Again, GPS advice...

So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
another portable.

Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing
comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever
even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
seem to be anymore!

The search, then, is on. Garmin appears to be off my list unless
someone can give me a compelling reason to change my mind. XM weather
is of almost zero interest to me (another subscription service is not
something I want or need). I do have a need to plot a flight plan
directly into the device from its own control panel. So far, it looks
like I can get a better GPS by looking at the EKP IV or the Lowrance
2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
winner.

Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
pricing? And the EKP?

Thanks in advance!

Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com

wrote in message
oups.com...


[stuff deleted]


t the EKP IV or the Lowrance
2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
winner.

Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
pricing? And the EKP?

Thanks in advance!

Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com

I have a Lowrance 2000c. Wouldn't leave home without it. As with the
rest of the field, you will dig into your pocket now and again to keep the
database updated. Even the VFR data gets old eventually. Kind of like flying
with an old sectional, if you get my meaning. Seriously consider paying a
few extra $$ for the terrain avoidance, also. I have it, and while I might
not stake my life on it [or anything else but my MKII eyballs] I find it to
be a useful add-on.
On the down side, it is not much help in the car except to give you
ground speed. Final destination ETA on the ground is typically 10 to 20
minutes optimistic on long trips. LOL, it does get more accurate, the closer
you get to your [final] destination.
Hope this helps.
--
Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

What do you think of the on-device route planning? Are you satisfied
with the device's sensitivity? Sounds good so far!

Thanks!

Greg

On Feb 5, 9:05 pm, "Casey Wilson" wrote:

I have a Lowrance 2000c. Wouldn't leave home without it. As with the
rest of the field, you will dig into your pocket now and again to keep the
database updated. Even the VFR data gets old eventually. Kind of like flying
with an old sectional, if you get my meaning. Seriously consider paying a
few extra $$ for the terrain avoidance, also. I have it, and while I might
not stake my life on it [or anything else but my MKII eyballs] I find it to
be a useful add-on.
On the down side, it is not much help in the car except to give you
ground speed. Final destination ETA on the ground is typically 10 to 20
minutes optimistic on long trips. LOL, it does get more accurate, the closer
you get to your [final] destination.
Hope this helps.
--
Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

wrote in message
ups.com...
What do you think of the on-device route planning? Are you satisfied
with the device's sensitivity? Sounds good so far!

Thanks!

Greg

First, unless you have someone in the airplane to do either the flying
or the button-mashing, I don't recommend doing on-device route building.
With that out of the way, I do program the unit from the front panel while
sitting at the kitchen table -- on occasion. The advantage to programming
with my desk-top or lap-top is the larger database in the computer compared
to what you have on the SD card in the unit and the versatility of the
computer mode.
From Radio Shack I picked up a gizmo to plug in a wall socket and
provide 12VDC power for the unit at the table. You will want to get one of
those.
I have had no significant problems sitting at the table and capturing
enough satellites using the internal antenna. Occasionally, the satellite
constellation will be sparse and the unit will drop in and out. Putting the
remote antenna [that came with the unit] in the kitchen window fixes that. I
have flown with the 2000C clamped on the yoke of the C-172 I fly and had no
problems acquiring with the internal antenna -- but as a matter of course, I
use the remote antenna on the glareshield. I don't have it velcro'd down so
sometimes in bumpy air it bounces in my field-of-view. I seldom use the
external antenna when I use the 2000C in the car on the road.

Summary: The on-device programming is adequate, but I prefer using the
computer. The sensitivity is fine on internal antenna, but I prefer using
the external. Most of my trips are to destinations I've already loaded and
saved on the SD disk so the only time I have to do any programming is a new
destination or for a different set of scenery. [Most of those are also
covered by previous trips.]

--
Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

Casey Wilson wrote:
From Radio Shack I picked up a gizmo to plug in a wall socket and
provide 12VDC power for the unit at the table. You will want to get
one of those.

If you're using a desktop PC to program the GPS, you've probably already
got a good +12 V source inside the PC. Each four-wire disk drive power
connector has two ground wires in the middle, +5 V on one end, and +12 V
on the other. Connect a fuse holder and a cigarette lighter receptacle
to +12 V and ground. Put a 2 to 5 A fuse in the fuse holder and you've
got a +12 V source to run your GPS, recharge your cell phone, etc. It's
probably not a good idea to plug in an actual cigarette lighter element
because that draws quite a bit of current (9-10 A or so).

Of course, the wall-plug supply is portable, if you want to play with
the GPS or recharge its internal battery at a remote location. Rat
Shock's 22-505 power supply is stunningly overpriced at $30; any store
that sells cell phone accessories should be able to sell you the same
thing for $10 or so.

Matt Roberds

So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
can be had for about $400.




wrote:
So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery
has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for
another portable.

Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing
comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever
even more surprised to see just how pricey all the Garmin offerings
seem to be anymore!

The search, then, is on. Garmin appears to be off my list unless
someone can give me a compelling reason to change my mind. XM weather
is of almost zero interest to me (another subscription service is not
something I want or need). I do have a need to plot a flight plan
directly into the device from its own control panel. So far, it looks
like I can get a better GPS by looking at the EKP IV or the Lowrance
2000c. And on a price comparison alone, the Lowrance is the decided
winner.

Does anyone here see something I'm missing? Is the Lowrance the way to
go? Does Garmin really deliver something unique to justify their
pricing? And the EKP?

Thanks in advance!

Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com

On Feb 5, 10:17 pm, Newps wrote:
So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
can be had for about $400.


I would were it not for the way batteries work. Best I can tell, it's
been 3 years since the Pilot III ended production. Those internal
batteries are not replaceable (without glue) and they are aging every
day, whether they are in use or not.

Thanks, though!

Greg

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Feb 5, 10:17 pm, Newps wrote:
So buy another Pilot III on ebay. Another good choice is a 295. Those
can be had for about $400.


I would were it not for the way batteries work. Best I can tell, it's
been 3 years since the Pilot III ended production. Those internal
batteries are not replaceable (without glue) and they are aging every
day, whether they are in use or not.

There was a discussion regarding changing that type of battery. It is
doable, and by putting a temporary battery on jumpers, you can do it without
dumping the settings. If it has a reset button to restore the functions,
just unsolder one and put another one in with silver bearing solder and hot
glue.
--
Jim in NC

Lowrance 2000c is superb value.
I switched from Garmin a few months ago & love it

Tony


Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

Lowrance 2000c is superb value.
I switched from Garmin a few months ago & love it

We've got a 2000c on the pilot's yoke, and a Garmin 496 in an Airgizmo
panel dock on the co-pilot's side.

The 2000c is a better GPS than the 496, for roughly 1/6th the cost of
the Garmin. It has a bigger, better display, and I like the way it
displays things better.

That said, the 496 does things the 2000c can't. Airport diagrams,
AOPA information, live weather, TFRs, and road trips are just a few of
thel things that the Garmin does well.

If you don't need any of those things, the 2000c is the best GPS value
on the market, period.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"