Can anybody tell me if the weather obtained on Foreflight using Stratus II is the same as getting it using wireless on your home internet service.
Rockwell Collins system is clumsy, and pricey, and I'm considering just going ADS-B (that way I can us it flying my Skywagon).
My fear is it will be as clumsy a RC.
Any comments from Stratus one and two users appreciated.

237

Similar, but not the same. Here are the differences I know of:

-- ADS-B weather takes several minutes (seems like 10-15 although I have not timed it) to fully load once you are line-of-sight to an ADS-B tower. At my home base, I have to be airborne before I start getting the signal so it is several minutes later before I have a full picture
-- ADS-B weather has different resolutions for NEXRAD imagery based on your proximity to the weather system. I don't really find this to be an operational issue, but you can't see fine detail of a storm that's more than 250 nm away. See AIM 7-1-11 for details.
-- ADS-B, like XM, has latency issues that mean that the image could be 15-20 minutes old and therefore it isn't good for tactical storm avoidance.

I've been using XM through an Air-Gizmo mounted 496 for about 5 years. I switched to Foreflight a couple years ago and bought a Stratus II last year thinking I'd not renew the XM subscription. But, even though the 496 display is way worse than my yoke-mounted iPad, I found I like the XM weather better. Here's why:

-- It loads much more quickly, and starts loading on the ground so I have a full picture before I depart
-- If I'm down on some strip in the hills I can always check the weather through my 496... not so with ADS-B
-- My 496 is hardwired so I never have to remember to recharge it, unlike the Stratus II
-- The Stratus II is another strap-on system that I have to mount every time I go fly (I dislike strap-ons!)

I'll probably keep the XM going until they make me buy their new antenna. I prefer the XM, but not so much that I'll shell out more $$ for the next version of their hardware. Probably go full ADS-B at that point. Hope this helps.

Some folks might knock me for this, but for low and slow; verizon data coverage is pretty darn good. I don't get that close to tactically play with storms anyways.

slowmover wrote:Similar, but not the same. Here are the differences I know of:

I'll probably keep the XM going until they make me buy their new antenna. I prefer the XM, but not so much that I'll shell out more $$ for the next version of their hardware. Probably go full ADS-B at that point. Hope this helps.

Very helpful, Thanks
The plane in question has an XM feed supplying the avionics now.
Maybe I'll see if there is a way to tap into it using a 696/796.
Thanks again.

Mark

I have a Stratus II, which I've had for about 1 1/2 years. Its only downside compared to XM is that it can't provide service on the ground. However, for that, if your iPad has cell coverage, you can still get the current weather on the ground at any ordinary airport. Obviously, unless the back country strip you're at also has good cell coverage (I suspect some do), you won't get weather on the ground, which you could get with XM.

The upside of any ADS-B In receiver is that using it is free of any charges. Buy the product and use it. The downside is the same as with XM, that the weather is delayed. How much of a delay is visible on the iPad screen, typically varying from 5 minutes to just under 20 minutes.

The Stratus II only works with Foreflight and an iPad, but it works seamlessly. I have mine plugged into power, so it stays charged whenever the avionics are turned on. It also has an AHRS, so it provides an electronic AI through the Stratus Horizon app, which in my experience is right on. I can use that on my iPad, but more often I use it on my iPhone as a backup, so that I can use the full screen on the Mini for charts and weather.

When I renew my FF subscription, I plan to spring for the new synthetic vision option, to try it out. How useful it will be is questionable until I try it.

Cary