Airbox nav unit?
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Well, I've been using my good old Garmin 296 for over four years now, and it's been perfect. I particularly like the battery life, which is still well over 6 hours even after four years (I do, however, always have a fully charged spare with me just in case.....)
I quite like the idea of having the 1:500000 charts on the plotter screen, and some of the new units do look good, but with it's terrain page, and the Jeppeson charts, I find the 296 just the job, and should it die, the 495 will defo be it's replacement!..
I quite like the idea of having the 1:500000 charts on the plotter screen, and some of the new units do look good, but with it's terrain page, and the Jeppeson charts, I find the 296 just the job, and should it die, the 495 will defo be it's replacement!..
Join Date: Jun 2003
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How much extra are the Jepp VFR/GPS charts on this product, and can it do a continuous (many hours) GPS log of one's track which can be downloaded?
What sort of temperature rise does the unit have? This can be an extra issue at high altitude where the air is thinner (500mb at FL180).
My ls800 tablet tends to be used mainly to run the Euro GPS charts, for curiosity / emergency.
What sort of temperature rise does the unit have? This can be an extra issue at high altitude where the air is thinner (500mb at FL180).
My ls800 tablet tends to be used mainly to run the Euro GPS charts, for curiosity / emergency.
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How much extra are the Jepp VFR/GPS charts on this product, and can it do a continuous (many hours) GPS log of one's track which can be downloaded?
What sort of temperature rise does the unit have? This can be an extra issue at high altitude where the air is thinner (500mb at FL180).
My ls800 tablet tends to be used mainly to run the Euro GPS charts, for curiosity / emergency.
What sort of temperature rise does the unit have? This can be an extra issue at high altitude where the air is thinner (500mb at FL180).
My ls800 tablet tends to be used mainly to run the Euro GPS charts, for curiosity / emergency.
id like to know if it can log your flight too for later download, anyone with either of these products lilke to confirm?
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Yes both devices (airbox and Adventurer) are perfect. But what a strange thing, aircraft can travel, and sometimes, they fly outside UK....
Last edited by ILblog; 9th Nov 2009 at 20:01.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Adventurer Pilot 7000
Has anyone got any hands-on experience with the new Memory Map GPS? I think it is being reviewed in next month's flyer magazine. Also curious as to how useful the flight planning software is. Looks good value for a 7-inch screen with CAA maps included.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Rubbish...
I bought the 'Pilot 7000' and returned it for a refund 3 days later.
I would describe this item as 'not fit for purpose'.
The battery life is appalling - no-where near the 1.5-2 hours specified. It had given up and shut down in less than 1 hour after a full charge.
There is no yoke or knee mount provided, and the supplied car sucker mount wouldn't stick to the curved window in the Cessna's I fly, besides it would block out too much external view that it would be dangerous on the screen. I tried it sitting on my knee, but the viewing angle of the screen made it hard to view at that angle.
In aviation mode it frequently errors on start-up about the GPS, but then starts ok other times. Position-fix is slooow.
The user interface is very limited. The 'find' function doesn't find anything (can't search for aerodromes), there is no ability to divert to another airfield, because you can't search for one.
The tiny on-screen keyboard is so small that I can't use it sitting still at home, never mind in a vibrating cockpit (it's about 8cm x 3cm in size, each key being about 4mm across). There is no stylus supplied.
The method to add waypoints is clunky, and editing or deleting them is even more so.
The (x) buttons to close windows are far too small, and difficult to use with finger presses, especially as they are located at the top right of the screen, next to the plastic screen surround. Information pop-up windows are not fixed, so in the attempt to hit the (x) button to close them often causes them to slide off the screen!
The supplied PC software refuses to talk directly to the GPS device, and says 'Failed to connect', so routes planned there aren't transferred to the GPS unit. The only work-around I found was to put the SD card into a card reader and save a route to it, then open that on the GPS.
The search in the software doesn't find any results either.
There are few instructions, and having read through the ones within the software it is very general, and doesn't seem to cover much.
Removing the power cable in any mode causes the GPS to shutdown in 20 seconds if you don't press a button. When it comes on again it then has to start again and re-find the GPS signal. Power cables into cigarette sockets *do* get intermittently moved while driving & flying, this is really annoying.
For a unit costing as much as this I expected far more. I get the impression than this product has been rushed to the market, and is really still in the development stage.
The car navigation functionality is basic, nothing like as good as even the cheapest TomTom model. On start-up it asks you if you're in a car or caravan (as it avoids low bridges and narrow roads in caravan mode) but this soon gets annoying as there is no way to get it to default to 'car' every time without asking.
The built-in TV and radio functionality did not find any stations at all with the built-in aerial. I didn't bother unwrapping the supplied external one as the decision had been made by that point!
So, I'm now considering one of the Airbox units, probably the Clarity as I'd prefer CAA type charts. Any reason NOT to buy this model?
I would describe this item as 'not fit for purpose'.
The battery life is appalling - no-where near the 1.5-2 hours specified. It had given up and shut down in less than 1 hour after a full charge.
There is no yoke or knee mount provided, and the supplied car sucker mount wouldn't stick to the curved window in the Cessna's I fly, besides it would block out too much external view that it would be dangerous on the screen. I tried it sitting on my knee, but the viewing angle of the screen made it hard to view at that angle.
In aviation mode it frequently errors on start-up about the GPS, but then starts ok other times. Position-fix is slooow.
The user interface is very limited. The 'find' function doesn't find anything (can't search for aerodromes), there is no ability to divert to another airfield, because you can't search for one.
The tiny on-screen keyboard is so small that I can't use it sitting still at home, never mind in a vibrating cockpit (it's about 8cm x 3cm in size, each key being about 4mm across). There is no stylus supplied.
The method to add waypoints is clunky, and editing or deleting them is even more so.
The (x) buttons to close windows are far too small, and difficult to use with finger presses, especially as they are located at the top right of the screen, next to the plastic screen surround. Information pop-up windows are not fixed, so in the attempt to hit the (x) button to close them often causes them to slide off the screen!
The supplied PC software refuses to talk directly to the GPS device, and says 'Failed to connect', so routes planned there aren't transferred to the GPS unit. The only work-around I found was to put the SD card into a card reader and save a route to it, then open that on the GPS.
The search in the software doesn't find any results either.
There are few instructions, and having read through the ones within the software it is very general, and doesn't seem to cover much.
Removing the power cable in any mode causes the GPS to shutdown in 20 seconds if you don't press a button. When it comes on again it then has to start again and re-find the GPS signal. Power cables into cigarette sockets *do* get intermittently moved while driving & flying, this is really annoying.
For a unit costing as much as this I expected far more. I get the impression than this product has been rushed to the market, and is really still in the development stage.
The car navigation functionality is basic, nothing like as good as even the cheapest TomTom model. On start-up it asks you if you're in a car or caravan (as it avoids low bridges and narrow roads in caravan mode) but this soon gets annoying as there is no way to get it to default to 'car' every time without asking.
The built-in TV and radio functionality did not find any stations at all with the built-in aerial. I didn't bother unwrapping the supplied external one as the decision had been made by that point!
So, I'm now considering one of the Airbox units, probably the Clarity as I'd prefer CAA type charts. Any reason NOT to buy this model?
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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I think they are updating it to include NOTAMS and worldwide/european cover soon too.
This is the model I am looking at buying.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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First experience with the Airbox Clarity is good. The screen resolution is pin sharp and you have a choice of 1:500 and 1:250 maps.
The planning software is a beta release and very very basic. Also it doesn't let you download your flight track yet - but I understand it is under development. I got mine in a special offer which included a PowerMonkey, but even without recharging the battery lasts almost 3 hours (if screen input is minimal).
I have my unit secured to my kneeboard where it fits very nicely.
The planning software is a beta release and very very basic. Also it doesn't let you download your flight track yet - but I understand it is under development. I got mine in a special offer which included a PowerMonkey, but even without recharging the battery lasts almost 3 hours (if screen input is minimal).
I have my unit secured to my kneeboard where it fits very nicely.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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I also bought the Clarity in the end. I've flown with it a few times now, very good.
I bought the optional yoke mount, which is fairly heavy-duty and grips well.
I've *not* got the 1:250 maps though - were they thrown in with the deal you bought or purchased seperately?
I've spoken with their support people several times about their development road map and my 'wish list', and found them helpful.
I bought the optional yoke mount, which is fairly heavy-duty and grips well.
I've *not* got the 1:250 maps though - were they thrown in with the deal you bought or purchased seperately?
I've spoken with their support people several times about their development road map and my 'wish list', and found them helpful.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Quikstop,
Could you confirm you mean the £600 version and not the NATS one?
I'm a bit surprised about your comment on the nav function - I'm thinking about getting the 'expensive' version but not if the nav is not up to scratch. The obvious alternative is the Garmin Aera 500.
Could you confirm you mean the £600 version and not the NATS one?
I'm a bit surprised about your comment on the nav function - I'm thinking about getting the 'expensive' version but not if the nav is not up to scratch. The obvious alternative is the Garmin Aera 500.
Join Date: Apr 2009
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he's referring to the PC planning software that comes with each Clarity - it's nowout of beta testing but will have many features added to it as free updates over the year eg weather/NOTAMs etc.
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Indeed it is the Clarity - it was on special offer with both sets of maps and a powermonkey.
A nice touch with the planning software is the Google Earth simulation of the flight with an airspace overlay. My version doesn't calculate headings etc yet - just shows the track.
Intrigued to know how the weather/Notams will work. Will this be after sync-ing the device on a PC?
A nice touch with the planning software is the Google Earth simulation of the flight with an airspace overlay. My version doesn't calculate headings etc yet - just shows the track.
Intrigued to know how the weather/Notams will work. Will this be after sync-ing the device on a PC?
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Also note the Clarity will will work with the new Euro GPS when it comes online,
"The Clarity will be able to use Galileo when it becomes available. We obviously haven’t been able to test it ourselves, but the chip is a SIRF III+, which are supposed to work seamlessly with Gallileo."
"The Clarity will be able to use Galileo when it becomes available. We obviously haven’t been able to test it ourselves, but the chip is a SIRF III+, which are supposed to work seamlessly with Gallileo."
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Same here...
I bought one of these Adventurer Pilot 7000's and agree with all your comments. Mine failed to pick up any satellites in car or aviation modes, to be fair they changed it for another one very swiftly, the replacement worked once....
Flightstores were very good about changing it.
Back to Garmin we go, don't think the unit is ready for sale yet and I certainly wouldn't want to depend on it for airborne navigation.
Flightstores were very good about changing it.
Back to Garmin we go, don't think the unit is ready for sale yet and I certainly wouldn't want to depend on it for airborne navigation.