Ed_Wischmeyer
Well Known Member
Yes, this topic has been discussed before, but with new hardware and software coming out, maybe it’s time to revisit the topic. So how does a tablet compare with a handheld GPS, when you take *everything* into consideration? Is a tablet good enough that you don’t really need a handheld, or does a handheld GPS have advantages so compelling that you’d want both?
Here’s what I need:
* Multi-leg flight planning, with the capability to update at fuel stops and also in the air. Currently, this is foreflight and a few other apps on the iPhone plus ADS-B weather, primarily radar;
* Backup nav capability. Currently, this is an aera 660. The iPhone is a distant second because it doesn’t have geo-referenced approach plates;
* Web, email, text messages and text editing on the ground. Currently, a laptop.
* On my plane, I’ve got a Garmin G5 for backup flight instruments and gyros
Or to put it another way – with my heavy old laptop, iPhone, and aera, I’ve got adequate functionality now. What’s worth upgrading?
Years ago, I had an iPad that I used in my Cessna 175 which had no moving map capability. With the high wing, the Cessna 175 had a shady cockpit. The iPad is now so old that it won’t run most modern apps. Current ride is an RV-9A that has a sunscreen but still has enough direct sunlight in the cockpit that the iPhone will overheat if left in the sun. I also have an aera 660 and have used that as sole-source nav on long VFR X-C in the RV-8 and as sole source nav in simulated IMC with simulated total electrical failure. And the iPhone provides a number of other useful apps.
Since I've got an all-Garmin cockpit, I'll use that as exemplar, but how would an iPad compare to an aera 760 handheld? And I prefer ForeFlight to others. Currently, my “tablet” is an iPhone. Similar functionality, but…
Here are my (current) criteria, based on admittedly old experience and information. I know that this request will probably be ignored, but please stay on topic and minimize irrelevant war stories:
* Sunlight readability: used to be that the handheld won easily over the iPad
* Overheating if left in direct sunlight: used to be that the handheld won easily. My iPhone overheats if left in the sun, for example. And if you had a total electrical failure and had to use the tablet or handheld that had overheated… A friend says that new iPads are less susceptible to overheating in the sun.
* Inflight functionality: pretty close with no internet access in the air, but a tablet will remember data from other aviation apps accessed on the ground
* Battery life: both adequate for flight purposes, tablet better overall
* Inflight charging to preserve battery: comparable, but don’t know if a tablet with wireless charging will allow plug in charging in the airplane to keep the battery topped off
* Integration with rest of the avionics: don’t know. My guess is that an aera will automagically get updated information from the rest of the avionics but a laptop might require manually transferring things like current position. Handheld might be able to tune comm radios?
* What-if flight planning and destination changes in flight: near as I can tell, this is a win for the tablet. My criteria include weather, gas prices, food availability, sometimes hotel availability (although most apps give hotel proximity, not availability or transportation to/from). Some handhelds have gas prices;
* Aviation related functionality on the ground: tablet will run lots of aviation apps, particularly weather, and can update with cellular information. Handheld may have wifi only, but that comparison can be a wash if you have a hotspot on your cell phone. And I’ve never had a need to enter a flight plan on a tablet / iPhone and then upload to the avionics. Almost all my routings have been Direct.
* Approach plates, geo-referenced (shows the airplane on the plate): some handhelds have this, don’t think my iPhone does
* Display size: don’t really know what the criteria are here. My panel is already full, and I don’t like having to look straight down into my lap to look at a tablet. I do have an autopilot, though.
* Utility outside of the cockpit: tablet wins big, can do most of what a laptop computer does
* Price: tablets win
Comments? Suggestions? Or just throw money at the problem…
Here’s what I need:
* Multi-leg flight planning, with the capability to update at fuel stops and also in the air. Currently, this is foreflight and a few other apps on the iPhone plus ADS-B weather, primarily radar;
* Backup nav capability. Currently, this is an aera 660. The iPhone is a distant second because it doesn’t have geo-referenced approach plates;
* Web, email, text messages and text editing on the ground. Currently, a laptop.
* On my plane, I’ve got a Garmin G5 for backup flight instruments and gyros
Or to put it another way – with my heavy old laptop, iPhone, and aera, I’ve got adequate functionality now. What’s worth upgrading?
Years ago, I had an iPad that I used in my Cessna 175 which had no moving map capability. With the high wing, the Cessna 175 had a shady cockpit. The iPad is now so old that it won’t run most modern apps. Current ride is an RV-9A that has a sunscreen but still has enough direct sunlight in the cockpit that the iPhone will overheat if left in the sun. I also have an aera 660 and have used that as sole-source nav on long VFR X-C in the RV-8 and as sole source nav in simulated IMC with simulated total electrical failure. And the iPhone provides a number of other useful apps.
Since I've got an all-Garmin cockpit, I'll use that as exemplar, but how would an iPad compare to an aera 760 handheld? And I prefer ForeFlight to others. Currently, my “tablet” is an iPhone. Similar functionality, but…
Here are my (current) criteria, based on admittedly old experience and information. I know that this request will probably be ignored, but please stay on topic and minimize irrelevant war stories:
* Sunlight readability: used to be that the handheld won easily over the iPad
* Overheating if left in direct sunlight: used to be that the handheld won easily. My iPhone overheats if left in the sun, for example. And if you had a total electrical failure and had to use the tablet or handheld that had overheated… A friend says that new iPads are less susceptible to overheating in the sun.
* Inflight functionality: pretty close with no internet access in the air, but a tablet will remember data from other aviation apps accessed on the ground
* Battery life: both adequate for flight purposes, tablet better overall
* Inflight charging to preserve battery: comparable, but don’t know if a tablet with wireless charging will allow plug in charging in the airplane to keep the battery topped off
* Integration with rest of the avionics: don’t know. My guess is that an aera will automagically get updated information from the rest of the avionics but a laptop might require manually transferring things like current position. Handheld might be able to tune comm radios?
* What-if flight planning and destination changes in flight: near as I can tell, this is a win for the tablet. My criteria include weather, gas prices, food availability, sometimes hotel availability (although most apps give hotel proximity, not availability or transportation to/from). Some handhelds have gas prices;
* Aviation related functionality on the ground: tablet will run lots of aviation apps, particularly weather, and can update with cellular information. Handheld may have wifi only, but that comparison can be a wash if you have a hotspot on your cell phone. And I’ve never had a need to enter a flight plan on a tablet / iPhone and then upload to the avionics. Almost all my routings have been Direct.
* Approach plates, geo-referenced (shows the airplane on the plate): some handhelds have this, don’t think my iPhone does
* Display size: don’t really know what the criteria are here. My panel is already full, and I don’t like having to look straight down into my lap to look at a tablet. I do have an autopilot, though.
* Utility outside of the cockpit: tablet wins big, can do most of what a laptop computer does
* Price: tablets win
Comments? Suggestions? Or just throw money at the problem…
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