Microlighters

I'm looking into an integrated solution of PDA with GPS (and moving map) and have come across Easy Cockpit who recommend an HP iPaq PDA.

Does anyone have any comments on this combination?

Any recommendations on which HP PDA to use?

Is there other software available that can include maps for Europe?

HELP

PM 150. He uses that combo and is clued up about the IT side of things...

I have decided to go the HP2750 route on the PDA and use the Fortuna Blue Tooth GPS and EasyCockpit software.
I have the PDA and should have the GPS module and software later this week. If so I will test it this weekend and give some feedback for those who are interested.

wart - keep us updated please

wart - keep us updated please

Give him time, he has a lot of info and software to work through. It is quite simple to get it running and going, but after a while using the software, you find more and more helpfull options.
Good luck wart, I have in the meantime a big database of all my flights done, and I can even print out a flight done in November last year.

Must mention again, I am not working for Aviation direct Updated my software again today :D

I use both Easy cockpit and Fugawi on an iMate PDA cell phone with a G-Space Bluetooth GPS receiver.

The 400mhz processor of the iMate seems to handle both apps fine. You can buy a little app XCPUScalar that allows you to overclock any xScale CPU (iMates and most HP's) to 530 MHz.

Easy cockpit is nice because the many changes in airspaces and airfields are kept up to date.

Fugawi works well with 1:500000 digital maps that I bought from Directorate Surveys and Maps because it's nice to have the detailed topographical maps (albeit sometime slightly outdated) on hand as well.

The G-space Bluetooth GPS receiver also has a signal/power cable. I use the cable on the gyro and Bluetooth in the car on the same phone/PDA.

CB,

Please give some more info on Fugawi. I used it on Laptop, but did not know you get for PDA as well. How do you compress the maps. The 1:250's (or 500's for that matter) I use are HUGE? How do you get them on your PDA.

Also for the techno boffs. I am looking for music in cockpit. I want to know if better to go for Ipod or get PDA with MP3 capability? Anyone using PDA for MP3's. (I want to know how many songs it can hold and if it slows it down if run Easy cockpit for eg. )

PS
Anyone used the Garmin 3600a? Can it do MP3? I like the terrain database capability and I can use it in Bush/Moz

If you own a older version of Fugawi 3 for pc, the PPC addition is a couple of dollars extra. If you own a newer version it's free. Check the website. You connect the PPC with Fugawi running, follow the instructions, and it installs the software.

I reduce the maps to 256 / 64 or even 40 colors and save them in .png format - great format for images with lots of lines and large spaces of uniform color - maps. The average image size is about 5 - 7 M.

You calibrate the maps as usual in Fugawi, connect the PPC and the maps are compressed in fx4 format and sent to PPC. You can also send waypoints/routes/tracks both ways.

I have connected the iMate to the aux input of the intercom now Ive got mp3 while flying. With the noisy environment of an open cockpit the improved quality of the iPod is lost. The processor doesn't seem to suffer with the music, but it does chow batteries of you're not charging of the plane.

I use a 1GB SD card - no way all this will fit in the PDA memory only.

I also connected the headset mic to the mic walk-and-talk of the iMate, so I've got cell phone in the headset.

jcvb wrote:CB,

Please give some more info on Fugawi. I used it on Laptop, but did not know you get for PDA as well. How do you compress the maps. The 1:250's (or 500's for that matter) I use are HUGE? How do you get them on your PDA.

Also for the techno boffs. I am looking for music in cockpit. I want to know if better to go for Ipod or get PDA with MP3 capability? Anyone using PDA for MP3's. (I want to know how many songs it can hold and if it slows it down if run Easy cockpit for eg. )

PS
Anyone used the Garmin 3600a? Can it do MP3? I like the terrain database capability and I can use it in Bush/Moz

I play MP3 on it, I use a HP2210, have a additional card (1Gig) stuck into it, and play it on long flights.
The card could give you something like 20hours of music, depending on the size. I dont play it direct from th HP, otherwise there is no storage any more for EasyCockpit

jcvb wrote:
I am looking for music in cockpit. I want to know if better to go for Ipod or get PDA with MP3 capability?

JCVB, I have a iPod 4 GB ( songs) on my trike. works like a dream - except that the intercom box is purely that, a intercom box, and not a amplifier. Therefore, I have the pod volume on max, and themusic volume is not the loudest. more like restaurant music volume. Then I crank up the volume on the radio, so when ppl call, I hear them well above the music.
works for me.

Thanks for replies. will see. Am getting bored on 1.5 hr flight every week. I use walkman, with cell interface, but volume not greatest and it does not automute.

Project for Dec?

is lost

Of all the long explanations this is all I understood

Ok,

But how well does the PDA with Easy Cockpit work compared to a 196/296 for example. I am looking at maybe ( please mommy I'll be good )getting the iPAQ hx4700 with Fortuna U2 GPS or Blue tooth receiver and EasyCockpit Would I be better off spending that amount on the Garmin

The GPSMAP 296 is one of the best GPSs around.
Pros:
- The interface is simple, predictable and not kludgy to use while flying.
- The screen is nicely visible in most light conditions.
Cons: (I'm really scratching my head here)
- With the frequent airspace changes, the airnav data does become outdated and it can become an expensive exercise to keep up to date with the changes once you have used the freebie upgrade that comes with the unit.
- It's relatively expensive

Easyplan/Easycockpit is arguably the best aviation navigation software for South African flying.
Pros:
- Airpaces/airfield info/frequencies etc. are kept up to date with regular releases for a small annual fee.
- Many small/private airfields not found anywhere else are included.
- The software/PDA/receiver setup is less that half the cost of a GPSMAP.
- Eacycokpit has a nifty feature that gives your closest VFR reporting point/town/airfield that makes VFR reporting on long navs a breeze.
- I'm currently beta-testing the weather interface on Easycockpit - it uses METAR and TAF info from the weather service to overlay synoptic info on the map. (This is currently also available on the much more expensive GPSMAP 396-US Only)
Cons:
- A PDA is (possibly) less reliable than a dedicated GPS unit
- Using the stylus/toggle to navigate is a bit more kludgy that the dedicated buttons on the GPSMAP.

I use both - it's a bit overkill, but they work well together. If I had to choose, I would get the dedicated GPS unit first.

The 296 is the ultimate (396 would be better but we don't get WX), but it is very expensive for recreational flying. That said I do not like the PDA setup. Too many wires etc. Good news,

the new Garmin iQue M5 has been successfully tested with the EasyCockpit software. This Garmin comes with the Windows Mobile 2003 2nd edition operating system and all the latest Microsoft Pocket PC software.

I have not seen the M5, but assume it will have built in GPS and will have a couple built in gps spoecific buttons. Else 3600a is also an option, but don't know it will work with easycockpit.

In terms of local airspace, runway database easyplan can not be beat....

PS
I use 196 and easyplan, but only 196 in cockpit as space it tooo small for PDA, GPS, stylus etc....

PPS
FYI
The guys are developing a full glass cockpit option using 1 or 2 10.4” sunlight readable LCDs displaying EasyCockpit on the one and a Primary Flight Display (PFD – artificial horizon, IAS, altitude, VSI, compass heading) on the other. There were demoed at the Overberg and Ysterplaat airshows, but I missed both. Anyone see them there?