Garmin GPS III
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Chichester, UK
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Garmin GPS III
Without wishing to start the traditional Private Flying GPS flamefest, I've been thinking about picking up a GPS III at some point. Didn't take me long, huh? 
However, I've noticed that the price has dropped several times over the last few months - typical electronic goods behaviour when they're about to get replaced by something new. So anyone know if there's a GPS IV in the pipeline? Or are they just getting cheaper?
Cheers
However, I've noticed that the price has dropped several times over the last few months - typical electronic goods behaviour when they're about to get replaced by something new. So anyone know if there's a GPS IV in the pipeline? Or are they just getting cheaper? Cheers
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: N.E. Derbyshire, UK
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I guess over time, all electronic items get cheaper. When recordable DVD machines first came out, they were circa £1200 but I've now seen them for under £500.
Working in the electronics retail industry, I see the prices plummeting on all such gadgets all the time. DVD players can now be picked up for less than seventy quid.
As for GPS, as new models become available, older ones will probably become cheaper before being phased out. I don't profess to being an expert in GPS, as I've only used mine twice. I think there's already a GPSV but I haven't seen a GPSIV.
I recently picked up a Garmin GPSIII (not the GPSIII Pilot) from an internet auction site (ebay.co.uk) for £204 including postage. Excellent little gadget, although I can see why some people could become overdependent on them if they don't practice basic nav skills too.
I tend to find out the co-ordinates of the places I want to use as waypoints (airfield from a VFR flight guide, and other places from streetmap.co.uk, which is great for precise co-ords). Plug these into the GPS and hey presto! - an easy way to plot a route, keep an eye on ETAs, off-track distances, bearing to waypoint vs current track, altitude and so on.
Working in the electronics retail industry, I see the prices plummeting on all such gadgets all the time. DVD players can now be picked up for less than seventy quid.
As for GPS, as new models become available, older ones will probably become cheaper before being phased out. I don't profess to being an expert in GPS, as I've only used mine twice. I think there's already a GPSV but I haven't seen a GPSIV.
I recently picked up a Garmin GPSIII (not the GPSIII Pilot) from an internet auction site (ebay.co.uk) for £204 including postage. Excellent little gadget, although I can see why some people could become overdependent on them if they don't practice basic nav skills too.
I tend to find out the co-ordinates of the places I want to use as waypoints (airfield from a VFR flight guide, and other places from streetmap.co.uk, which is great for precise co-ords). Plug these into the GPS and hey presto! - an easy way to plot a route, keep an eye on ETAs, off-track distances, bearing to waypoint vs current track, altitude and so on.
Join Date: May 2001
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The GPS 111 is a wonderful bit of kit. But even better if you shell out for FliteStar VFR (the cheap one!) and a cable to connect your GPS to your computer.
Not only can you upload/download all your waypoints but you can also upload your track flown, or walked!
For training, it is fabulous. After an instrument training flight you can upload the track and show a student, on screen with all the navaids shown, exactly how a holding pattern was flown, how an entry was executed etc.
I don't know why this isn't used more in training.
But on the subject of new models, there is a new GPS 196 replacing the 195. It looks very similar to the 111 but with a larger screen, and it has a few add ons (quite a lot actually!). But it costs around $1,050. Go for a 111 !!
Not only can you upload/download all your waypoints but you can also upload your track flown, or walked!
For training, it is fabulous. After an instrument training flight you can upload the track and show a student, on screen with all the navaids shown, exactly how a holding pattern was flown, how an entry was executed etc.
I don't know why this isn't used more in training.
But on the subject of new models, there is a new GPS 196 replacing the 195. It looks very similar to the 111 but with a larger screen, and it has a few add ons (quite a lot actually!). But it costs around $1,050. Go for a 111 !!
I bought one second hand off a PPL who found he didn't use it very much - £200 I think.
It recently stopped functioning. Sent it off to Garmin who have agreed I can have a brand new one off them for £94. Which is OK as it was a 5+ year old unit.
The new database is worth that.
A very capable unit, can't see why you'd need more funcionality. GPS debrief is an excellent aid to flying instruction, particularly IF work.
WWW
It recently stopped functioning. Sent it off to Garmin who have agreed I can have a brand new one off them for £94. Which is OK as it was a 5+ year old unit.
The new database is worth that.
A very capable unit, can't see why you'd need more funcionality. GPS debrief is an excellent aid to flying instruction, particularly IF work.
WWW
Join Date: Jul 2002
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GPS's are fantastic bit of kit and have made flying far more civilised and for those who use them inconjuction with a chart have made it safer.
I'm sure there have been plenty of people banging on about how you shouldn't rely upon them and they are absolutely right. I lost a signal in a brand new 172 in IMC on an ifr fp, luckily I was only realy using it for DME but it was part of the avionics kit ie external ariel, it was back to the old watch and crossfixes but I was a little supprised at the time.
Anyway as far as them coming down in price I have found the opposite as far as the pilotIII is concerned, they are more expensive now than when I bought mine a few years ago.
I think the real bargin is the Garmin 95 (at least I think that's the model, it's the one they have also put into a transiever). It's got all the nav functions you really need but at least £100 cheaper. I was a little miffed when a friend bought one and after using it found it to be more than adequate.
I don't know about a pilot IV but there have been atleast two models since that appear loosely based around the pilotIII both bigger and flashier but as far as I am concerned the only way I could improve mine would be a guarantee that it would never lose signal and it was idiot proof and that ain't going to happen.
They are a great trainning tool as well for the reasons already mentioned but don't let the so called purists put you off buying one, you are not cheating and if everyone had taken their attitude we'd all still be navigating by beacon fires. Just use it sensibly.
I'm sure there have been plenty of people banging on about how you shouldn't rely upon them and they are absolutely right. I lost a signal in a brand new 172 in IMC on an ifr fp, luckily I was only realy using it for DME but it was part of the avionics kit ie external ariel, it was back to the old watch and crossfixes but I was a little supprised at the time.
Anyway as far as them coming down in price I have found the opposite as far as the pilotIII is concerned, they are more expensive now than when I bought mine a few years ago.
I think the real bargin is the Garmin 95 (at least I think that's the model, it's the one they have also put into a transiever). It's got all the nav functions you really need but at least £100 cheaper. I was a little miffed when a friend bought one and after using it found it to be more than adequate.
I don't know about a pilot IV but there have been atleast two models since that appear loosely based around the pilotIII both bigger and flashier but as far as I am concerned the only way I could improve mine would be a guarantee that it would never lose signal and it was idiot proof and that ain't going to happen.
They are a great trainning tool as well for the reasons already mentioned but don't let the so called purists put you off buying one, you are not cheating and if everyone had taken their attitude we'd all still be navigating by beacon fires. Just use it sensibly.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
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gps
the garmin 196 is selling new acc. included in the usa 880$,it gives you an instrument panel and can save your life,thats the main reason that the 195 can go for about 450$ used,garmin 3 is history.
