Bluetooth GPS

[Goldfinger]

I'm wanting to run a PDA with a Bluetooth enabled GPS. I've had a look at the pocketfms and the pocketgps websites which provide a good deal of info. But my main concern is that a Bluetooth GPS such as Rikalines or Royalteks will have poor satellite reception due to the heating elements in the windscreen of the aircraft I fly. The windscreen is a multi lamintated windscreen with several heating elements incorporated into it. I could put the Bluetooth GPS aerial at the side of the cockpit where the glass/persex does not have the heater elements contained.

Has anyone tried any of these products together (using Bluetooth or Cables ?) say in a turboprop or bigger and what issues did you have.

Thanks

Goldfinger

[Conan the Librarian]

Don't know of the current wisdom for operating within an aviation environment, but if it is OK to do so, then your Bluetooth GPS would get some blanking from the front elements, but would work nicely in side or eyebrow windows.

Several modern cars have a film heating element in the windscreen nowadays,(mainly Ford in UK I think) and the GPS signal is greatly attenuated. Answers here, include either chucking it in the glovebox, which seems to work, or a discrete external aerial. (I use a Fortuna clip on and have been very surprised how well it keeps lock)

I really would check the advisability of using when airborne though...

Conan

[Goldfinger]

I'm aware of the issues surrounding using the pda/gps as a reference for navigational purposes.

Thanks for the info.

Goldfinger

[Conan the Librarian]

Yhen trust me - you wil have no problems at all with the side windows :-)

Conan