AirNAV VFR - Sentient Software - Recent Experience Anyone ?

[John Hagtharp]

I recently sent in an order form to Sentient Software for AirNAV Premium (on special $249). I have no idea how good their software is but they have the official charts and the ongoing subscription will not cost me much more than I'm paying now to keep my paper charts up to date.

Prior to ordering I called to ask a question and a helpful sounding girl took the question and promised to get back to me. They never did. After ordering last Friday, I left a follow up message on their answering machine Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning they called saying they had the order and I should have the software this week.

A week after ordering, there's still no sign of the software or a charge against my credit card. All calls are answered by the answering machine letting me know their business hours (which I am calling within). I've left another message.

Warning bells are ringing. Will there be delays and no one to talk to every time chart updates are required?

Does anyone else have any experience with this company and the software?

[John Hagtharp]

bumping thread. not 100% sure how this board works but I think my posts are vetted by someone first (?) and by the time it went up, it was already on the second page where people don't see it.

[PlankBlender]

Hi John, I've been using it for a couple of years, and it's a great tool. Even better in the moving map version on a tablet PC. If you use the search function you'll find a few other posts where I've gone on about the merits of the software.

If you can still cancel the order, you can have mine, I'm leaving Oz and won't be needing it any more. Full moving map version with all charts VFR/IFR.

Support's normally very good and not too tardy, they send you the update CD's ahead of time etc., never had an issue.

:ok:

[John Hagtharp]

Your immediate problem may be partially solved by the following technical support link from their web site: AirNav Techncal Support (http://www.sentientsoftware.com.au/airnav_support.html) .

Only access to expired ERC, VNC and VTC are supposed to be blocked, not access to the software completely. The link above is supposed to be a procedure to fix the bug.

Let's hope this is a temporary problem and they soon get their act together. I get the feeling they're a small operation. Maybe the owner plus one support staff. A single resignation could make a huge difference, especially if the owner also has a day job.

[ANCIENT]

I have been using AirNav software since V1 and recommend it to to all wanting a VFR planning tool and moving map display. Since Paul expanded his business and put on staff to handle the AiNav side there have been a few hiccups but it is worth persisting with.

[John Hagtharp]

Thanks for the offer ParkBlender, but cancelling the order would require a person to talk to on the other end of the phone...

I think I'd rather wait and see if they get their act together anyway. If not, I'd be better off finding another solution.

[Ultralights]

mine arrived today as well.


i love it, the same price for paper charts, and pretty easy to use. i even use mine on my Mac, though i have to run it through Parallels and XP.
i hope one day they make a dedicated Mac version. otherwise, good value for money.

[freshy1234]

Has anyone been successful in running it on a tablet or laptop in-flight?

[PlankBlender]

sure, freshy, been doing it for more than a year, 300+ in the air with it, wouldn't go without it despite the Garmin 530 in the panel..

Runs on a Fujitsu P1620 tablet (Windows7 Ultimate), connected to a Bluetooth GPS unit, because of limited cabin/panel space I've modified a standard knee pad with velcro so that the Fujitsu sits on my right leg. I use the tablet as my main computer, with a dual processor and enough RAM it's well capable.

The AirNav moving map works a treat, I can see my location on the charts, especially useful for VFR position reports in unfamiliar airspace as you just report the landmarks from the chart rather than having to visually identify them, and also super handy to scoot around air space boundaries (with the proper buffer of course).

If there is one disadvantage to the (much dearer and much less versatile) solid state super bright display computers, it's the display that is hard to read in direct sunlight. Cause the tablet sits on my knee this isn't a problem most of the time, there's also the possibility to make a cheap and effective glare shield that attaches to the knee pad; I've rather invested in a pair of Rosen sun visors that are a godsend for so many other reasons and if I really need it I just position the Rosen to give me shade on the tablet..

Bonus with the tablet is that you just connect the NextG mobile and get up to date weather, radar and satellite pics, flight planning information, and of course pprune (almost) everywhere.

Vibration/shock isn't an issue with the Fujitsu as it has a built-in shock sensor that lifts the hard drive head very quickly in case of detected vibration, and this works at 'lightie' altitude too.

Works as a backup too, a standard 12V car charger keeps the battery charged, and even with the screen fully bright I can get an hour emergency GPS use out of it (and the Bluetooth GPS has a solar panel).

After reading Clinton's post below, I should add that the touch screen on the Fujitsu (9" screen) isn't hard to work, I usually just use the pencil that I make my flight notes with to tap around, hasn't done any harm yet, can even operate with the fingernail. Most functions you need in flight are on big buttons anyway and the scrolling is done just by dragging the map, too easy!

I actually dread going to JeppView now (moving to Europe), much much dearer for the same functionality and much less user friendly.. In my view there isn't anything better around in Oz than AirNav. Just my considered opinion. And I never worked for or with them, have no affiliation or other connection with Sentient.

[John Hagtharp]

Mine arrived Monday too. Looks like they worked through the backlog and posted them all out on Friday.

Does anyone know how the licensing and keys work? I installed it on a laptop last night and all looks great except it's a netbook with a very small screen and the maps would be much better to plan with on something larger. Can I just uninstall and start from scratch or have I used up one of my 2 installations? Will it refuse to install / activate (Microsoft Style) or is this just an honesty system?

Also the one option I don't think I have is the airfield directory. It looks like this is just ERSA pages? Does it just give you the pages so you can print them out or is the ERSA data integrated more than that?

[moffy]

Thanks Clinton and Plankbender for excellent posts. Had been thinking along similar lines but wasn't sure how to proceed. I'm also really interested in utilising the excellent Airnav software in the cockpit.
Wondered if you could spell out for me how you do it wrt bluetooth.
What kind of GPS are you using? Is it 1 with its own screen/Jepp data base (eg Garmin Aera 500) or simple bluetooth GPS mouse like thing (eg Garmin GPS10)?! How easy was set up with Airnav?

[moffy]

Thanks Clinton, I'm with you now!

[Spode]

I've contacted them via the form on their website, a message on the phone and a direct email, to ask questions about their new GPS. Been several weeks and no reply.

However, my my main question is this. I am hoping someone reading this can answer it as it isn't clear on their website.

Is all access to expired charts blocked, or can I still plan with them but not copy them to a GPS or print them?

In other words I want to plan some long trips (as a holiday) but it will take me months to get it arranged, get support etc. So I want to be able to see and plan on old charts to get where I want to go sorted out, and then I will update the charts I need before I go. I don't want to subscribe to the premium package if I will only need a few of the charts (besides my local area) very often.

An advantage of having a pile of old paper WAC's is that I can play what-if games by planning trips and eventually deciding on which one I want to do, then I go and get the up to date charts and do it for real. I want to recreate that ability with AirNav VFR.

Thanks for any info!

[bentleg]

AirNav support was really good a couple of years ago but I suspect the developers have now moved to other things and it is on the backburner.

Having said that I find it excellent for VFR but not nearly so good for IFR (although they say it will do IFR). The Flight Schedule it produces is good in the cockpit for VFR. I still put my IFR plan into Airnav and let it calculate distances speed and wind - then transfer the information a manual sheet.

[Aussie Bob]

I have been using the program for years and never had anything but good service.

Spode: the maps shut down when expired and the only workaround I know is to change the date on your computer back to pre expiry.

John: Unfortunately you will need another code as far as I have found. i have always got it by phone and the phone has always answered for me. I think the designer is a professional security nerd and has locked it up pretty well.

Hope you all get past your bugs, it is great to have the charts and the ability to print parts of them. I don't use it inflight though, have Ipad as well ...

[MilFlyer]

AirNav support was really good a couple of years agoGive AeroPlan Systems a call - and let them see what they can work out and let them know your circumstances. Aviation naviation options!

Looks like most have been sorted. Wireless support!!

Kind Regards.

[THANKS! AEROPLAN : (03)5968-4193] !