PIREP: AirMap 1000 (Long)

As mentioned in an earlier thread, I would provide a PIREP with my
initial thought on my new addition.

1- "Wow, that is a big box." The company I purchased the unit from
packaged it exceptionally well. The box was larger than I was
expecting. This was due to the peanuts in the box.

2 - "What is that rattling sound?" After opening the box (from
Lowrance) I was a little disappointed in the packing job they did.
Four batteries just floating around in the box. The GPS unit had
fallen from the cardboard holder down inside the box and was just
floating around in there.

3 - "Geez, what is all that stuff?" I removed the GPS from the box
and kept pulling item after item out of the box. The unit comes
complete with an active remote antenna that has 2 different ways to
mount it! A suction cup mount and a magnetic mount. What a surprize!

4 - "Ah, just as I had been told." The unit include a Yoke mount and
a suction cup mount. That is pretty cool since I do not know which I
will use at this time. The suction cup has some serious power. I
clamped it only my bathroom tile countertop and thought it was stuck
forever! It took me several minutes to remove this thing from the
counter. When it finally came off my fingers were hurting... Geesh,
do not need to worry about that thing popping off due to hard
landing... that is for sure. Note to self, bring a screwdriver to pry
the suction cup off if necessary.

5 - "Let's power this baby up!" Upon initial power up I could not get
the unit to acquire a sat. Took it outside on the porch, and still
only got 2 sats. "Dang, this sucks!" I opened the external antenna
and plugged it in... Got 8 sats now. Only have 46 ft of error, not
bad.

6 - "What is that CD in the box?" The unit came with a custom map
generating program called Map Create 6. I loaded it up and messsed
with the software, it is what I would call not very user friendly. Of
course I am typical guy, don't look at the manual until I get
frustrated. Managed to wiggle my way through the software enough to
generate a map. Cool... now I can just put it on an SD card and pop
it in the GPS!

7 - "What?!? I can't write to the included SD chip!" I powered the
GPS down and removed the included SD Card, which is only 32MB and much
to small to include the obstruction database as well as a customer
map. Should include a 128MB at minimum to be at least a tiny bit
useful. I plugged the SD writer (also included in the box with the
airmap 1000) into MY PC and tried to write my newly generate are
detail map to the SD chip. It did not show up?!?! "Hmmm that is
interesting." Upon further investigation, I find that the included SD
chip is permanently write protected. Still do not know why, but so be
it... What was more odd is the Map generation program acted as if it
had written the data to the SD chip... No indication that the write
had failed. On top of that, the software requires that you "register"
the SD chip to the software. Well I just wasted one registration on a
chip which can not be used. What a load of horse crap.

8 - "Fine, I will use my Mega SD chip" I pull out my 1GB SD chip and
then read the instructions. I mean afterall, I only have 4
registrations left for SD chips. Good thing I did.... 256MB is the
maximum size the AirMap 1000 has been tested with. So... I do nto
have any other chips I can use at this time... They are all used for
cameras, MP3 players etc.... so exploring detailed maps will have to
wait.

9 - "A hard cover and a fake velvet carrying case too." The unit
comes with a hard cover to protect the screen. It just snaps in place
and does NOT rattle around at all. Very cool. It also comes with a
little velvet holder with drawstring to put the unit in to protect it.
Kinda neat, but no place to carry the external antenna, cigarette
lighter power adapter, yoke mount or suction cup mount. Kinda bummed
about that. My flight bag can not handle any more stuff. Would have
been nice if this had a molded case of some type. Maybe I will see if
I can find one somewhere.

10 - "Dang its raining!" Well at least I got the unit and had a chance
to play around with it. Too bad the weather is not good today, maybe
tomorrow I can hit the air and see how well it does without an
external antenna while in the air.

11- "Good deal for the price!" I got the whole thing, brand new,
shipped on Thursday, arrived today (only 2 days!) from across the
country for a really good price. Just over $400 shipping included.
Patience paid off for me in this instance.

That is all my rambling for now. If you have any specific questions I
might be able to answer, fire away!

Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike 'Flyin'8' writes:

A suction cup mount and a magnetic mount. What a surprize!

What a surprise when the airplane's mag compass becomes whack. The
magnetic mount is of dubious value, eh?

Ah geesh.... Did not really even think of that problem.. And my
spelling of surprise. Yikes...



On 19 Mar 2005 19:50:33 -0800, Bob Fry
wrote:

Mike 'Flyin'8' writes:

A suction cup mount and a magnetic mount. What a surprize!

What a surprise when the airplane's mag compass becomes whack. The
magnetic mount is of dubious value, eh?


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

"Mike 'Flyin'8'" wrote in message
...
As mentioned in an earlier thread, I would provide a PIREP with my


Where did you purchase it?

KG

http://www.airplanegear.com

Had a very good dealing with them and they will be the first place I
try when aviation equipment is needed in the future.

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 20:10:41 -0800, "kage"
wrote:


"Mike 'Flyin'8'" wrote in message
.. .
As mentioned in an earlier thread, I would provide a PIREP with my


Where did you purchase it?

KG



Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

How do you do database updates? how much are they?

I'm looking for something to replace my anywheremap

$35 a monthm or $299 a year. You can just update the database as you
feel it is needed. I will likely only update annually, or prior to a
long XC trip, whichever comes first.

On 19 Mar 2005 20:45:27 -0800, "mark" wrote:

How do you do database updates? how much are they?

I'm looking for something to replace my anywheremap


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Ah.. almost forgot the first part of your question....

You can Downlaod the file and put it on a SD card, or you can just buy
it online and they will send you the SD card. You just return the out
of date SD card....

On 19 Mar 2005 20:45:27 -0800, "mark" wrote:

How do you do database updates? how much are they?

I'm looking for something to replace my anywheremap


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

How does that work with the locked MMC card? Or is their software able
to write to it?

also, does it have approaches, or just the extended runway centerlines?