How to choose the right GPS for your panel

flyboy1963 · #1 01-28-2009, 03:01 PM

Notwithstanding cost, features etc. I am having a **** of a time choosing a GPS.
It was a real shock when I printed all the units at full size, then tried to position them in the cockpit where I wanted them, could reach with my right hand, and not have them block my line-of-sight.
Even if it was free, I couldn't fit the Big Garmin or Avmap unit. I also thought I HAD to have the screen taller than wide ( portrait) mode to see where I was going, but am now thinking that I'll always have the little data windows displayed to some degree, which squares up the screen anyway.
I also want a good HSI, so that uses up a third of the screen also!
looks like the winner is more likely the Avmap Geopilot II, or something similar.
(Have a look if the link works! :-)

http://picasaweb.google.ca/payaremch...67684562940626

I'm also trying to avoid moving/deleting, buying different instruments, but that may become a necessary evil.

....so, how did you do it?

alpinelakespilot2000 · #2 01-28-2009, 03:09 PM

If you don't need weather, I still think the Lowrance 2000c is, by far, the best bang for the buck at <$600. I think it does everything you indicate it needs to do in your post, especially if you have it hooked to a Dynon or other EFIS. Good luck with spending your money!

Ironflight · #3 01-28-2009, 03:22 PM

Very simple process:

1) Throw away (or lock up) all adds, spec sheets, pictures, etc for all the units you think are out there.
2) Sit down with a pad of paper, and list all the FEATURES that you want from your GPS. This doesn't just have to mean software features, it can also mean hardware stuff, like shape of the screen. It can even list cost, if that is a driver.
3) now pull out the Adds, and go to the internet. List a column for each unit, and start checking off which of YOUR features are provided by each unit.
4) Now pick the one that has the most features that are important to YOU.

Start with requirements, then move to unit selection. You might be surprised with the unit you end up with, but I bet it does what you want!

Paul

erich weaver · #4 01-28-2009, 04:15 PM

Well, here's a first - not sure I completely agree with Paul on this one.

Maybe it was just my limited experience, but there are many, many features on my Garmin 296 that I would never would have thought of before I bought the unit that I subsequently found quite useful. I am not trying to convince anyone to buy Garmin here - its probably the case for many GPS units. For example, the vertical navigation feature is nice to tell you when to start a nice leisurely descent into an unfamiliar airport, and I recently found out from this forum that the unit will display glideslope, which certainly makes that part of the flight testing program easy. I dont remember either of these being advertised in the literature. I dont believe glidslope is even mentioned in the manual - you have to find it in the on-screen list of paramters that can be displayed.

My suggestion would be to browse through as many of the product manuals as you can to get a feel for all the features they offer. Perhaps these are available online? Hands on experience would be an obivous plus as well, but thats not easy to get. My experience has been that people tend to like whatever unit they currently have, as it is always better than whatever they had previously.

regards

erich

hydroguy2 · #5 01-28-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Very simple process:

1) .......
2) Sit down with a pad of paper, and list all the FEATURES that you want from your GPS. This doesn't just have to mean software features, it can also mean hardware stuff, like shape of the screen. It can even list cost, if that is a driver.
.......
Start with requirements, then move to unit selection. You might be surprised with the unit you end up with, but I bet it does what you want!

Paul

My problem is I'm not smart enough to even list the features I want in a GPS.

These days my flying is mostly local, looking out the window. the XC's I've done I used a Lowrance2000C and charts. BUT once the RV gets done, I plan on making a few long XC's(VFR) every year. So here's my thoughts:

1. Lowrance 2000 did everything I have needed to this point
2. I like the look and symmetry of the AvMap IV in combo with the DynonD180
3. Both the above seemed user friendly when Demo'd at NWEAA flyin
4. I need money to be able to move forward.

Ironflight · #6 01-28-2009, 08:46 PM

I should clarify....I was sort of writing tongue in cheek when i said to throw away all the brochures at first - clearly, you need to study the market to understand what kind of features you want. My point was that the FIRST thing to do is decide on a feature set you need, and THEN look at makes and models. Otherwise, you end up in the sales game, and you just stay confused....

Paul

L.Adamson · #7 01-28-2009, 08:57 PM

Paul Dye managed to talk me into a new Garmin 696, even though I didn't have room for it. He didn't say anything personally, but just kept writing about it!

So now I have one, and think it's the best "handheld" ever! It's my sixth aviation moving map GPS.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

flyboy1963 · #8 01-28-2009, 10:15 PM

Wow! somebody on their 6th!...ummm, would you have any old ones laying around that I could 'test drive'!???!?
Certainly actually flying with one would be the 'acid' test, and I've read all the online pdf users manuals until I'm almost blind!.....(some are really cute when they translate from another language! )
Next to flying with one, just trying to program it in demo mode at home would be good, but as you say, it's tough to get your hands on one.

thanks for all the inputs guys!

carguy614 · #9 01-29-2009, 04:44 AM

After getting over the initial "wierdness" of the Avmap operating system, and subsequent practice using it in the Simulator mode, I must say, the EKP IV has proven to be a great GPS. The Display is very legible, even in bright sunlight, and has performed very well. Weather is still a problem, as the unit won't get weather and provide data output to your Dynon and AP at the same time. If weather isn't on your gottahave list, I recommend the unit highly.

My 2,
Chris

David-aviator · #10 01-29-2009, 06:55 AM

Just a different perspective if money is the issue - you do not have to buy a new GPS have decent navigation capability.

I have a Garmin 295 (bought in 2003) that is WAAS capable, has NMEA output to an autopilot and fits nicely in the panel just below a Dynon D10A. I am finally getting around to activating some of the features of it and the D10A, and found out from Dynon this week that it will accept the NMEA data in parallel with the auto pilot to provide winds aloft on the D10A screen.

(The D10A with the latest software is indeed a poor man's choice if nothing else fits the budget. It has more features packed into its little case than I have time to take advantage of.)

The only thing I do not have that is available in later versions of GPS is XM weather. That is very nice but like anything else really nice, you pay for it including the annual subscription.