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Bluetooth GPS Receiver

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kitfoxjunky(at)decisionla
Guest

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:30 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

I was at an EAA chapter meeting the other day and a guy had a Holux 240 GPS Bluetooth receiver.  It is a bit bigger than one of those pink erasers we used in public school..sort of like a pack of Juicy Fruit gum.  It connected via a wireless bluetooth to his Pearl Blackberry device...and he now has a moving map GPS system.  Not the greatest for aviation, as the maps that come with the Pearl are more for general use....but still...for $ 150 CDN for the GPS receiver it was pretty impressive. 

 

Anyone seen aviation specific GPS software for Blackberry devices. I have the 8700R, and the keyboard and display are great.  It works fine with this device too but it does not have the maps loaded on the handheld.   

 

Gary Walsh

 KF IV  Anphib 912S

 C-GOOT

 www.decisionlabs.com/kitfox

 

 do not archive [quote][b]

FLIER(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:55 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Try PocketFMS.  It's free and works good.  I use it 

on an iPaq and Delorme Bluelogger Bluetooth GPS.



http://www.pocketfms.com/



Regards,



Ted



--- Original Message ---

From: kitfoxjunky <kitfoxjunky(at)decisionlabs.com>

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver



 	  Quote: 	
		  I was at an EAA chapter meeting the other day and a 

guy had a Holux 240 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  GPS Bluetooth receiver.  It is a bit bigger than one 

of those pink erasers 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  we used in public school..sort of like a pack of 

Juicy Fruit gum.  It 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  connected via a wireless bluetooth to his Pearl 

Blackberry device...and he 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  now has a moving map GPS system.  Not the greatest 

for aviation, as the 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  maps that come with the Pearl are more for general 

use....but still...for 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  $ 150 CDN for the GPS receiver it was pretty 

impressive.
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  

Anyone seen aviation specific GPS software for 

Blackberry devices. I have 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  the 8700R, and the keyboard and display are great.  

It works fine with 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  this device too but it does not have the maps loaded 

on the handheld. 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  

Gary Walsh

KF IV  Anphib 912S

C-GOOT

www.decisionlabs.com/kitfox



do not archive

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

On Nov 10, 2006, at 6:27 PM, kitfoxjunky wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Anyone seen aviation specific GPS software for Blackberry devices.


	


I have no idea what a Blackberry device is but if you have a Bluetooth 

GPS and a Bluetooth PDA running Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 or 5, 

PocketFMS is a very good choice. I have used it for the past one and 

half year and I am delighted. The price? It's donationware, you pay $ 

60 only if you want. See:

http://www.pocketfms.com



Cheers,

Michel



PS: I have a PDA with GPS incorporated, it's even easier. A cheap one 

is the Mio 168.

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

Bob

Joined: 24 Oct 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Damascus, Maryland, USA

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:56 am Post subject: Re: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

I found PocketFMS worked OK, but had some quirks and didn't have half of the functions of AnywhereMap.  Also, living in the Washington DC area, I absolutely need to know that the Special Flight Restrictions are up to date and that the map is dead-solid updated and accurate.  I've used Anywheremap with a Bluetooth receiver for a couple of years on a PocketPC and it's been good. Watch for a sale (typically timed with OSH and Sun-N-Fun) and it'll be $95, but is worth the full subscription price, anyway.  While in-flight, it will give up-to-date fuel prices for any airport you designate and then sort prices for all airports within something like 40-50 miles.  It's easily paid for itself in fuel savings.



My only caveat is to keep a paper map, even if it's out-dated, because I've had a lock-up (frozen map) on my old Garmin (don't remember model #) and the PocketPC.  It's pretty apparent that the display stops moving and the world is still moving past, but if the electronic map were all you had, you'd be left guessing where the nearest airports and restricted airpace would be.



Bob

_________________
Remember that internet advice may only be worth what you pay.

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:46 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

I wouldn't even consider flying in this neck of the woods without a VNC, a

decent 1:50,000 topo map and a good hand compass.  GPS are nice and

convenient to fly with but I've seen them going ape when satellites have

been moved.



One day about four years ago I was parked on the side of a road watching the

GPS roam around a thirty mile radius at better than an indicated 100 mph.  A

few hours later it was back rock steady.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

[Slightly off-topic]



On Nov 13, 2006, at 2:56 PM, Bob wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I found PocketFMS worked OK, but had some quirks and didn't have half 

 of the functions of AnywhereMap.


	


That's interesting, Bob, because I find PocketFMS to have already too 

many functions. To be honest, I have not tried AnywhereMap and I am a 

beta-tester of PocketFMS so, I am involved with its working.

But I certainly have no preference and, in my opinion, it is healthy 

that Garmin and Jeppesen have competitors - any competitor, because it 

serves us, pilot, to keep the price down. Something to do with 

capitalism and the reason I'd rather live in Norway or the US than ... 

North Korea! 



Anyway, I use PocketFMS mostly for the moving map and the ability  to 

see myself in relation to the different airspaces. I know that, e.g. 

the next release of PocketFMS will come with weather radar overlay  so 

that you'll see not only METAR but the coverage of rain regions. I am 

not sure I'd want to see it, though, usually the weather is something I 

do before I take off.

There are many people who request many things on the PocketFMS forum. 

Once, someone complained because he has a piston engine running JetGas 

and it has a different specific weight than AvGas. Or, the weight and 

balance function of the program calculates the fuel weight to be 0.71 

kg per liter, which is heavier. Someone then answered that even with 

full tanks, the difference in the calculation would be only 8 kg, 

hardly something worth considering.

So, my opinion is that pilots are not necessarily computer nerds and 

that ... less is more. But maybe AnywhareMap has a cool function that 

is missing in PocketFMS. Do you have an example?



Cheers,

Michel



do not archive

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Just curious as to what the source might be for "up to date" fuel prices.

bob U.



---

shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Just curious as to what the source might be for "up to date" fuel prices.

bob U.



---

Bob

Joined: 24 Oct 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Damascus, Maryland, USA

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: Bluetooth GPS Receiver (& Anywheremap vs PocketPC)

Sorry not to check in for a couple of days to answer you.  The easy question was what is the source of fuel price data, and the answer is that it's from www.100LL.com.  When updating Anywheremap from their download site, this can be updated, so what's in my PocketPC is typically as recent as the last time I hit their site.  Like I wrote, with a tap it'll also give the prices at the surrounding airports, with distance and bearing info.  Tap on any of the airport designators and instantly go to the info about that airport.  Another two (?) taps and that airport goes into the flight plan as a destination or way-point.  It's a nice feature while in-flight and you notice that the winds have given you a higher fuel burn than planned.  I'll check every half-hour if bored in-flight and regularly find fuel stops that are cheaper than I'd planned.



Besides that, what did I feel was different?  Hmmm.  I just went back to look at the PocketFMS site and a number of the Anywheremap features are now also in PocketFMS, which weren't there when I made my decision. The live-weather (by XM Satellite) function on Anywheremap is an expensive option with additional parts to keep up.  It would be a great feature when the weather is really active.  It looks like PocketFMS weather is simpler, free, and just a download during preflight hookup to the internet.  I'm VFR equipped, so like the PocketFMS weather concept.  I can also understand why you Europeans prefer the PocketFMS, as their mapping is hands-down better for where you live.  



AnywhereMap has re-assuring "cones of safety" which are green rings around airports to instantly know if you can glide there or not.  They get bigger as you gain altitude and are based on a glide rate that you store for your airplane description during set-up.  Not sure if PocketFMS has that one, but it's sure nice at night.  AnywhereMap can also go straight into an approach mode that gives localizer displays if you need/want, when the fan stops up front.    Both now have the terrain warning feature.  Not sure if PocketFMS has that one, either.



Within the US, AnywhereMap updates the entire country's maps as a really simple and fast single download whenever I click on their download site.  Plus, the restricted airpace can pop up where I live as fast as somebody in the White house wants to change their itinerary, so updates HAVE to be right EVERY time and I'm not worried (as much) with AnywhereMap, which is getting their info straight from the Government.  In-flight, the ability to set up the Anywheremap display to show just the features I want to see are better and PocketFMS appeared more cluttered.  For a casual local or VFR flight without a plan and near our restricted airspace, Anywheremap was just easier to load and go.  When clicking on any nav or airport data, AnywhereMap is seamless where I found PocketFMS presented too much and had a lot that I had to wade through.  For example, I want to just see ATIS frequencies as we're flying along, and when I click on an airport don't want to see full listings of lattitude, longitude, and everything else when I just want fuel prices.  Same with restricted airspace in AnywhereMap, in that with a tap the airspace boundaries highlight and show effective altitudes, and another tap will get me to the active times and ATC frequency.    



Both depend on the BT GPS and PocketPC to be established and need to be reset if anything gets disconnected.  I still fly with an old back-up Garmin hiking GPS and real maps, just because I still don't trust Microsoft products with my life or license.  If PocketPC works for you, great, my personal use just seemed to lean to AnywhereMap.



Bob

_________________
Remember that internet advice may only be worth what you pay.

shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

<<<Sorry not to check in for a couple of days to answer you.  The easy

question was what is the source of fuel price data, and the answer is that

it's from www.100LL.com.  When updating Anywheremap from their download

site, this can be updated, so what's in my PocketPC is typically as recent

as the last time I hit their site>>>



what I was wondering was how accurate was "their" data and where did they

get it.  The only thing I have used is "airnav.com" and that dependes on a

pilot report for fuel prices and can be off a bunch.  Bob U.



---

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:49 am Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Hello Bob,



On Nov 16, 2006, at 10:26 PM, Bob wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Sorry not to check in for a couple of days to answer you.


	


Nothing to be sorry for, we are among friends and time is not a topic.

Thank you for your detailed answer. I never tried AnywhereMap and you 

gave a nice introduction to it.



 From what I read, it makes sense, if you live in the US, to go for 

AnywhereMap. I won't discuss here in details the features you exposed, 

I guess some have already come in PocketFMS and some may come one day. 

After a couple of years on the PocketFMS forum, I came to the 

conclusion that we are so many different pilots, with so many different 

way to navigate, that it is virtually impossible to have a program that 

makes us all happy. And why should it? It is nice to have a variety of 

offers so that we can choose what suits us best.



But I would like to say a couple of words about the "cheapest gas" 

feature. Because that would be totally impossible in Europe. E.g. when 

I fill my plane with AvGas, I have no idea what I will pay for it. It 

is only when I get the bill by mail, that I can read what the oil 

company is taking for it.



In other words, it says a lot about your country, the USA, where flying 

must be a paradise. Not only do you have so many airfields, but what I 

call "aero-tourism" is an old tradition. I wish we could have the same 

in Europe. Although we try, private entrepreneurism is not as developed 

as in your country. For example, at my airfield, we work a lot to build 

a club house where eventual visiting pilots could have a place to spend 

the night. But everything is so difficult because of so many 

regulations.



Now, I can see my good friend Kurt, smiling in the background! He 

thinks I am about to change my political opinions! Aren't you, Kurt? 

 The truth is, I like some ideas of all political sides.



To illustrate my point, just a small aspect of what Europeans 

navigation programs are fighting for: The lack of navigational data 

base. Until now, we had the USGS NIMA and DAFIF database available, but 

not any longer. We shouldn't be angry at our American friends who gave 

it to us for free, as the GPS still is. We should thank them for having 

made it available for all these years and now ... we have to find our 

own way to solve our problems. And the think we should learn from you 

is that, your Constitution says that any service rendered by the state, 

cannot be sold back to the tax-payers. In Europe, we pay taxes so that 

the state can e.g. do geometric surveys ... then we have to pay again 

to buy it from the state.



Cheers,

Michel



Do not archive

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

jimlc(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject: Bluetooth GPS Receiver

At 11:48 AM 11/17/2006, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  And the think we should learn from you is that, your Constitution 

says that any service rendered by the state, cannot be sold back to 

the tax-payers. In Europe, we pay taxes so that the state can e.g. 

do geometric surveys ... then we have to pay again to buy it from the state.


	


Michael,

I wish this were true.  No where have I read it in the constitution 

nor have I found it to be true in all practice.  We constantly must 

struggle to reduce government ill conceived rules, taxes, and fees 

that are constantly increasing for those who are deemed to be "able 

to pay".  The services we receive from government are not 

proportional to the taxes and fees we pay, nor should they be.  But 

what we do pay should at least remain rational.



Jim Crowder

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