GPS for PPL use.
 

GPS for PPL use.

I am looking to buy a GPS just as a backup. As I plan on doing quite a lot of flying across Europe.

At the moment I am considering The Garmin 196.

I would greatly appreciate your feedback on this matter.

Many Thanks

Nick

Once you have used a 296 you would never want a 196.
You can have mine for £500

Me? The Garmin eTrex Euro (simplest of the range, about 100-130 euros these days), data cable, serial to USB converter, OziExplorer with self-scanned Jeppesen maps on the laptop. I already had this setup before I started flying and it still serves me well.

High end would be a Garmin 496 or 696. Or anything in between. I also heard good stories about Avmap.

What's more important is that you know the device inside out, and know the limitations of your device. And always have a backup plan if the device fails.

I use a Garmin 296. I love it, and would recommend it to anyone. I use it for primary navigation flying around Europe, with a flightplanned chart as secondary. I also use it on my flying holidays in the US, as a backup to the panel mounted GPS!

In the Cessnas that I tour in, the yoke mount is perfect, and I suggest it.

Use the GPS for primary nav not back up. To avoid getting lost, rely on the mark one eyeball for back up only.........

Hello

I've heard a lot from people of the Navigo V2 as a cheap GPS, with CAA map installed...
Its a good device to use as a first GPS as it goes well with the CAA map as a back up.

I've considered it myself but i'm a little unsure how to install the CAA map on the Navigo.....

Perhaps the key to understanding how this might be possible is knowing that the Navigo V2 is simply a pocket PC with a GPS built in. It runs Windows CE.NET v5. So presumably it is then possible to install a more aviation orientated GPS mapping program like NavGPS Pro, Flitesoft Express or how about something like PCAvionics Mountainscope?

That's note QUITE true.

WinCE is a subset of PocketPC (known as Windows Mobile since 2005 or so).

Stuff designed to run on Windows Mobile or PocketPC will not necessarily run on a WinCE device, as WinCe does not have all the devices and libraries that are in Windows Mobile or PocketPC.

In particular the installation method for Windows Mobile is generally using ActiveSync which does not exist on WinCE devices. This means that you usually have to find another way of installing the software.

But I do understand that Memory Map will run on WinCE, and there are plenty of guides around showing you have to set it up.

dp

The Navigo runs a Win CE.NET which supports ActiveSync, plenty of so called 'hacking' sites on how to do it. In most cases simply a case of downloading some software and running it. It might be worth noting that Windows Mobile v5 IS Win CE v5.

Steps include getting ActiveSync to run, in fact the ActiveSync installer is actually on the Navigo!

Getting the desktop to run by default, instead of Navigo's menu system.
Then you can pretty much install what you want.

But don't take my word for it, go HERE and see for yourself. :ok:

I ordered the cheapest Garmin GPS from pooleys I think, think i was the little grey handheld one that costs 130quid...

Anyway 2 days later the GPS arrives but they accidentally sent the 700quid Garmin 296!!!!

Needless to say I never phoned them to tellthem and thats the one thing I have gotten out of aviation lol.

Anybody have views on the kind of GPS that uses CAA half mil charts such as the new Airbox devices?

I'm the market for a GPS and was leaning towards the 296 before I saw the Airbox Freedom Clarity. Seems great to be able to cross check traditional navigation with the GPS using the same chart. But it doesn't have the features of the Garmin and is almost the same price.

Lunchmaster

AV8OR
 

Had my 196 now for many years and its given very good service, as have Garmin who kindly provided a new mount free of charge when mine was liberated from a parked airplane

Buy the best you can afford and plan to stick with it for as long as possible. I have no plans to swap my 196 so should end up getting good vfm

Tut tut
 

I imagine Pooleys will be checking their database of sales right about now.................

GPS
 

The Bendix Skymap is the best you can buy. Its one of only a very few that actually tell you where you are in English: thats very good for position reports. You can buy them new or on ebay and you can rack mount them or yoke mount them.

Airbox gives positional reporting too

I have a 296 and it's fine. Nothing to rave about but fine. Accessing many of the functions can be a bit of a faff but they are all there. However I've used my friends (two of them!) Skymaps and they are soooo much better. Yes it is an old unit and Bendix should be shot for not developing it further - if the AV8 works the same way it would be my choice.

Get on ebay!

Buy an HP Ipaq 2750 or something of that ilk. I recently bought one for just over £60 including p&p. It has wireless internet access so I can file flight plans online, get weather etc at airfields with wifi access. Le Touquet a prime example.

Buy a 'Bluenext' bluetooth GPS and pair it with said Ipaq. Battery lasts for ever, reception is within seconds and s far mine has been flawless!! Amazon £35.

Get 'Memory Map.' Think they do EU charts for about £40. No ambiguity when navigating with a chart in the cockpit aswell. I've found it to be fantastic! Flew with a friend with a Garmin 196 and it spent most of its time losing its signal and generally I found the screen to be poor whilst my Ipaq with bluetooth performed flawlessly.

nadders.

Does anyone have for sale gimble mount for a Colour Skymap?

You may well live to regret that. Aviation has a nasty habit of getting even. Maybe it's not too late to make that phone call?