gps AV80R
I am very happy with mine. The screen is very easy to read, although sometimes if you don't touch the screen just right you enter the Pointer edit mode, instead of the zoom in/zoom out mode which can be annoying. I tend not to trust the GPS altitude readouts though - they appear a bit random, but the rest is spot on.
The terrain smart profile is very handy, especially near "A" or "D" CAS, and the ability to export your latest flight log into Google Earth is fantastic - an excellent way to see how accurate one's circuits are, especially in cross wind conditions.
Excellent screen refresh, and if you use low backlight the battery can last for up to 3 hours, but in brightish sunlight, with the backlight on, probably just over 1 hour. However you can buy spare batteries at £3.90 each from Amazon as it uses the same as some Nokia phones (Nokia BL-4C battery cell)
I haven't yet done a database update, but I have updated the software via their website. No problems there.
The GoDrive function is also very good. I have personally gone for the lovely Australian lady's voice.
The terrain smart profile is very handy, especially near "A" or "D" CAS, and the ability to export your latest flight log into Google Earth is fantastic - an excellent way to see how accurate one's circuits are, especially in cross wind conditions.
Excellent screen refresh, and if you use low backlight the battery can last for up to 3 hours, but in brightish sunlight, with the backlight on, probably just over 1 hour. However you can buy spare batteries at £3.90 each from Amazon as it uses the same as some Nokia phones (Nokia BL-4C battery cell)
I haven't yet done a database update, but I have updated the software via their website. No problems there.
The GoDrive function is also very good. I have personally gone for the lovely Australian lady's voice.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NZ
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Help! Lost AV80R files..
Argh.. I was playing and fiddling with some map files on the AV80R, and accidentally overwrote a couple of files with the new Pacific map DB that has just come out!
I didn't make a backup .. does anyone mind send me a few files off their SD card... so I can recover.. and get the unit booting up again.
I need:
Database.dat and
terrain.bin (both found under the GOFLY folder somewhere)
If you can email me them (they are small), let me know!
Thanks!!
I didn't make a backup .. does anyone mind send me a few files off their SD card... so I can recover.. and get the unit booting up again.
I need:
Database.dat and
terrain.bin (both found under the GOFLY folder somewhere)
If you can email me them (they are small), let me know!
Thanks!!
Last edited by macwolf; 17th Apr 2009 at 00:53.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: New Zealand
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Can anyone answer me this:
If I was to buy the Pacific version (I currently fly in Australia), then moved to the US, and wanted to buy the Americas database, how much would that set me back?
Also, what capacity SD card will the AV8OR support? Just how much of my own media can I fit on there? Can I buy a larger SD card, transfer all the system files onto it and then my media? Or is it formatted for BK only?
Regards
If I was to buy the Pacific version (I currently fly in Australia), then moved to the US, and wanted to buy the Americas database, how much would that set me back?
Also, what capacity SD card will the AV8OR support? Just how much of my own media can I fit on there? Can I buy a larger SD card, transfer all the system files onto it and then my media? Or is it formatted for BK only?
Regards
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: north of barlu
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This unit has such a good screen in all light conditions that the gliding community are now starting to produce programs for the unit.
It would seem that it is better for the job than the iPAC based units that have up until now been available.
This was a spin off that surprised the Bendix/King repps at a recent trade show has they ad never considered this application!
It would seem that it is better for the job than the iPAC based units that have up until now been available.
This was a spin off that surprised the Bendix/King repps at a recent trade show has they ad never considered this application!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cambridge, UK
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Not had enough chances to use it, but I am well pleased with mine.
I tried various ways to back up the memory card onto another 4Gb one, but couldnt use any of the copies.
I tried various ways to back up the memory card onto another 4Gb one, but couldnt use any of the copies.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Hello,
I have one that i've aquired yesterday, i have to tell you, its amazing...
However i have a huge problem now, i has doing backup after i've updated everything and it crashed, when i noticed all the GoFly folder was gone, can please somebody send me that folder and everything in it?
This is really important,
Thank you very much,
Nuno Merino
I have one that i've aquired yesterday, i have to tell you, its amazing...
However i have a huge problem now, i has doing backup after i've updated everything and it crashed, when i noticed all the GoFly folder was gone, can please somebody send me that folder and everything in it?
This is really important,
Thank you very much,
Nuno Merino
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: warwickshire
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I've had the AV8TOR for a couple of months, but have taken it back and exchanged it for a 296. I was very unimpressed with the AV8TOR, the battery is a nokia phone battery, whilst the charger is a generic connector which is very flimsy. The 296 by comparison has a good chunky battery and a strong connector for power. I did like the AV8TOR road GPS function, but couldn't rely on it not to crash or go grey screen at the worst time. Im really glad I gave it a go, but really like to 296. The difference is, the 296 feels reliable, and like it has been produced by someone who flies themselves. The AV8TOR feels like a PDA and is about as stable. Andrew
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cheltenham, UK
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Av8or versus 296
Thanks Andrew, that's the truth I needed to hear. I was about to buy a 296, then AFE recommended me to consider the Aviator, and couldn't decide. Do you still maintain what you said before? And is there anything you miss about the Av8or?
Many thanks,
Dave.
Many thanks,
Dave.
I have not had any of the problems highlighted by other posts with my AV8OR. In fact I think its fantastic. I stick it (with the sucker mount) to the lower left hand cockpit window. I power it from a cigarette lighter type fitting on the instrument panel. If you need to use batteries, you can get spare batteries for about £4 each off t'internet. Fly with a couple of fully charged spares and you won't have a problem. The map is clear and easy to read (and in colour), even in direct sunlight. You can drag the map left and right with your finger (or the stylus that comes with the GPS). I've never had drop outs, grey outs or anything. I always know where I am, when I expect to reach my next waypoint, and with the map profile view, I'm very aware if I'm about to bust CAS or embark on some CFIT. All CAS, Danger areas, MATZ's and ATZ's are pre-loaded. Plus when I get home, I plug the AV8OR into my laptop, double-click on the gps log file, and I can see exactly where I flew using Google Earth.
In my club plane we have a Garmin 430 - a nice piece of kit, but I simply cannot get the hang of it, either to programme a flight plan or simply enter a "Direct to". I find "turn big right knob, press little right knob" all very counter intuitive. The AV8OR flight plan only takes a couple of seconds to create, and for a direct track to anywhere is as simple as sticking your finger on the required location on the screen and clicking the "Direct to" icon. Pow! You get track to steer, bearing, distance to WP, groundspeed, ETE, altitude, CDI all within seconds. They've just introduced a winds aloft function - giving wind speed and direction. It even produces 10nm vector lines for the runway you've chosen at your destination airfield.
I think for its price and what it delivers, its a serious contender to be in every cockpit. Plus the included road GPS will tell you how to get to the nearest pub once you've landed in a strange airfield!
In my club plane we have a Garmin 430 - a nice piece of kit, but I simply cannot get the hang of it, either to programme a flight plan or simply enter a "Direct to". I find "turn big right knob, press little right knob" all very counter intuitive. The AV8OR flight plan only takes a couple of seconds to create, and for a direct track to anywhere is as simple as sticking your finger on the required location on the screen and clicking the "Direct to" icon. Pow! You get track to steer, bearing, distance to WP, groundspeed, ETE, altitude, CDI all within seconds. They've just introduced a winds aloft function - giving wind speed and direction. It even produces 10nm vector lines for the runway you've chosen at your destination airfield.
I think for its price and what it delivers, its a serious contender to be in every cockpit. Plus the included road GPS will tell you how to get to the nearest pub once you've landed in a strange airfield!
Last edited by beatnik; 6th Aug 2009 at 20:50.
Join Date: Sep 2003
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The 296 by comparison has a good chunky battery and a strong connector for power.
I´m looking at geting a AV80R myself, is there any good videos on the web of a test of it?
Life's too short for ironing
Join Date: Dec 2001
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This unit has such a good screen in all light conditions
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I got my AV8OR in May and think it's a great bit of kit. First real test was a flight to NE Spain (empuriabrava), a couple of the legs were 3 hours + so just had an alternative power source (battery type thing) plugged in. Never missed a beat, has all the VRP's and reporting points for airfields preset. Its very easy to use, you can put a flight plan in in less than a minute.. all very good.
I bought my AV80R at the beginning of August. Brilliant! It is big enough, just, for the moving map to be properly usable and still small enough to pop in your jacket pocket when you leave the aircraft. I was concerned that the screen might be useless in sunlight under a bubble canopy. I need not have worried, you just have to be sensible and angle the unit so that you don't have the sun/sky reflected in the screen. This is true of monochrome displays as well. My old Skymap II is difficult to read if you set the angle so you can see your white shirt reflected in the display.
The AV80R was supplied with an early version of the operating system and an aviation database from "just after WW2" but when you register the product they give you a free database update to go with the free operating system upgrade which you do on line using the supplied cable. The unit supports flying and driving modes using different programmes.
The flying operation does everything I would want and then some. The driving mode is very complete, even gives spoken warnings when you reach the speed limit on every road in/through our village. Between our village and the next one the speed limit goes from 30 to 40 for approximately 1/4 mile, it even has that programmed correctly. The "route planning" is "interesting" although that may be something that is not set up as I would like in the preferences. I have not fiddled with it but "Er Indoors" played with it when we were out driving. The spoken voice gets louder as the speed increases so that it compensates for the noise of the car nicely.
Unfortunately I am just about to find out how good the after sales service is. I had not used the unit for about 6 weeks and then it failed to boot up the flying mode. The on screen help said to cycle the power, which I did. The unit then booted up but the driving mode was having some problems with places missing from the database and the flying mode has lost ALL of my routes and way points. I played with the unit for about 20 mins before the low battery message came up so low battery was not the cause of the problems. I recharged the battery overnight but the driving database was still corrupt. I popped the battery out for a few mins. On replacing the battery the unit booted up correctly, the driving database now has all of the places back in but the flying side is still missing all of my planning info.
The dealer is talking to Bendix King to see where we go from here. I'll keep you posted.
Rans6Andrew.
The AV80R was supplied with an early version of the operating system and an aviation database from "just after WW2" but when you register the product they give you a free database update to go with the free operating system upgrade which you do on line using the supplied cable. The unit supports flying and driving modes using different programmes.
The flying operation does everything I would want and then some. The driving mode is very complete, even gives spoken warnings when you reach the speed limit on every road in/through our village. Between our village and the next one the speed limit goes from 30 to 40 for approximately 1/4 mile, it even has that programmed correctly. The "route planning" is "interesting" although that may be something that is not set up as I would like in the preferences. I have not fiddled with it but "Er Indoors" played with it when we were out driving. The spoken voice gets louder as the speed increases so that it compensates for the noise of the car nicely.
Unfortunately I am just about to find out how good the after sales service is. I had not used the unit for about 6 weeks and then it failed to boot up the flying mode. The on screen help said to cycle the power, which I did. The unit then booted up but the driving mode was having some problems with places missing from the database and the flying mode has lost ALL of my routes and way points. I played with the unit for about 20 mins before the low battery message came up so low battery was not the cause of the problems. I recharged the battery overnight but the driving database was still corrupt. I popped the battery out for a few mins. On replacing the battery the unit booted up correctly, the driving database now has all of the places back in but the flying side is still missing all of my planning info.
The dealer is talking to Bendix King to see where we go from here. I'll keep you posted.
Rans6Andrew.
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Does the AV8OR display traffic from a Zaon XRX on the map page with map topo etc or on a separate page to normal map page? Garmin 495 has traffic displayed on normal map as well as at same time on a small black square at bottom left of map page with traffic.
John
John
Last edited by rjtjrt; 30th Mar 2010 at 10:17.
Any more user reports on the AV80R?
I thinking of buying one when I come to the UK next week.
I thinking of buying one when I come to the UK next week.
Update to my November posting. Honeywell replaced my faulty AV80R without quibble but took 3 weeks to do it. Everything seemed to be hunky dory with the replacement unit until the middle of March, when it showed exactly the same problem as the previous unit, ie a failure to boot up if the battery is less than fully charged. I returned the unit, in person, to Pooleys, over 5 weeks ago and.........
Apparently, a replacement was authorised some 3 weeks ago but there is no stock holding in the UK part of the supply chain and it is unclear when there will be!
My patience is wearing a bit thin now, the flying season is in full swing etc.
I suggested, this morning, to the European Honeywell rep, that maybe deliveries are on hold until the faults are fixed! I still await a response from him.
So, I have had two units, both showed issues when they were a few months old. I might have been just unlucky..... I do wonder how many units have been sold and how many have the same issues. The dealers are not giving much away. Anyone?
Rans6Andrew.
Apparently, a replacement was authorised some 3 weeks ago but there is no stock holding in the UK part of the supply chain and it is unclear when there will be!
My patience is wearing a bit thin now, the flying season is in full swing etc.
I suggested, this morning, to the European Honeywell rep, that maybe deliveries are on hold until the faults are fixed! I still await a response from him.
So, I have had two units, both showed issues when they were a few months old. I might have been just unlucky..... I do wonder how many units have been sold and how many have the same issues. The dealers are not giving much away. Anyone?
Rans6Andrew.
