Re: GPS for the Out Of Touch

Jim Logajan wrote:
"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" <The Sea Hawk @See My Sig.com> wrote:
"brian whatcott" <betwys1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:Qpmdnas2XI-Yn0vXnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm out of touch.
I'd like advice on selecting the
1) cheapest GPS that
2) can enter waypoints and
3) can display cross track error, time and distance to go.

It would also be pleasant to
4) dump track made good coordinates in a form that Google Earth could
handle, directly or indirectly.


That would be a used non-aviation GPS on Ebay...

I'd put some cavets on some older GPS models one might find for sale:

For example, I have an "old" Lowrance iFinder Pro that can determine latitude, longitude, altitude, and time - but when it records a track to flash memory, it appears it only records latitude and longitude. I wish it would record all four space-time coordinates. Otherwise a nice model.

I have an old Garmin GSMAP-76 that does all that. I suspect that just
about any GPS will also.

Some are harder to transfer data to Google Earth than others. I had to track down software that could translate the Lowrance file format to a format that Google Earth could understand. Track format conversion issues are also something to keep in mind.

Also, in the case of the iFinder, getting the track files into your computer involves pulling the flash card out - which requires removal of the batteries first (not that hard, actually) - and plugging the card into a Flash USB card reader from whence I then tansfer the file to my computer using regular file copy operations. Other models no doubt use other mechanisms (I have a very old Magellan unit that used an RS-232 serial cable specific to that unit for transfering data.)


Thanks for the input. Going from the pencil line on the chart (from McKinney to Oklahoma City for example) with 5 minute track marks was once an issue of inputting waypoint coordinates to a King Loran C (did I say I was out of touch?) - possibly from a booklet of airport coordinates. Has this approach gone out of style? The big jets still do something of this kind, I know....

Brian W
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: GNS 530... Any experts?
    ... the impression that updating the data card leads to memory expulsion. ... User waypoints will remain in the GPS's non-volatile memory across data ... certification under which this IFR GPS is covered. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: Help with mapsource CONVERSION, BABEL, garmin legend c
    ... I would favor keeping waypoints from all sources in .gpx format. ... ExpertGPS is what I have used, ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Sync Question
    ... Does the memory card sync with the mapping ... I am brand new at this and wonder if the maps loaded onto the ... waypoints, routes, tracks and the list of maps loaded. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Help with mapsource, garmin legend c
    ... I would favor keeping waypoints from all sources in .gpx format. ... GNS, from the Geonet names server, millions of waypoints, and Garmin ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Help with mapsource, garmin legend c
    ... I would favor keeping waypoints from all sources in .gpx format. ... GNS, from the Geonet names server, millions of waypoints, and Garmin ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)