Mobile Phones with GPS for Use with Memory Map

[italianjon]

Hi,

Does anyone have experience using a mobile phone with in built GPS and software like Memory Map as a portable GPS while flying?

If so, what model of phone, and what are the pros/cons...

I in no way wish to use this as my Primary means of navigation, just a nice backup to reassure me that I'm roughly where I think I should be!

Cheers

Jon

[liam548]

Id be interested in knowing about this too. I use my Nokia N95 8GB for navigation on roads and it is very accurate, fast and reliable.

Surely it is only a matter of time until such phones can be used in the air, like you say if nothing more than a back up!

[flybymike]

Jon, GPS is an excellent primary means of navigation and for knowing exactly where you are.

The mark one eyeball, map, and stopwatch comes a poor second.

[Duchess_Driver]

"....just a nice backup to reassure me that I'm roughly where I think I should be!" - Yeah right. Don't kid yourself.

"....Jon, GPS is an excellent primary means of navigation and for knowing exactly where you are." Concur.

"....The mark one eyeball, map, and stopwatch comes a poor second!" Strongly disagree. What makes it a poor second is people's reliance on GPS so their traditional skills deteriorate.

Back on topic....I trust on these phones when they're in 'flight safe' mode they can still receive the GPS signals?

[Dark Helmet]

Jon,
I use a Palm Pilot TX running FlightMaster (http://www.flight-master.com/) with a Bluetooth GPS receiver. If my experiences with this are of any use to you then let me know. I use MemoryMap on my desktop PC with the CAA maps for planning.

[IO540]

Not a 'phone' I know but I run MM on an 8" tablet computer, the LS800. Really excellent and clear.

I don't think the CAA charts work well on a small screen because one usually cannot see the airspace labels.

[Fright Level]

Because Memory Map is simply an image scan of the CAA chart, the zoom function is useless even on a PDA sized device. You can either zoom right in to read something on the chart or zoom out to see position but not be able to read nor see any of the detail. It's bad enough on a PDA, it would be useless on a phone screen.

[italianjon]

People,

Some good responses, thank you... although I must say...

"....Jon, GPS is an excellent primary means of navigation and for knowing exactly where you are." - True, but I would never rely on GPS unless it is hard wired into the aircraft power supply, I know that can fail, but I'd put battery failure ahead of aircraft power failure any day.

With regard to Flight Safe Mode of course, it would be.

My actual position is later this month my mobile phone contract expires and I can get a new one. I have used memory map software in the past, and found it to be good to offer some confidence to the navigation, as it does move a crosshair over the map to point at your position, so it is very easy to cross reference with the map and compass... So I am thinking, if I need to replace my phone anyway, why not go for a GPS enabled one, that would offer me GPS as well.

As liam548 said they are great for road navigation, so if the Nokia N95 has a FLight Safe mode, but still allows GPS reception, then why would you need to buy a handheld GPS... that's where I'm actually headed with this.

Regards

Jon

[119.35]

Sorry FL, but I have to completely disagree with you. I use memory Maps on my iPaq 214 pda and its brilliant. Can zoom right into the most detailed setting without any trouble (not that you would have it set to that level of zoom).

The iPaq 214 is a fairly new model pda with a slightly larger 'touch' screen, so maybe older PDAs aren't any good? Although, everyone in my group has an older pda and it looks good on them too.

I also have a Nokia N95 8GB mobile and to be honest, I wouldn't use memory maps on it (whether you can or not?). I think it would be too small and fidly and you would spend more time looking inside, buggering around with the buttons than you should.

Getting yourself kitted out with a pda/gps receiver is one hell of a lot cheaper than buying a 'FlyAngel' for £600!

[Rans Flyer]

I've got an XDA Orbit and I've had a Mio a701 before it.
Both pocket PC mobile phones with built in GPS running Memory-Map:ok:
So no more playing around trying to get the devices to connect via bluetooth 10 times a day :ugh: & only one power cable.

Screens can be hard to read in direct sunlight on both phones, but apart from that they work fine.

If you use the Free 3d tracking (http://free.3dtracking.net/home.aspx) software, the XDA will send your updated position using GPRS every minuet and you can be tracked in real time on google earth. Which is cool but you wife knows what time you land :=

I use mine as a backup for my 296, which is a backup for my paper map, which is a backup for my sun-dial and sextant, which is a...... :zzz:
Can't believe that no-one has said use pocket FMS yet!

Ex Rans Flyer.

Jabiru UL450 G-SIMP (http://www.flightforlife.co.uk/JABIRU.jpg)
Web Site: Flight For Life (http://www.FlightForLife.co.uk)

[DBo]

I use memory map on a road angel GPS - 3.5 inch screen, cost about £170 from Argos plus the memory map 1:500 000 chart at £20. The screen is about the same size as a Garmin *96 and the map looks exactly the same as the map on my knee. At the moment I mostly use it as a "finger on the map" but you can draw track lines etc on it - and the extended position line is very useful.

BTW I've not played with "flight safe" mode - but if I leave it on my N95 plays hell with my Bose headset.

Dave

[stuartforrest]

I have used it on many different windows smartphone and pocket pc and they are all way too small once in flight for meaningful use. I have recently got a touch diamond with a small but VGA screen and it is pretty impressive on that. Nonetheless I continue to use it on a Fujitsu 1610 Tablet PC which is simply awesome. With its passive digitiser you can move the the very high resolution screen around with your finger and see a third to half of the country in one go with clarity.

I also had it on a fujitsu VGA pocket PC and it was OK but again I didnt think it was big enough for my eyes. I have one for sale if you want one.

[nickyjsmith]

Got it on my xda orbit, gps works in flight mode so no annoying interference. The maps are pretty good, you can see where you are and what your doing, speed, height, heading. You can zoom in no problem. Also, you can create a track, better done on a pc then up loaded, then see where you are in comparison.

Great as a back up, lets you keep an eye on your nav and learn how to allow for changes in the wind etc.

[liam548]

Duchess_Driver

Back on topic....I trust on these phones when they're in 'flight safe' mode they can still receive the GPS signals?


yes no problems at all, flight mode does not stop GPS working. My N95 8GB worked perfectly fine on a recent flight to Paphos with Easyjet tracking us even at over 500mph! Pics--
:)

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/7226/scr000013fq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3913/scr000014rv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9493/scr000008gk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Why worry about flight mode anyway in GA aircraft?