Thanks everyone for all your imput... I will keep an eye on Expansys also for that deal of the day.. if you spot it first give me a shout!

Bassey I'm thinking of using a program called PocketFMS I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the link here but run a Google for it if aviation interests you.. I've not used it but it looks fantastic.

One more question, I got slated on another forum for even thinking of using a gps in an aircraft if it's not a Garmain, as they say they're too slow to keep up. Has anyone had much lag with their gps and problems with high speeds... I'm a bit of a GPS newbie to be honest.

Kr

C

Hi comput1, I've not had any problems with my GPS, but then, I guess my car can't go as fast as a plane though ... I've been over 90, and the TomTom/N560 combination manages to keep up easily...

Any ideas what speed your plane will be travelling at? And nothing wrong with being a newbie, we were all there once, I remember when I found Tekguru.....

Not tried at aircraft speeds. Although, if I remember correctly, a standard light aircraft, such as a Cessna 180 only travels at around 100mph which is only just over car GPS speeds.

In any case, the speed at which you are travelling shouldn't affect the software. It is the GPS unit that determines the data refresh and this is usually about once a second. Any handheld can easily cope with this.

Certainly my XDA Mini S (currently the slowest WM5 device on the market) copes with motorway driving speeds without any issues. I also use some quite advanced navigation software and it copes with that. Whilst I do tend to plot my routes on the PC at home and then transfer them to the PPC, I have plotted routes on the PPC without problem.

That PocketFMS looks excellent. The MemoryMap offering is really only the flight charts. The navigation components are designed more for shipping and "on foot" navigation so there is no specialist aviation functionality such as wind-speed allowance or VAP guidance. So the PocketFMS looks like a much better bet.

Plus, of course, it's free!

Thanks a million guys. I feel much better about buying it now. It IS a fair whack of money when it's not being charged to a business for 'work' purposes, and I really didn't want to risk it and end up having something that was unsuitable for the general idea...

I will only be using it for light aircraft speeds, normally around 120kt or up to 150MPH, I don't really think that the aircraft will be dramatically off track in the space of one second.. and I would not be foolish to think that I could pop a GPS into a cessna or warrior and think I had a glass cockpit jet!

For what it's worth, I tracked my GPS on a motorbike at ~110MPH (on a private road, of course! with no problems. If I could find a big enough private road I could always take it up to 150MPH if you like!

(Obviously, my N560 was in my pocket at the time)

One word of caution - the internal antenna of the N560 is not the greatest - If you're buying it for GPS in a plane then I would recommend you also buy the FSC external antenna (I think it’s around £35). It is an active aerial (antenna plus amplifier, powered via the connection to the N560), so it is more powerful than just an extra bit of wire hanging out the back of the PDA.

Also, if your plane has thermally coated windows, you may toil to get a good GPS signal.

On another note, I am extremely pleased with my N560 – my only grumbles are MS related, which makes no odds which Windows based PDA you buy…

Don’t forget to order a nice big SD Card – 2GB minimum but I’d recommend 4GB (extra space for movies! J

Let us know how you get on.

Regards,

Andy B.

ps Neil - you're right! Clove does work fien on Windows - looks like Linux doesn't like it though...

I just bought one on ebay, £250, refurb, no docking station and only one stylus... Think I can cope without the docking station, the usb lead will do the job well enough. now just have to wait!

Will I be able to get a generic holder to put it on the windscreen... want to use it in the car also as primary GPS... I must now get myself a copy of Tom Tom 5 or 6.. these accessories will add up!

I used a generic holder before I bought the Brodit active mount from DSL Developments. It was the holder I used with my Magician, and the Hermes... I'm up to 4 Brodit mounts purchased now, as they are that good I always treat my new devices to one!!

Maybe ebay will have the Brodit mount also...at over £30 it's not a cheapie! Would rather spend the cash on a big SD card

I haven't had a car mount for ages as I spend so much time in hire cars the best solution was a windscreen sucker model but since I got my side window smashed apparently because of the sucker marks I don't use that either.

actually that's what i want, a windscreen sucker
will they be more readily available? (quick wipe with the microfibre cloth and you're sorted for sucker marks!)