PDA's for situational awareness

bluelake · December 14th, 2003, 19:08

I am going to be purchasing an HP iPaq for non-aviation purposes. And its got me wondering, just how much effort would it take to use this in an airplane. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have seen on Avshop.com the GPS attachments and software for sale....

EatSleepFly · December 14th, 2003, 19:40

And another question...

Anyone have that weather service for PDA's that I always see in the magazines? I don't even have one, but it would be cool to be able get weather radar, etc. anywhere. Especially useful for out-of-the-way airports with no WSI or anything fancy like that.

Josh · December 14th, 2003, 19:54

www.anywheremap.com

Ophir · December 15th, 2003, 10:39

You know, I keep wondering how that data is transmitted. It is is cellular then is going to butt slow and I have found that cel service in the air is generally weak. Anyone how it is transmitted, to the PDA's that is?

pilot602 · December 15th, 2003, 12:29

There are two general ways of transmitting info to cockpit weather displays. Satallite or radio. Satelite coverage is, well, almost world-wide but them ore expensive of the two srevices. The radio option is a little cheaper but not all areas have coverage yet (think of a cell-system for airplanes). I htikn most of the PDA stuff works with the radio style and all of 'em require (PDA that is) the purchase of a "modem" to attach to the PDA that is capable of receivingthe WX info.

That's a rough estimation, anyway.

Looking4Lower · December 16th, 2003, 15:00

[ QUOTE ]
Especially useful for out-of-the-way airports with no WSI or anything fancy like that

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a program in my Palm that allows me to dial up DUATS and get text weather with the free 1-800 number using the little palm modem. It's great for smaller airports cuz I can plug into any phone line and download whatever "Official" text briefing I need; since it's all stored in the Palm's memo files, I can read thru the text for flight planning and also review it later if I need to re-evaluate things during the flight (i.e. winds aloft, notams, etc). The only problem: NO weather graphics.

If you have a dial-up internet access account and a newer Palm, you might be able to browse the 'net with a dial-up connection at Smalltown Municipal FBO and get WX graphics that way.

BTW, I bought my almost-new Palm VIIx on ebay for $28.

pscraig · December 17th, 2003, 00:21

I can't easily use my palm in the plane, pointing with the required accuracy is difficult in turbulence and requires too much head-down time. I have some planning apps and the AOPA airport directory loaded onto it. I love the idea of dialing up to DUAT, but don't know many phone lines will be easily accessible at airports.

Looking4Lower · December 17th, 2003, 05:29

[ QUOTE ]
I love the idea of dialing up to DUAT, but don't know many phone lines will be easily accessible at airports

[/ QUOTE ]

90% of the time I can go to an FBO's flight planning area or lounge and there's a phone there. I just unplug the phone line and plug it into the Palm. Sometimes if there's multiple phone lines, that complicates things, but there's usually a way around that (or there's a normal phone nearby...)

December 14th, 2003, 19:08	#1
bluelake Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 619	PDA\'s for situational awareness I am going to be purchasing an HP iPaq for non-aviation purposes. And its got me wondering, just how much effort would it take to use this in an airplane. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have seen on Avshop.com the GPS attachments and software for sale....

December 14th, 2003, 19:40	#2
EatSleepFly Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ?? Posts: 4,600	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness And another question... Anyone have that weather service for PDA's that I always see in the magazines? I don't even have one, but it would be cool to be able get weather radar, etc. anywhere. Especially useful for out-of-the-way airports with no WSI or anything fancy like that.

December 14th, 2003, 19:54	#3
Josh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 686	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness www.anywheremap.com

December 15th, 2003, 10:39	#4
Ophir Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: was Ophir, CO, now in SLC! Posts: 1,477	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness You know, I keep wondering how that data is transmitted. It is is cellular then is going to butt slow and I have found that cel service in the air is generally weak. Anyone how it is transmitted, to the PDA's that is?

December 15th, 2003, 12:29	#5
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness There are two general ways of transmitting info to cockpit weather displays. Satallite or radio. Satelite coverage is, well, almost world-wide but them ore expensive of the two srevices. The radio option is a little cheaper but not all areas have coverage yet (think of a cell-system for airplanes). I htikn most of the PDA stuff works with the radio style and all of 'em require (PDA that is) the purchase of a "modem" to attach to the PDA that is capable of receivingthe WX info. That's a rough estimation, anyway.

December 16th, 2003, 15:00	#6
Looking4Lower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On your TCAS Posts: 539	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness [ QUOTE ] Especially useful for out-of-the-way airports with no WSI or anything fancy like that [/ QUOTE ] I have a program in my Palm that allows me to dial up DUATS and get text weather with the free 1-800 number using the little palm modem. It's great for smaller airports cuz I can plug into any phone line and download whatever "Official" text briefing I need; since it's all stored in the Palm's memo files, I can read thru the text for flight planning and also review it later if I need to re-evaluate things during the flight (i.e. winds aloft, notams, etc). The only problem: NO weather graphics. If you have a dial-up internet access account and a newer Palm, you might be able to browse the 'net with a dial-up connection at Smalltown Municipal FBO and get WX graphics that way. BTW, I bought my almost-new Palm VIIx on ebay for $28.

December 17th, 2003, 00:21	#7
pscraig Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,021	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness I can't easily use my palm in the plane, pointing with the required accuracy is difficult in turbulence and requires too much head-down time. I have some planning apps and the AOPA airport directory loaded onto it. I love the idea of dialing up to DUAT, but don't know many phone lines will be easily accessible at airports.

December 17th, 2003, 05:29	#8
Looking4Lower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On your TCAS Posts: 539	Re: PDA\'s for situational awareness [ QUOTE ] I love the idea of dialing up to DUAT, but don't know many phone lines will be easily accessible at airports [/ QUOTE ] 90% of the time I can go to an FBO's flight planning area or lounge and there's a phone there. I just unplug the phone line and plug it into the Palm. Sometimes if there's multiple phone lines, that complicates things, but there's usually a way around that (or there's a normal phone nearby...)

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