Portable GPS - Garmin or Bendix King

[FlyingOfficerKite]

I'm considering buying a portable GPS system, unsure of the best one to buy.

Garmin Aera 500 and Bendix King AV80R are the two main contenders at the moment.

Which would you suggest as both seem comparable, with the Bendix King having the (advantage) of a multimedia function?

Any opinions would be appreciated.

[Dave Gittins]

get a Wifi + 3G iPad and use Skydemon. Also has the option of different Apps for road, boat and Foreflight for the USA.


plus you can get subscriptions to read your favourite flying mags and books on it.

DGG

[pplal]

I have the av8tor and find it just fine to use and understand . The screen is a good size and it does exactly what it says it will do . I bought it as it was at about 40% of its usual price off a uk website .
But if I hadn't spent the money and coul do it again I'd save a little bit more and get the sky demon package . It is a fantastic tool which is very easy to use . A friend I fly with has one and it really is one of the best setups iv seen .
Try get a look at all there is to offer before u commit to a buy so you don't end up settling for second best like me. Havin said all that , it's down to personal choice !

[FlyingOfficerKite]

Hi Dave

Yes, that's an option, thanks - I had considered an iPad, but wasn't sure how it compared to a dedicated portable GPS unit?

pplal

Yes, that's my fear - settling for something that isn't quite right for my purposes.

[dublinpilot]

If you have an Apple or Android phone for tablet, then initially you should try the totally free UK AirspaceAVOID.

It's totally free, airspace and aerodata is constantly updated and the app[ is NATS approved.

However it doesn't do flight planning...it just warns you if you are about to enter airspace.

If you want to do something more on your phone (or better iPad or Tablet) try EasyVFR by PocketFMS. It costs €150 per year for an all in licence (maps, NOTAMs, advanced weather forecasts + METAR & TAF) and unlimited free flight plan filing which you can use on all of your devices (Android, iOS, PC). Or you can purchase a licence that is restricted to one operating system for €69.99.

If you are sure that you want to choose just one of the two mentioned in the begining, I'd go with a Garmin device.

dp

[FlyingOfficerKite]

Thanks dublinpilot

The Garmin was my first choice to be honest.

I use Apple computers generally and when I started to think about a device before Christmas an iPad was going to be my first choice, however I wasn't sure just how it would compare with a bespoke GPS unit. First choice now because flight planning/GPS navigation would be only a small part of its overall capability and usefulness.

I've just visited the SkyDemon website and see what you mean.

A couple of years ago I attended an instructor seminar and I considered the best thing to come out of the course (along with many other good things) was when someone told me about SkyDemon in the first place.

Looks like I might stick with my initial instincts and look at an iPad - or iPad Air?

Next questions:

- how much data do you use (say, per hour on average) and what internet sim package would be preferable with an iPad?

- is one service provider better than the next when aviating as opposed to 'normal' terrestrial use?

[flybymike]

Ok it's more expensive, but I have both.
Garmin for rock solid engineering and GPS reliability, stuck on the side window, and Ipad with SD for functionality and planning on the yoke.

[Katamarino]

I'm a huge fan of my Aera 550 (have now added a GDL-39 as well, so I get free ADS-B weather displayed on the map). I've flown with the 550 across the whole of the USA, and also through much of Europe and most of Africa and it has been rock solid the entire time. The terrain feature is particularly good in places like Africa where VFR charts are pretty non-existent.

[flybymike]

You don't need a sim card for flying with an Ipad, just the Ipad version which takes a sim card and has GPS built in (I use Ipad 2 with 3G )
All my planning is then done using Wifi, and flying done using GPS only.
If you do have a SIM card fitted then (theoretically) you could update weather and a Notams etc whilst en route

[FlyingOfficerKite]

flybymike

Thanks for the info - I'm new to this as you no doubt can tell!!!

A colleague has just shown me the different specs for WiFi and WiFi plus cellular and that shows the GPS capability on the latter.

I appreciate you stated that having two devices in more expensive, but why do you not just use the iPad? Is it because of issues with reliability of the GPS within the iPad?

[flybymike]

GPS reliability has been a controversial issue on the Ipad. Personally I only ever once lost a signal when I had a cover fitted to the ipad and not since I removed it for flying
Others have had trouble with the Ipad overheating and switching off, I haven't had that problem but with the unit on the yoke rather than on the screen and thus away from direct sunlight this is less likely,

Many use a separate GPS receiver to back up the one in the Ipad. Ie connected by blue tooth or plugged in to the socket of the ipad

[FlyingOfficerKite]

flybymike

Thanks for all the info.

I see no way to beat your set up?!

Although I don't want to rush in, having read the above comments (thanks Guys) I think I'll go for an iPad Mini and the SkyDemon option (SkyDemon recommend the iPad Mini for use with their software). It will only be used for recreational flying in any event and the iPad has the flexibility to be used for the other purposes for which tablets are so useful.

Although the initial subscription to SkyDemon is relatively high, I won't have the cost of a monthly sim card - and the combination of iPad Mini and SkyDemon subscription will be comparable to the cost of a portable GPS device in any event.

Cheers

[flybymike]

Indeed. I should have said I do use an ipad mini myself ( I had forgotten that I stopped using the full size ipad when the mini came out) the mini is perfect for yoke mounting or indeed anywhere else.
Regarding the relatively high initial subscription to SD, this is largely off set for me by no longer having to buy a whole load of charts which are rapidly out of date, and by no longer having to subscribe to Navbox and Avbrief etc.

[Desert185]

Hardly use my Garmin 296 anymore. Whether in the jets at flight levels or in the spam can flying in the mountains, the iPad with Foreflight can't be beat. Get to where you're going...use the iPad instead of a laptop or Kindle reader, or whatever. The iPad does it all...and as Mad_Jock recommends, you can use it to scrape the ice off the windshield.

WiFi + cellular, 64GB recommended. I use a Bad Elf GPS Pro bluetooth antenna, as the highwing sometimes blanks the iPad's GPS reception, especially at higher latitudes. It lasts a long time and drives something like five devices. The perfect combination.

[SEP Flyer]

I've been using an iPad mini for a year now, as do a number at our club. I use the RunwayHD software from Airbox, as it uses the same 1/2 mil and 1/4 mil maps that we're used to, it includes the Aware style airspace warnings and it is simplicity itself to use. Very similar to SkyDemon, I just prefer the maps and airspace warning feature (has been very useful when navigating around busy London airspace). Others in the club also use AirNav Pro on their iPads and a few of us have Runway HD. I only ever fly VFR, no idea what you would need for IFR.

I prefer the iPad mini for size - I strap it to my knee - and I've never had a GPS drop out. Also never had a problem with battery life or sun glare. My iPad is the 3g version, so it's GPS receiver is built in, although I don't use a sim card.

I bought it primarily for flying, but now use it for loads of other things. Great for reading or watching tv/films on as well, especially when waiting at an airport! I love it!

[rans6andrew]

I bought the AV80R after they had been on sale for a while and I thought they had been about for long enough for any issues to have been either common knowledge or fully sorted. I had previously owned a couple of Skymap II's which had given excellent service for over 10 years. When the AV80R was working I found it very good, both in the air and on the ground. It was easy and intuitive to use and did the job. Unfortunately it contrived to go wrong and three times in two years, each time it was returned and replaced under warranty. The faults were always the hardware but no proper reason was given by the maker/dealer. In the end I lost confidence in the units and the dealer was able to secure a full refund from BK. The refund was spent, in the same dealership, on an Aera 500 which I have used more in the air and less on the ground. Three years on it is still giving excellent service. It feels much more robust and fit for purpose than the AV80R and has proved to be just so.

Rans6......

[Ebbie 2003]

I have an AV8OR and find it very good for the very low price I paid for it - around $150 brand new a couple of years back.

That said the Garmin units are clearly more robust, the screen is better and the yoke mount better too.

In addition to the AV8OR I have recently also started using a Samsung Galaxy 3 running the Garmin software - $130 for the tablet and $75 for the software - I use it as a backup in flight (I fly hundred mile plus trips over water and I do like to know exactly where I am) - I also use it for flight planning. The internal GPS works fine - am thinking of adding a Bad Elf external GPS linked to the tablet by Bluetooth.

If you have the cash buy a iPas Mini and an externsl GPS receiver plus the Garmin software - hsve better functionality than Android from what I've seen. I also have my POH and other documents on my tablet - they really are very useful.

[rjtjrt]

I have had an AV8OR, a Garmin Aera 500, and an iPad with an aviation GpS Mapping app. I sold the AV8OR and kept the other 2. iI am happy with that decision - the Garmin is excellent, and the iPad is even better.
I would not get the AV8OR. It has now been discontinued by Bendix King, and the last few units are being sold by dealers. So, much less prospect of long term after sales support in updates, etc.

[Johnm]

I use the GTN 650 on the panel for primary navigation but also have an Aera which has better VFR capability outside CAS e.g Glider sites. I also carry an IPad which I use for flight planning and approach plates via Skydemon which is very good for both IFR and VFR. Those devices and apps that use CAA charts are less useful abroad I think.

[vandereydt]

hi all,
the Skydemon looks very impressive, has anybody experience using it in the Benelux and France/Germany ?

What about Jeppesen Mobile Flite Deck VFR ?

Thx
Ronny