Handheld GPS adaptible to aviation

Hi, I'm a PP-ASEL student. Although the rental planes at my club have
pretty good nav equipment, I'm hoping to supplement them with a
handheld GPS that isn't expensive.

Mostly, I'm of the "your chart isn't going to lie to you" school of
pilotage and frugality. But your chart also doesn't tell you where you
are or what direction you're headed. So, I'd like to use an
inexpensive GPS with very basic mapping capability as a supplement to
VOR navigation for VFR.

Aviation GPS's need periodic map updates. So what I'd ideally like is
rather low-end land/marine unit with a basic map (cities, highways,
shoreline, other topographic features) that has available software to
create my own waypoint database of airports and navaids to supplement
the base map.

Anyone using something like that?

BTW, I am familiar with Brian Wade's excellent database for the
Magellan 315. But that's not a mapping unit. I'm trying to do
something similar but with a low-end mapping GPS.

Thanks

I think color is important, but I was just given a birthday
present, quite unexpected [the present, the b'day was
expected] of a Magellan Meridian Gold with a monochrome
display. It seems adequate and has a pretty good database
that includes airports. There is no terrain unless you buy
a detailed map database. It will work up to 951 mph and
17,500 meters.
Programming is not something I'd want to do in-flight unless
I had lots of time. I think my son bought it at Wal-Mart
for about $200. It runs 14 hours on 2 AA batteries if you
don't use the light.

I told him I wanted the Garmin 396, it's only $2500.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


wrote in message
oups.com...
| Hi, I'm a PP-ASEL student. Although the rental planes at
my club have
| pretty good nav equipment, I'm hoping to supplement them
with a
| handheld GPS that isn't expensive.
|
| Mostly, I'm of the "your chart isn't going to lie to you"
school of
| pilotage and frugality. But your chart also doesn't tell
you where you
| are or what direction you're headed. So, I'd like to use
an
| inexpensive GPS with very basic mapping capability as a
supplement to
| VOR navigation for VFR.
|
| Aviation GPS's need periodic map updates. So what I'd
ideally like is
| rather low-end land/marine unit with a basic map (cities,
highways,
| shoreline, other topographic features) that has available
software to
| create my own waypoint database of airports and navaids to
supplement
| the base map.
|
| Anyone using something like that?
|
| BTW, I am familiar with Brian Wade's excellent database
for the
| Magellan 315. But that's not a mapping unit. I'm trying
to do
| something similar but with a low-end mapping GPS.
|
| Thanks
|

If you are looking for something loo cost, consider buying a PDA with a
CF slot and just running something like PocketFMS (its free). You could
also buy a $15 copy of MS streets for it for use in the car too.

-Robert

If you have a PDA, Pocket FMS is as good as the more 'commercial' products
and is under continuous development with an active forum. It's out of
Europe, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of base maps and
airspace data for Australia. I just sold my Garmin GPS III Pilot and
replaced with Pocket FMS. The actual cost (to be a donor and get the good
maps) is US$60 BUT this assumes you have a PDA and (bluetooth) GPS. If yea
already have the PDA you can get into a very upmarket colour mapping system
for about $200.

www.pocketfms.com

Cheers,
Kevin

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...
If you are looking for something loo cost, consider buying a PDA with a
CF slot and just running something like PocketFMS (its free). You could
also buy a $15 copy of MS streets for it for use in the car too.

-Robert

Robert,

PocketFMS (its free).


Actually, it's donation ware (donate if you like it) - and if no one
does, development will cease at some point.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Robert M. Gary wrote:
If you are looking for something loo cost, consider buying a PDA with a
CF slot and just running something like PocketFMS (its free). You could
also buy a $15 copy of MS streets for it for use in the car too.

I just picked up a Navman PiN 100 from Fry's for $190... Added a 2G SD
card for $70 (which will have a $20 rebate)... It comes with a GPS and
an automotive type moving map... I downloaded PocketFMS for it also...
So, for $240, I get a GPS with an aviation and road moving map in
addition to a MP3/WMA player that can hold plenty of songs dependent
upon how much I fill it up with the various maps... The only complaint
that I have is that the headphone connector is the 2.5mm plug like the
cell phone headsets instead of the 3.5mm plugs like normal audio
headsets... I haven't had a chance to try it out in my plane yet
though...

Robert M. Gary wrote:
If you are looking for something loo cost, consider buying a PDA with a
CF slot and just running something like PocketFMS (its free). You could
also buy a $15 copy of MS streets for it for use in the car too.

Finally got a chance to use the Navman PiN 100 today in flight with
PocketFMS... Works great... Visible during daylight -- unlike my laptop...
With the 2G memory card, I was able to put all the aviation and road maps on
the machine... Unfortunately, the road map software loads extremely slowly
when you have that much configured on the machine... Not sure if it is
better than the aviation GPS units, but it's good enough that I won't be
taking my laptop on every flight with me from now on...

wrote:

Aviation GPS's need periodic map updates. So what I'd ideally like is
rather low-end land/marine unit with a basic map (cities, highways,
shoreline, other topographic features) that has available software to
create my own waypoint database of airports and navaids to supplement
the base map.

The Garmin eTrex Legend is a small handheld that includes a reasonable
basemap (roughly the level of detail as state highway maps) and has a
PC interface cable for use with a wide variety of available software,
much of it free. It'll let you load in up to 1000 waypoints at a time.
Retails for around $140.

Just a follow-up, the Magellan Meridian Gold does have a
GOTO button and an airport list in the database. You can
select from airports nearest to your position with just a
few button pushes. I think most hand-helds will do this,
try them out to see what they'll do and how you like them.
They also have car power cigarette plugs available so you
can work as long as you need to and keep the batteries full.

But unless you buy an aviation unit, you won't have MOA, TFR
and other "bad" places, so you'll need to have that current
sectional and FSS brief data to stay out of the F-16
gunsights.

I think both Magellan and Garmin have downloadable SDK
programming instructions, you might be able to create the
NAVAID database, airports are included in the basic LAND map
on the units.


"peter" wrote in message
ups.com...
| wrote:
|
| Aviation GPS's need periodic map updates. So what I'd
ideally like is
| rather low-end land/marine unit with a basic map
(cities, highways,
| shoreline, other topographic features) that has
available software to
| create my own waypoint database of airports and navaids
to supplement
| the base map.
|
| The Garmin eTrex Legend is a small handheld that includes
a reasonable
| basemap (roughly the level of detail as state highway
maps) and has a
| PC interface cable for use with a wide variety of
available software,
| much of it free. It'll let you load in up to 1000
waypoints at a time.
| Retails for around $140.
|

As a student you need to concentrate on your own navigation and flying
skills using the standard instruments. After you are out on your own
with a PPL, you can begin to use a GPS.


wrote:
Hi, I'm a PP-ASEL student. Although the rental planes at my club have
pretty good nav equipment, I'm hoping to supplement them with a
handheld GPS that isn't expensive.

Mostly, I'm of the "your chart isn't going to lie to you" school of
pilotage and frugality. But your chart also doesn't tell you where you
are or what direction you're headed. So, I'd like to use an
inexpensive GPS with very basic mapping capability as a supplement to
VOR navigation for VFR.

Aviation GPS's need periodic map updates. So what I'd ideally like is
rather low-end land/marine unit with a basic map (cities, highways,
shoreline, other topographic features) that has available software to
create my own waypoint database of airports and navaids to supplement
the base map.

Anyone using something like that?

BTW, I am familiar with Brian Wade's excellent database for the
Magellan 315. But that's not a mapping unit. I'm trying to do
something similar but with a low-end mapping GPS.

Thanks