheers,
Kevin

Alex Shoemack wrote:
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.

I have tried all the moving map programs on my PDA. No contest, NavGPS
Pro is the best. As for W+B programs Wing X is the best. If I have to
enter any more than my empty weight and empty weight CG then you are not
doing your job. With Wing X I simply pick my particular model of plane
off a list, enter two numbers and I'm done. It shows me a picture of my
W+B envelope as well as a list. It tells me my weight at any time. It
has a complete nav database as well, so I simply tell it where I am and
where I'm going.

I thought about using my Dell X50v in this way ( I already have a GPS
for it). However, I decided that there was no way I would ever be able
to use the touch screen in real IFR because its just too hard when
you're bouncing around. I bought a 296 instead. Has anyone been able to
master using a touch screen PDA in turb?

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I thought about using my Dell X50v in this way ( I already have a GPS
for it). However, I decided that there was no way I would ever be able
to use the touch screen in real IFR because its just too hard when
you're bouncing around. I bought a 296 instead. Has anyone been able to
master using a touch screen PDA in turb?

Depends on how well the user-interface is designed.

PocketFMS mostly uses the physical buttons to navigate through
the 'pages' of info, but if you need to do data-entry (eg to
calculate the actual wind) then a large onscreen
context-dependant keypad appears.
It works ok for me in bouncy conditions and I haven't had
to use the stylus in-flight yet.