GPS for my PDA
 

I've just got a Compaq iPaq and would like to slave it to a cheap GPS to provide moving-map type functionality for flying. Does anyone know what sort of GPS would allow me to do this and what sort of software I should buy for the PDA?

Cheers

'Not sure about PDAs, but I've succesfully connected up to a laptop PC.

The main requirement for the GPS is a NMEA2 interface, which they nearly all have. Mine is a Garmin III pilot, but it also worked on my old Garmin 89.

I used an old mouse cable and plug with the garmin plug on the other end (I can provide the wiring diagram if required).

There are several PC programs available to give moving map etc..

I havn't tried to used it in flight as yet and can see the advantage of a PDA over a laptop for a small cockpit.

I tried to do the same thing with a Journada, I asked the question on the tech log a few months ago and was pointed to an Ausie side where the software to do that is provided (demo version). I still havn't had enough time to play with it yet, if you do a search on GPS, I'm sure you will find it.

Wouldn't mind a pin-out diagram Mark1, if the offer is open to all> :)

This is the URL to the Ausi Site.

http://www.powerup.com.au/~lornew/oziexp.html

Gliding to the rescue again.

Winpilot

www.crabcom.demon.co.uk

MikeW

On the topic of pda's does anyone know of usefull aviation software for a psion revo plus

I too just bought a ipaq H3600 series. Its the dog's.

I believe compaq will be bringing out a GPS expansion card sometime this year. I'm sure its going to be cost just as much as the pocket pc did.

This website should hopefully answer your questions.

http://www.microsoft.com/MOBILE/pock...bystep/gps.asp

NMEA pin connections, as requested:

http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/gpsconn.pdf

This is shown for a Lowrance GPS, just refer to the Garmin manual for the equivalent on their 4 pin connector.

Skylark
your programme looks a winner; do you recommend anything suitable for powered flying?

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. I also posted this on the Computer forum and got this link http://www.controlvision.com/. Have a look

Skua

No Knowledge in that area, Sorry!

I haven`t followed any of these other links yet though. Maybe one of them is good.
I did realise that my lead was specialised, but I believe that early versions are free downloads and you don`t have to use it all, do you.

Mike W

I dont like the sound of this laptops and leads floating about the cockpit and just how is it all tied down ?
Please tell me just how you keep a good lookout when working all this stuff ?
It,s a good job that some of us look out the window and use a map because some of you guys just dont know what you are missing and for sure wont know what hit you.

Be careful A & C, it`s a hell of a long way down from that high horse of yours.
Seriously though, it takes a lot less time to glance at a Skymap than to cross refer to a map. Less clutter in the cockpit too.

Mike W

I Agree with A and C plus the fact that you don’t lose the signal on your MK 1 map at the most inappropriate moment, There’s nothing like being smacked in the chin by a rogue laptop in turbulence is there NOW....

Befor i,m called a ludite i would like to point out i do use a GPS but it is fixed in the panel and can be selected to drive the HSI if i so wish it it is aproved for IFR navigation.
I,m all for GPS but i think that some of the kit at the low end of the market takes too much button pushing and head down time and the mountings for some of the units seem to me to get in the way when used in a light aircraft cockpit.
This leads me to think that the map has a lot to offer over the cheap GPS.

At a recent exhibition I played with a few of the PDA-based aviation goodies.
They're certainly all very well meant, but many of them have user interfaces that may not be terribly good for in-flight use.
For example, one program for doing checklists, made use of the standard PalmOS checkbox, which is pretty small, and requires a stylus to use accurately. I wouldn't use that in the air, personally. Another checklist program used big "finger sized" buttons (rather like the PalmOS Calculator program), which was far better from a useability standpoint IMHO.
I make the same criticism of the GPS programs that I saw. I'm sure they work well, but I worry about useability. In addition, I worry about the Palm or PocketPC reliability. For example, my PalmV (with a paltry 2MB of RAM) runs slowly when the memory is nearly filled up and sometimes requires a hard reset. Similarly, when the batteries are below 50%, power management quite aggressively throttles back the CPU, causing slow-down. Now, in flight, I would imagine that these things are plumbed into the aircraft power somehow, so presumably power management is no longer an issue.
Don't get me wrong - I think they're useful and great fun, but how do they compare with a purpose built device with physical buttons to operate system functions, etc?
I fly with neither, so I wouldn't know, but am interested.
In any event, no one is using these for primary navigation are they? :)

I currently use the mkI map too. The reason is three-fold: 1. I can't really afford a GPS, 2. I'm scared I'll get lazy and 3. I'll spend too much time looking in rather than out of the cockpit. However, I started this thread as I wanted to make (aviation) use of the PDA that I got recently.

I don't agree that a PDA or similar could be dangerous if lose in the cockpit - I'd hope we're all sensible enough to site it intelligently and securely, but I have been slightly worried about the interface/performance issues that have been raised in this thread. Maybe if I do buy GPS the best way is to buy aviation specific devices and leave the PDA for addresses. Such a shame, but I guess it's my fault for believing I could save money in this game!

You'll soon be able to sync your GPS to outlook!

http://www.embeddedtechnology.com/co...atestHeadlines

GV

[This message has been edited by GulfStreamV (edited 11 January 2001).]

[This message has been edited by GulfStreamV (edited 11 January 2001).]

[This message has been edited by GulfStreamV (edited 11 January 2001).]

Please dont underestimate peoples stupidity i once had to stop a guy from flying a PA28 because the antena of the GPS was stuck on the OUTSIDE of the aircraft with a suction cup , the lead went inside via the DV window.

Just to add to the fun when he took the thing off the outside he droped part of it into the heater air intake so the engineers had to de cowl the engine to recover it !.
Unfortunatly i feel i cant publish the chief engineers comments.

Navtech Software (www.navsoft.co.uk) do software for the Psion range including the Revo.

I've got their Sierra 7 flight planning and (basic) moving map software running on a Psion 5mx coupled to a Garmin Etrex Summit GPS. It's untried in the aircraft yet but works a treat in a car.


[This message has been edited by G-WHISKY (edited 15 January 2001).]