Which GPS should I buy?
One must remember to be thankful for the GPS system provided free of charge from the USA to the world.
This system has probably saved thousands of lives already not to mention the comfort it gives the everyday user.
Things like this are often conveniently overlooked by those people quick to critisize the US for almost anything that is wrong in the world.
This system has probably saved thousands of lives already not to mention the comfort it gives the everyday user.
Things like this are often conveniently overlooked by those people quick to critisize the US for almost anything that is wrong in the world.
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I remember hearing a few years ago, that the EU was contemplating establishing their own GNSS. One reason was so that they weren't at the mercy of the USA if their system were to be disabled or deactivated.
Any new news on this?
Any new news on this?
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The EU version will (they say) be much better, safer, more accurate BUT you will have to pay for it boys and girls!
An annual fee with a programmed release code which will be checked by the satellite itself, VOR's are going to be withdrawn NDB'S too so whats left? Dead reckoning nav or pay even more money for flying.
I think avaition is going to regulate itself into (expensive) chaos in the very near future...what next?
An annual fee with a programmed release code which will be checked by the satellite itself, VOR's are going to be withdrawn NDB'S too so whats left? Dead reckoning nav or pay even more money for flying.
I think avaition is going to regulate itself into (expensive) chaos in the very near future...what next?
Couldnt agree more Aesir.
GPS is definately the bees knees. I dont think people really appreciate just how profoundly GPS has changed our aviating lives. Just think about how many hours an EMS machine saves per annum by being able to locate an unfamiliar hospital pad at night FIRST TIME every time. How about going to the exact place the ground party is awaiting rescue without having to search? How about the ability to ensure search areas are covered without any overlap? etc etc. Thats not even considering the Hospital IMC approaches! And how many EMS helos are there in the world? What about locating oil rigs in low viz first time every time. How about knowing exactly how far the fire base is for fuel so you can do that extra couple of buckets before departing the line? How about getting such an accurate groundspeed you can avoid that divert for fuel and track direct after all? And its FREE.
Uneffenbelivable really.
I am suprised they would consider blanking areas becuase the US (and allied) defence systems rely so heavily upon it. Surely they would only degrade non mil users by intentionally introducing innaccuracies. Thats why we have to check the NOTAMS prior to using GPS.
I have often wondered how many pilots would fare without GPS because I was brought up pre GPS and yet have definately experienced my share of problems without it, being fortunate enough to continue to fly and teach part time on low level time on target type nav, IFR and night and NVG nav on a non GPS aircraft. Scary.
Have we become addicted to GPS? Could we operate without it?
GPS is definately the bees knees. I dont think people really appreciate just how profoundly GPS has changed our aviating lives. Just think about how many hours an EMS machine saves per annum by being able to locate an unfamiliar hospital pad at night FIRST TIME every time. How about going to the exact place the ground party is awaiting rescue without having to search? How about the ability to ensure search areas are covered without any overlap? etc etc. Thats not even considering the Hospital IMC approaches! And how many EMS helos are there in the world? What about locating oil rigs in low viz first time every time. How about knowing exactly how far the fire base is for fuel so you can do that extra couple of buckets before departing the line? How about getting such an accurate groundspeed you can avoid that divert for fuel and track direct after all? And its FREE.
Uneffenbelivable really.
I am suprised they would consider blanking areas becuase the US (and allied) defence systems rely so heavily upon it. Surely they would only degrade non mil users by intentionally introducing innaccuracies. Thats why we have to check the NOTAMS prior to using GPS.
I have often wondered how many pilots would fare without GPS because I was brought up pre GPS and yet have definately experienced my share of problems without it, being fortunate enough to continue to fly and teach part time on low level time on target type nav, IFR and night and NVG nav on a non GPS aircraft. Scary.
Have we become addicted to GPS? Could we operate without it?
I think we make too much out of the plans to curtail GPS coverage...it takes a National Emergency to cause it....and it will be well advertised. Think back to 9-11 when all....all.....air traffic was stopped in the USA. I will gladly accept not having GPS within a fairly small area the government thinks vulnerable. Would that not be a great big red warning flag saying that might very well be an area one does not wish to be for some unknown but serious reason. Please to recall....the Terr's are claiming even worse attacks are coming....and that could mean chemical, biological, or nuclear attack this time. Me....I would rather be on a beach sipping rum concoctions than be in the middle of one of them.
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Aviation is one of the smaller users of GPS. Trucks use them extensively, and the hundreds of supertankers which thread their way through the thousands of offshore platforms in the GOM rely on GPS. The internet depends on it completely - the timing from GPS signals is essential for timing. There is no other source of nanosecond timing signals, and nanosecond precision is necessary for networks as well as for position calculation. The relativistic effects of lack of gravity and velocity of the GPS satellites has to be accounted for just to calculate your position to within 10 meters, because it's all done with time differences. I doubt it will be well-publicized, because that defeats the purpose. If I know the GPS system will be turned off next week, then I'll plan my attack for the week after. And with nukes, chemicals, or germs, close counts. You don't need GPS precision to deliver those. Anywhere in New York City or any other city will serve the purpose if you just want to create terror.
This whole thing is just a way to make us think something is being done. Actually turning off the GPS system will create more chaos than a terrorist attack. Wolf, Wolf!!!
This whole thing is just a way to make us think something is being done. Actually turning off the GPS system will create more chaos than a terrorist attack. Wolf, Wolf!!!
Gomer dear boy....you sound a bit cynical here....have you no faith in your elected leaders? Reckon the bureaucracy might be cruising without a compass? Uh oh! Poor choice of words....what if they know sumpin we don't.....burka clad cruise missles ejecting infected camel droppings....or spraying aerosol style goat mucus infected with a virus of some kind....
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In that case there is no need for GPS. Just get the things close to a city, and let the wind and curiosity do the rest. Turn off the GPS system and medevac helicopters and ambulances may take longer to evacuate the casualties, though, thus making the attack more effective.
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They didn't turn off the GPS on 9/11, so it would take one hell of a National Emergency for them to do so, and if they did, it would probably just hamper relief efforts more than stop an attack, so again, they probably won't turn it off. And yes, I think it is the Bees Knees
It's not just an adventure....
it's just a job!
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Hi All and Merry Christmas!
I remember in 1994 while I was in Somalia, a shipment of portable GPS units was looted by the local clans. The response from the US was to induce a signal error into the sattelites that covered the region. It took us 3 days to get the correction codes from the US Government rep in MOG. It was very inconvenient but I'll bet there were some really confused Somalies who couldn't figure out why they ended up in Baledogle instead of Baidoa!
I have no problem with the manipulation of signal, but it must be NOTAM'ed. Since that time in 94, I have always encouraged my co-pilots to navigate via traditional navaids and maps at least once a month. I find that the younger crowd, (and I am by no means old, mid-forties) is becoming more and more dependant on GPS, a wonderful tool, but not the only one.
If the US decides to shut it all down, then so be it. We still have maps and VOR's, NDB's etc. It's not the end of the world.
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
I remember in 1994 while I was in Somalia, a shipment of portable GPS units was looted by the local clans. The response from the US was to induce a signal error into the sattelites that covered the region. It took us 3 days to get the correction codes from the US Government rep in MOG. It was very inconvenient but I'll bet there were some really confused Somalies who couldn't figure out why they ended up in Baledogle instead of Baidoa!
I have no problem with the manipulation of signal, but it must be NOTAM'ed. Since that time in 94, I have always encouraged my co-pilots to navigate via traditional navaids and maps at least once a month. I find that the younger crowd, (and I am by no means old, mid-forties) is becoming more and more dependant on GPS, a wonderful tool, but not the only one.
If the US decides to shut it all down, then so be it. We still have maps and VOR's, NDB's etc. It's not the end of the world.
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
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Yeah, but my VORs don't do much for me a couple of hundred miles offshore. And the lines on the water are really hard to see, especially at night. And flying IFR by dead reckoning is really difficult. And there is no other means of navigation out there. I used to fly a 206, back in the day, navigating by compass and watch, and keeping an eye on the water for wind correction, but I wasn't going 200 NM out that way. I probably could still do it if I had to, but the load would be cut way, way back because I would need lots more fuel reserve. It would cost the oil companies lots of $$$.
Offshore....did I steal an air conditioner for you by any chance while we were in Moga? I gave several to the CHC guys....Rocky and that bunch.
It's not just an adventure....
it's just a job!
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SASless Me old son!
I remember that! Rocky (Old Pal) was down in Kiss with no aircon. I was in MOG with Clegg and the boys at the 20 man Camp. No worries there! Were you with us or Bristows?
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
I remember that! Rocky (Old Pal) was down in Kiss with no aircon. I was in MOG with Clegg and the boys at the 20 man Camp. No worries there! Were you with us or Bristows?
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
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Advice for an absolute GPS nub
I am looking into buying a GPS, I want it for 2 things, flying and driving, there must be a way of combining the 2? I was thinking along the lines of a PDA or Ipaq to do the job, I dont want to buy brand new so eBay will probably be my 1st port of call, can anyone tell me how I go about getting the software for a particular unit etc and what software, maybe give some tips as to the best unit to buy.
I am a complete nub when it comes to GPS' as I like the traditional means of navigating, but as Im going to use it for driving I may as well incorperate the 2
Thanks in advance
Dean
I am a complete nub when it comes to GPS' as I like the traditional means of navigating, but as Im going to use it for driving I may as well incorperate the 2
Thanks in advance
Dean
The type of software normally used in cars will not be much use in an aeroplane as it is invariably "road" based with little other information.
Probably the best mapping software is Memory Map; it utilises UK 1:250000 charts 1:500000 aviation charts (at a price) and 1:50,000 charts if you want more detail.
Its usefull on the ground and in the air in that it shows you where you are, but not much else.
PDAs even when fully bright can appear quite dim in an aeroplane or car on a sunny day!
The first thing to ask yourself is What do you actually want it to Do? Then look for something that does what you want. The PDA is a good solution if you don't really know, and want flexibility to experiment. They are not very robust and need a power supply to keep them going; the connector is usually the weak point of the system! Garmin units can be much more robust, tailored to various needs such as aviation, but the mapping may not have the same detail.
The mapping software will probably cost more than the GPS Unit!
Probably the best mapping software is Memory Map; it utilises UK 1:250000 charts 1:500000 aviation charts (at a price) and 1:50,000 charts if you want more detail.
Its usefull on the ground and in the air in that it shows you where you are, but not much else.
PDAs even when fully bright can appear quite dim in an aeroplane or car on a sunny day!
The first thing to ask yourself is What do you actually want it to Do? Then look for something that does what you want. The PDA is a good solution if you don't really know, and want flexibility to experiment. They are not very robust and need a power supply to keep them going; the connector is usually the weak point of the system! Garmin units can be much more robust, tailored to various needs such as aviation, but the mapping may not have the same detail.
The mapping software will probably cost more than the GPS Unit!
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There's a huge variety of stuff.
For in-car use you really need something that will give you turn by turn directions. This is not as simple as it seems. You're heading north up the A3 and want to go west on the Hogs Back. Although the roads cross each other you can't get from one to the other in that direction, you have to take a link road half a mile before the junction. If you're heading east on the Hogs Back you can join the A3 northbound at the junction but not southbound. These are the things that a proper car navigation package will deal with. Memory Map will not, all it does is show your position on an OS map.
Everyone has their own favourite, you need to find out what yours is, the trouble is it's not easy to test drive them.
For in-car use you really need something that will give you turn by turn directions. This is not as simple as it seems. You're heading north up the A3 and want to go west on the Hogs Back. Although the roads cross each other you can't get from one to the other in that direction, you have to take a link road half a mile before the junction. If you're heading east on the Hogs Back you can join the A3 northbound at the junction but not southbound. These are the things that a proper car navigation package will deal with. Memory Map will not, all it does is show your position on an OS map.
Everyone has their own favourite, you need to find out what yours is, the trouble is it's not easy to test drive them.
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My normal GPS is a Garmin GPSIII Pilot but I have also been experimenting with software on a PDA. I have an HP4150 and have loaded this with both the Tom Tom road software and PocketFMS. Both work extremely well using the Tom Tom bluetooth GPS receiver.
It was not all plain sailing though. It took some time to get Pocket FMS working properly - this involved a Registry tweak to get it to lock onto the GPS receiver.
Whopity is right on a couple of points. The PDA screen can be pretty awful in direct sunlight. Avoid this and the display is good - twice the size of the Garmin display and in colour too! For some screenshots see here. Yep, the article is aimed at users of FS2004 but don't be fooled as I have used the PDA in our Citation flights too.
You will also have to seriously think about cost. If you are trying to pick up a PDA cheaply you will still have to budget some serious money for the road software, GPS receiver, a memory card (ideally 512Mb) and the aviation software.
It was not all plain sailing though. It took some time to get Pocket FMS working properly - this involved a Registry tweak to get it to lock onto the GPS receiver.
Whopity is right on a couple of points. The PDA screen can be pretty awful in direct sunlight. Avoid this and the display is good - twice the size of the Garmin display and in colour too! For some screenshots see here. Yep, the article is aimed at users of FS2004 but don't be fooled as I have used the PDA in our Citation flights too.
You will also have to seriously think about cost. If you are trying to pick up a PDA cheaply you will still have to budget some serious money for the road software, GPS receiver, a memory card (ideally 512Mb) and the aviation software.
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Garmin 296 with automotive pack does all the things that you require with a lovely display, excellent turn-by-turn directions and a really good rechargeable battery.
As far as eBay is concerned be VERY careful since GPS seems to be one of the 'bait' products for defrauding the unwary out of large chunks of cash.
Adams (either online or just wandering in at Biggin Hill) seemed to be the best in terms of price, helpfulness and out and out product knowledge...
m
As far as eBay is concerned be VERY careful since GPS seems to be one of the 'bait' products for defrauding the unwary out of large chunks of cash.
Adams (either online or just wandering in at Biggin Hill) seemed to be the best in terms of price, helpfulness and out and out product knowledge...
m