Getting back into flying after a 13 year layoff, I feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle! There have been literally amazing advancements in technology while I've been gone. One of the best, in my opinion, is the availability of in-flight weather. Since I'll be renting, at least until the FAA rules on the third class medical thing, I'm looking for a portable in-flight weather solution. I've done a bit of research and found the following possibilities:

http://www.avmap.us/products/aero/ekp_v ... troduction
http://www.seattleavionics.com/SkyPad.aspx
http://www.aviationsafety.com/productgp ... oducts.htm

Anybody here have any experience with these or similar products? I know there are some applications out there that run on an IPAD, but I'm ruling those out. Also the Garmin offerings, because the displays are too small for me to comfortably use. Ease of use (meaning a minimum of geekiness needed), large display, durability, a wide range of functionality, and light weight are all substantially more important to me than cost. In any event, your input is appreciated.

Best,
O-2

Hi,
I'm wondering why you have ruled out the iPad? I've been using the iPad with ForeFlight since a month after it came out and it has gotten continually better. I now use the iPad with a device called Stratus and receive inflight weather via ADSB system. I get current Metars and Taf, radar, cloud cover etc. Everything I used to get from XM, and there is no subscription.
Also, it is a large screen and an extremely easy app to use, and the support is excellent. I can do all of my planning, get a briefing, and file with the push of a few buttons. If the full sized iPad is to big the new mini might be perfect. Best of all if you make sure both units are charged when you start on your cross country there is plenty of charge that you can go the entire flight with NO wires.
I've had Garmin with XM in the past and this far out does that. hope this helps

180jocky

Garmin 796 only way to go. Weather terrain charts has it all.

Re: In-Flight Weather
by bcdpilot » Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:17 pm

Garmin 796 only way to go. Weather terrain charts has it all.


What does the subscription cost annually for the 796?

180jocky

TTT

I cant remember seems like it's around $40 per month but if you buy the GDL39 which sits on the dash, its free weather including nextrad ect.

I've had an AvMap EKP-IV for several years and really like it. The screen is clear and big. AT the time I bought it, I got it due to it being the largest available screen and haven't regretted it. Easy to use and was going to get the weather add-on but now that it is available on different systems through the use of the Stratus, etc. to use with my tablet I will probably go that route since it is easier to move between aircraft.
I also have a Samsung Galaxy 10.2 tablet and just downloaded Garmin Pilot App, yesterday to be exact, and just scrolling through it I am liking it so far. They have a 30 day trial and since I am flying (commercial) on Tuesday to New Mexico I figured I could play with it while on the big aluminum tube.

180jocky wrote:Hi,
I'm wondering why you have ruled out the iPad?

180jocky

180jocky:

I don't have what anyone around here would call a really good reason. It's just that I'm something of a cantankerous ole curmudgeon who's never owned an Apple product and don't want to start now. I guess if pressed for a better reason, while I know most of this consumer electronic crap is made by slave labor in China, Apple has one of the worst records regarding the treatment of the people that build their stuff. I just prefer to spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

Best,
O-2

shortfielder wrote:TTT

WTF?

bcdpilot wrote:Garmin 796 only way to go. Weather terrain charts has it all.

bcdpilot:

While I like the "all-in-one" package, I don't like the small screens on the Garmin devices.

WWhunter wrote:I've had an AvMap EKP-IV for several years and really like it..

Thanks, WW. This may move to the top of the list.

Best,
O-2

I believe in going with standards, specially in aviation. If I want a bush plane, I go with a PA18 or a C180. If I wanted a turboprop, I would buy a King Air (wish I could!!!) So, for the same reason, I would buy an iPad running ForeFlight, and a Garmin handheld such as a 396, 496, or 796. You can't beat that combination.

OscarDeuce wrote:

bcdpilot wrote:Garmin 796 only way to go. Weather terrain charts has it all.

bcdpilot:

While I like the "all-in-one" package, I don't like the small screens on the Garmin devices.

The 796 is 7", the same as the new iPad Mini as well as several Android tablets. Seen here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newps/8199 ... otostream/

The 796 is good sized. Here's a picture of it mounted up high in my Husky. If it was any bigger there'd be no place to mount it at all! This location works well and doesn't block the outside view in the important scan areas.




In my Mooneym, it fits on the yoke mount in portrait mode.

Excellent touch screen, definition, typically great Garmin interface, . . . only downside is cost.

bumper

O-2

I have extensive experience with Seattle Avionics Voyager, it's great as a desktop app but comes up short inflight! PC platform is given to lockups and loading glitches, needing a reboot to get going again. Buttons are to small to use in flight accurately, and its to complicated to use in flight! To many menu's. try this scud running or on an ILS! Although it fun on the desktop, because it will do anything, IE it's complex.

Not a computer expert but IPad touch screen tech better than Garmin or PC. Garmin operating logic is user friendly, but don't like having to subscribe to XM for data that's available for free.

I've also run an Avmap for 12 years off and on, I love the format and operating logic, it's simple, no touch screen on the Avmap 4 and that's great, so it's great when I want to intro GPS into my students training. It's not a steep learning curve to expose them to the arts of GPS after old school Nav study. That's what I give them, once they have proven a grasp of the basics.

Currently run an IPad with Foreflight and a Stratus for a nice stable platform with great touchscreen, gives me free real time ( as real as it gets ) WX and WAAS GPS accuracy . Plus I don' t haul a laptop around any more in addition to the other gear. I think it's the most versatile system out there right now, gives me what I need without to much complexity.

I've looked at all of the IPad apps ( Foreflight, Garmin, Wingx, etc ) and as far as I'm concerned, they all have there strong points. So it really boils down to which feature set you feel fits your mission. I believe they all have a trial down loads.

FWIW Waterdog

There's always this...



Gump

Waterdog wrote:O-2

I've also run an Avmap for 12 years off and on, I love the format and operating logic, it's simple, no touch screen on the Avmap 4 and that's great, so it's great when I want to intro GPS into my students training. It's not a steep learning curve to expose them to the arts of GPS after old school Nav study. That's what I give them, once they have proven a grasp of the basics.

Waterdog,

Thanks for the input. I like the idea of a "shallow" learning curve. I generally have little patience with technology. I don't think I want a PC-based system since I kill about two laptops a year on average. I like the idea of a stand-alone purpose built device.

Best,
O-2

Thanks, Gump - but will it work if I hang it in the cockpit? And if I do, where am I going to put my fuzzy dice?

Best,
O-2

If the weather looks like it is getting bad then I just text my dad for an inflight update. I don't know what I'm going to do once he retires and isn't sitting in his office with nothing to do.

180jocky wrote: I now use the iPad with a device called Stratus and receive inflight weather via ADSB system. I get current Metars and Taf, radar, cloud cover etc. Everything I used to get from XM, and there is no subscription.

One reason I've been holding on to my XM subscription is that I like being able to get XM weather on the ground in the morning when camped out at a strip in a canyon somewhere out of radar range. My assumption has been that the ADSB weather stuff wouldn't work there. Has anyone had any experience with using something like a Stratus receiver on the ground in places like the Idaho backcountry?

Oregon180 wrote:

180jocky wrote: I now use the iPad with a device called Stratus and receive inflight weather via ADSB system. I get current Metars and Taf, radar, cloud cover etc. Everything I used to get from XM, and there is no subscription.

One reason I've been holding on to my XM subscription is that I like being able to get XM weather on the ground in the morning when camped out at a strip in a canyon somewhere out of radar range. My assumption has been that the ADSB weather stuff wouldn't work there. Has anyone had any experience with using something like a Stratus receiver on the ground in places like the Idaho backcountry?

I have no direct experience - but I know from the faa coverage map that Idaho is not covered. Most of Colorado is not covered either. However, you get cell coverage anywhere you are within cell range and you have a data plan - but you don't need stratus for that. Neither will help you in the Idaho backcountry. XM is still a better option for backcountry on the ground, unfortunately and this is not likely to change.

http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/flashmap/