Garmin Aera 500
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Garmin Aera 500
Folks I know this portable GPS is really new to the market but does anyone have experience of it yet? specifically are the main aviation features (moving map etc) just a 296/ 496 repackaged?
Garmin aera 500 GPS @ Flightstore Pilot Supplies
Thanks in advance
Garmin aera 500 GPS @ Flightstore Pilot Supplies
Thanks in advance
If you go to Garmin | Manuals you can download the user manual.
To me it looks like a very nice piece of kit. A few things which I would prefer to be different:
1. In aviation mode, the 'reference point' cannot be fixed to a user waypoint, only to a 'nearest' waypoint (VOR, NDB, aerodrome etc). Being able to keep brg and rng to a user waypoint was a very useful feature of the GNC250, for example.
2. In automotive mode, there's no on-screen compass needle.
3. Quite surprisingly, given the price, the aera500 doesn't include FM-based TMC traffic receiver support - you have to pay another £400 for the aera550 to get that included.
With the way Garmin upgrade their systems every other month, or so it seems, I wouldn't be surprised to see an aera600-series before too long.
To me it looks like a very nice piece of kit. A few things which I would prefer to be different:
1. In aviation mode, the 'reference point' cannot be fixed to a user waypoint, only to a 'nearest' waypoint (VOR, NDB, aerodrome etc). Being able to keep brg and rng to a user waypoint was a very useful feature of the GNC250, for example.
2. In automotive mode, there's no on-screen compass needle.
3. Quite surprisingly, given the price, the aera500 doesn't include FM-based TMC traffic receiver support - you have to pay another £400 for the aera550 to get that included.
With the way Garmin upgrade their systems every other month, or so it seems, I wouldn't be surprised to see an aera600-series before too long.
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Thanks for the link BEagle - i'll check it out. I don't have any experience of previous Garmin products however, really I was just asking the question to help Santa decide between an Aera 500 and an AV80R. I don't want him spending his hard earned on a Garmin if the software behind it is more 'turn of the century' than its competitor!
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No experience of the Garmin Aera unit (which I appreciate is unhelpful) but recently bought an AV80R and it is the dogs dangalies as far as I'm concerned.
For ease of use, data entry, situation awareness it was streets ahead of a Garmin 296 we had with us, and a 250XL mounted on the panel.
Dunno if its the same navigation database in the Aera/296, but the AV80R had more towns and VRPs than the 296 database - may be worth checking. And annual airspace/road map updates are very cheap, off the top of my head it's £36 for a year cycle. Battery life is about 2 hours, I think the garmin boasts 5? But I've got mine plugged into ship's power anyway.
Another thing I like about the AV is that it has a physical wheel based volume control for the road GPS, and the GPS direction callouts are prefixed by a nice "cabin crew" boink.
One think I would have liked on the AV80R is the Garmin style overlaid compass "rose" semi-circle, to get a quick reference on a heading, but it's not really that necessary when you're using the GPS as a backup to the steam gauges anyway.
But the best advice is to get to an aviation shop - stick em both in demo mode and see which you like best.
Also note that as mentioned in another thread, the "Nats" Aware device is going to be out in the new year for much cheapness - CAA moving maps for £149, and some flight planning goodness for £249. It's basically a cut-down Airbox Clarity (which makes you wonder if anyone's going to by a clarity ever again), but for £149 for a moving map, you can't argue.
But the Garmin looks good. When I bought the AV80R it was that or a Clarity, but I find the CAA charts cluttered and prefer the AV80R's display. Had the Garmin been on the scene I may well have gone for that.
If you have any questions about the AV80R feel free to drop me a line. I carry it with me everywhere at the moment so can easily pop it on if you want to know something specific.
For ease of use, data entry, situation awareness it was streets ahead of a Garmin 296 we had with us, and a 250XL mounted on the panel.
Dunno if its the same navigation database in the Aera/296, but the AV80R had more towns and VRPs than the 296 database - may be worth checking. And annual airspace/road map updates are very cheap, off the top of my head it's £36 for a year cycle. Battery life is about 2 hours, I think the garmin boasts 5? But I've got mine plugged into ship's power anyway.
Another thing I like about the AV is that it has a physical wheel based volume control for the road GPS, and the GPS direction callouts are prefixed by a nice "cabin crew" boink.
One think I would have liked on the AV80R is the Garmin style overlaid compass "rose" semi-circle, to get a quick reference on a heading, but it's not really that necessary when you're using the GPS as a backup to the steam gauges anyway.
But the best advice is to get to an aviation shop - stick em both in demo mode and see which you like best.
Also note that as mentioned in another thread, the "Nats" Aware device is going to be out in the new year for much cheapness - CAA moving maps for £149, and some flight planning goodness for £249. It's basically a cut-down Airbox Clarity (which makes you wonder if anyone's going to by a clarity ever again), but for £149 for a moving map, you can't argue.
But the Garmin looks good. When I bought the AV80R it was that or a Clarity, but I find the CAA charts cluttered and prefer the AV80R's display. Had the Garmin been on the scene I may well have gone for that.
If you have any questions about the AV80R feel free to drop me a line. I carry it with me everywhere at the moment so can easily pop it on if you want to know something specific.
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Slopey, quick question for you, can the AV8OR be powered via a power gorrila/monkey portable source, rather than ships power? Or is it only that or the internal battery?
Cheers
WBV
Cheers
WBV
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Any portable GPS with a lead to an external power source may be powered from any external power source (typically within the 10v to 28v DC range) as well as the aircraft power. Eg power guerilla /monkey, sealed lead acid battery, L/ion battery etc . I personally use a 12v 7ah SLA which is completely portable, lasts many hours longer than other options, is reasonably compact (if weighty) and is as cheap as chips to buy and without the (alleged) fire risk associated with L/ion types
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The AV8ER is running on Windows CE, and is having stability problems. They choose Windows CE because it speeded up development. I would avoid the AV8ER.
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Yes - you can power it from an external source - a "power monkey" or ships power, rather than the battery if you want - there's a DC input jack socket on the right hand side of the unit. It's supplied with both a mains adapter and a 12v "cigarette lighter" adapter in the box.
Sternone - Do you actually own one? it's the AV80R not AV8ER, and I've had no problems with my unit - works flawlessly.
Sternone - Do you actually own one? it's the AV80R not AV8ER, and I've had no problems with my unit - works flawlessly.
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Cheers for the replies, wasn't sure about the av8or as the chap showing me the area 500 the other week implied you couldn't power the 500 from anything other than the included cable, adaptor wise, or the battery itself. Thanks for the info!
WBV
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It's a standard DC input so you can power it off anything pretty much. The connector is standard so no proprietary connectors or cables.
That was another reason for me to go with the AV80R as I like having everything USB. The AV also charges from the USB port so you can charge it up while you have it plugged into a computer/laptop without needing an external adaptor/charger.
I think the Aera is USB also, but it does have a proprietary connector on the back of the unit - be worth asking if you need that for charging/downloading/connecting to a computer or if it has a mini-USB port onboard you can use. Garmin seem to love proprietary connectors, so it'd be worth checking what the connection/charging options are.
That was another reason for me to go with the AV80R as I like having everything USB. The AV also charges from the USB port so you can charge it up while you have it plugged into a computer/laptop without needing an external adaptor/charger.
I think the Aera is USB also, but it does have a proprietary connector on the back of the unit - be worth asking if you need that for charging/downloading/connecting to a computer or if it has a mini-USB port onboard you can use. Garmin seem to love proprietary connectors, so it'd be worth checking what the connection/charging options are.
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Thanks folks for all the replies
£36 per year does seem rather good value for all the database updates - Does anyone know haw much Garmin charge for their updates?
AV80R is looking pretty good I must say - shame transair/ flightstore etc. aren't on Quidco!
Off to search for the thread about the £149 moving map GPS............
cheers
£36 per year does seem rather good value for all the database updates - Does anyone know haw much Garmin charge for their updates?
AV80R is looking pretty good I must say - shame transair/ flightstore etc. aren't on Quidco!
Off to search for the thread about the £149 moving map GPS............
cheers
£36 per year does seem rather good value for all the database updates - Does anyone know haw much Garmin charge for their updates?
The Garmin database is Jeppesen, updated monthly, update as often as you feel necessary for a VFR piece of kit.
You get one free update code with any Garmin aviation unit - it's supposed to take care of the fact that the unit has probably been in the box for over 28 days when you buy it so you get a totally up-to-date unit, but you can keep the issue database for a year and then update.
The Bendix AV8OR is on the same system - you only get one update for your £36, not a year's worth.
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christmas sales
Just wondering if anyone thinks it'll be worthwhile waiting until after christmas to buy one. Are garmin known to have a price drop in the new year?
Also, has anyone compared the 500 to the 550, is the enhanced detail or the faster 9 sec are worth the extra £500?
Also, has anyone compared the 500 to the 550, is the enhanced detail or the faster 9 sec are worth the extra £500?
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There is a review of the Aera in the Dec issue of the US AOPA magazine. They like it.
One has to say however that that mag, and the US Flying mag, rarely write anything critical on anything.
The user interface is said to be significantly changed (improved) on the Garmin x96 units, which I think are really poorly designed (I have a 496).
One has to say however that that mag, and the US Flying mag, rarely write anything critical on anything.
The user interface is said to be significantly changed (improved) on the Garmin x96 units, which I think are really poorly designed (I have a 496).
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No airways on the AV80R, but it is really a VFR unit. When it boots there is reference made to a custom database, so it may well be possible to add them. The AV80R Ace appears to have IFR airways.
As regards map updates, I got the first database update free, and I was $35 for an additonal 6th month sub.
Software updates are free afaik, and the last one added runway centerlines and some other goodies.
As regards map updates, I got the first database update free, and I was $35 for an additonal 6th month sub.
Software updates are free afaik, and the last one added runway centerlines and some other goodies.
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Just wondering if anyone thinks it'll be worthwhile waiting until after christmas to buy one. Are garmin known to have a price drop in the new year?
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Garmin Aera 500 £600 price mark
I chose the aera because of the comprehensive obstacles and airspace(including airways), it's touchscreen and because it's durable. Sure there are pocket pc's which have more features at a fraction of the price but what happens if you get caught out in the rain? The aera like its sibling is waterproof, everything is sealed and the garmin build quality is flawless. I ruled out the Av80r as it didn't have airways and is strictly a vfr unit, otherwise it would prob have been a better choice.
The touchscreen really makes this intuitive to use, it only takes a couple of minutes before you feel at home with it. I was creating flight plans and had the unit configured exactly to my preferences by my first flight! It's definitely a step up from the bulky and awkward to use 496.
The battery life is poor at only 5 hours when compared to the 96c with 40hour battery life and uses double A's. I've flown many aircraft where the engineer has made the cigarette lighter u/s because it plays havoc with the electric supply.
The bluetooth is for auto mode only. This means that you can't connect it wirelessly to a zulu headset for terrain warnings or music. It works well as a handsfree kit in your car. The auto mode is identical to a nuvi to so it works well. Garmin include the full european maps with the aera, more than I need but a quick search on google shows worldwide coverage readily available and free from some sites
On a final note, I have to mention that searching on the aera is a little awkward. You can search for an identifier or a city, just not at the same time. It's a small niggle but means that search results are limited to the category that you started from. I've also noticed that tap and drag over a large area causes the screen to refresh slowly, I wonder if the Av80r suffers from these problems?
The touchscreen really makes this intuitive to use, it only takes a couple of minutes before you feel at home with it. I was creating flight plans and had the unit configured exactly to my preferences by my first flight! It's definitely a step up from the bulky and awkward to use 496.
The battery life is poor at only 5 hours when compared to the 96c with 40hour battery life and uses double A's. I've flown many aircraft where the engineer has made the cigarette lighter u/s because it plays havoc with the electric supply.
The bluetooth is for auto mode only. This means that you can't connect it wirelessly to a zulu headset for terrain warnings or music. It works well as a handsfree kit in your car. The auto mode is identical to a nuvi to so it works well. Garmin include the full european maps with the aera, more than I need but a quick search on google shows worldwide coverage readily available and free from some sites
On a final note, I have to mention that searching on the aera is a little awkward. You can search for an identifier or a city, just not at the same time. It's a small niggle but means that search results are limited to the category that you started from. I've also noticed that tap and drag over a large area causes the screen to refresh slowly, I wonder if the Av80r suffers from these problems?
Last edited by oldgooseberry; 8th Jan 2010 at 08:39.
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On a final note, I have to mention that searching on the aera is a little awkward. You can search for an identifier or a city, just not at the same time. It's a small niggle but means that search results are limited to the category that you started from. I've also noticed that tap and drag over a large area causes the screen to refresh slowly, I wonder if the Av80r suffers from these problems?
Tapping and dragging over a large area with the AV80R isn't an issue, the refresh is fast and not noticeable.
How does the Aera work with the triple As? Does it charge them if they're rechargeable, or does it have a separate internal battery? The battery life of the AV80R is much worse than the Aera with about 2 hours, so for longer trips you need a 12v supply. But it uses very cheap Nokia phone batteries - I found a few on Amazon for 2 quid each so they are handy standbys if needed.
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The default search is "search by identifier", this restricts results to identifier only. "Search by facility name" gives navaids and sometimes those results include the airport but not always, try searching for Aberdeen or London and you'll see what I mean.
the aera doesn't use standard batteries, the garmin 96c uses two double a's.
the aera doesn't use standard batteries, the garmin 96c uses two double a's.