Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Non-Airline Forums > Private Flying
Reload this Page >

Weather Radar while airborne with Ipad and Sat Phone?

Wikiposts
Search
Private Flying LAA/BMAA/BGA/BPA The sheer pleasure of flight.

Weather Radar while airborne with Ipad and Sat Phone?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 8th Nov 2012, 08:04
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Age: 63
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Weather Radar while airborne with Ipad and Sat Phone?

I have seen before others getting an active weather radar, TAFS and METARS on their IPAD's by using a wireless router from a Sat Phone.

Has anyone successfully achieved this and can they recommend what Sat Phone, Sat Phone subscription and Weather provider they have found best?

This is for the UK and Europe (No Nexrad)
007helicopter is offline  
Old 8th Nov 2012, 22:33
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 4,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
An iridium access point allows you to connect any wifi client to an iridium phone.

I use a similiar system to provide always on broadband but using a much faster iridium platform but havent used this system in the air - the dome would be too large!

Cirrius effectively use the same system except it is hard wired.
Fuji Abound is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 05:01
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Age: 63
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cirrius effectively use the same system except it is hard wired.
I was looking for a more portable option rather than specific to one aircraft, I know it can be done just trying to figure out best kit and if anyone has proven it.
007helicopter is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 08:04
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 4,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well the first is it. The iridium access point is ver small, as i the phone, that is all you need. Meteox is a good source for the data.
Fuji Abound is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 13:07
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a detailed writeup on my website on using sat phones to get wx data.
peterh337 is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 14:36
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 4,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fuji Abound is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 14:46
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have Iridium improved on their dreadful 2400bit/sec data rate?

It is a complete joke to talk about connecting smartphones etc to wifi like they say. 2.4k is a virtually useless data rate - except for very short emails (plain text, not HTML like most people send these days), no pictures unless trivially small, etc.
peterh337 is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 19:17
  #8 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Age: 63
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have Iridium improved on their dreadful 2400bit/sec data rate?
On the unit I was quoted today ref data speeds, Iridium will give you up to 26kbps throughput when used in combination with the AxcessPoint accessory.

I am no expert what that means but quite committed now to putting what I hope is a usable package together for the ipad and have received some useful info from Pilots doing this quite successfully in Germany.
007helicopter is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 19:22
  #9 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Age: 63
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fuji I was also quoted the exact same phone in the video from 2 different providers, seems to be the current sensible option with the access point.
007helicopter is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 19:46
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 4,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you have been mislead on speeds.

This is well worth a read;

Iridium Bandwidth and Internet Download Speeds/ Support | MailASail

its factual, well written and dispels many of the myths about iridium phones. Unfortunately information of this sort is difficult to come by.

I have recently installed an Iridium Pilot which is an open port Iridium link (but not in an aircraft). The speeds are reasonable and Meteox for example refreshes very quickly, web browsing is possible but akin to the old days of dial up modems. Iridium and Inmarsat supply the only products that provide a service even closely comparable with the data speeds we have been accustom to with land based services.

As PeterH says with some data compression software and given that the Meteox package is pretty small I would have thought the refresh rate would be acceptable, but I will be very interested to hear.

This is a useful emulator before you spend your money.

Sloppy - the slow proxy for dial-up modem speed simulation (slow down)

it will give you a good idea of the refresh speeds you can expect.

For tactical weather avoidance it would make sense to have already downloaded the base maps and just overlay the data.

Some like this I find useful;

Meteox.com Google Maps
Fuji Abound is offline  
Old 9th Nov 2012, 21:39
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you have been mislead on speeds.
Yes; what is being displayed is the RS232 connection speed (PC-phone).

The satellite data is still at just 2.4kbits/sec - the speed of early 1990s modems.

It does work, for the right sort of data.

But that Iridium wifi product will be virtually useless - except if used very carefully by tech-savvy users.
peterh337 is offline  
Old 10th Nov 2012, 05:09
  #12 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Age: 63
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you have been mislead on speeds.

This is well worth a read;
Certainly a complex topic and that's a good link to try and understand it better

But that Iridium wifi product will be virtually useless - except if used very carefully by tech-savvy users.
One potential provider is ok to do a free test on the ground for me once I decide on what app or software to use, and then rent the kit for a day or a week to try it out before purchasing so one way or another I will come to a conclusion if a practical solution can be found.

I have a detailed writeup on my website on using sat phones to get wx data.
Thanks for that, you have certainly experimented with this extensively, for speed of finding here is the direct link to the well written topic.

Airborne Satellite Weather Data
007helicopter is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.