Cellphone aviation gps

[Chris]

Good day all

I was wandering if there are any free cellphone (windows mobile) aviation gps software available out there ?

[cobra]

Have a look at http://www.vfrplanner.co.za if you looking at a tracking application, not sure if the java app will run on your Windows Mobile phone.

e.g http://www.vfrplanner.co.za/?page_id=135

[V]

Garmin Mobile XT should do the trick. It works on many platforms, including Windows and Symbian. Doesn't provide altitude, vertical speed, etc. information, but the moving maps, routes, etc. are good enough for navigation. The navigation application itself is free.

Maps coverage is excellent and they are easy to install for free ...

[ZULU1]

Take a look at the apps available for an iPhone, even Head up displays...http://www.i-hud.com/
I would imagine with the iPad we can expect a wireless full efis. The iphone has a really good GPS nav system. 10 quid !!

Its got to be worth a download..

http://www.airboxaero.com/products/runway/

Mind boggling what is available.

Zulu1

[V]

Hi Paul,

what do you think, would the cellphone cause significant interference mounted close to the radio and intercom in the cockpit? Is it worth a test?

Once I rigged an FM transmitter with my phone in a car to play music via the car's radio. It was dangling on a short, approx 2 inch cable and it totally killed the reception of the built-in GPS (Nokia E90). Switched off the transmitter and got a satellite fix immediately. Changing the transmitter's frequency (89-107MHz range) didn't help, but using a longer, about 10 inch cable and placing the transmitter a little further away did.

Cheers,

V.

[ZULU1]

Valentine, I have been test flying with a iphone using a Bluetooth link we have just started making to interface with our systems and Lynx / Micro Avionics. I have a iPhone GPS app and a Anemometer app.

I have zero interference at all, no cable between the iphone and the intercom even close by.

This gives me a ipod, cell phone, GPS (Aviation) and commercial radio all in one device. With one connection to our interface it mutes automatically...Hopefully weather permitting tomorrow I will see if the Transponder interferes with it.

Now just mind the power lines....

Cheers Paul

[V]

Hi Paul,

cool, I think, once the new radio (picked up one from Solo this morning) is working fine on the Windlass, I'll be doing some experimenting with my N97. (Mind you, the N97 has got a built-in FM transmitter and the last time I've driven a car that had a radio I don't remember picking up any interference with the built-in GPS receiver.) Tried the music feed of the Chatterbox already and it was AMAZING!

Now just have to think about something clever about using touch-screen device in a vibration environment. Can't believe that Garmin is bringing out a touch-screen aviation device. Those product managers should come for a test drive in my Land Rover!

Btw. Nokia have made their navigation software - Ovi Maps - available for free a little while ago. Free as in free beer and free lunch. In my experience the Garmin maps are a little better (better coverage out in the sticks and fewer goofs in the cities) and the MapSource app does a great job managing the maps. But hey, free is free

Yeah, those power lines in the cockpit ...

Cheers,

V.

[cobra]

Hi Paul,

Can't believe that Garmin is bringing out a touch-screen aviation device. Those product managers should come for a test drive in my Land Rover!

Been using the aviation Garmin aera 500 touch screen for a couple of months, what a dream. Beats fiddling with the normal rocker switches.

[V]

I have an N97 that sits in a windscreen-mounted cradle in my year 1955 Series I Land Rover. Operating the touch-screen is a hit-and-miss operation even on smooth road surfaces. Since one can't feel the shape of the button, the finger needs to be positioned correctly. But the phone moves in a split second (even though it is in a very stable cradle) and there is the miss. Very annoying and not very safe ...

I even switch off the phone's motion sensor, because it gets confused from the vibrations and keeps switching between portrait and landscape mode, which eventually leads to a crash (of the phone's software, not the vehicle).

Glad to hear that the touch-screen Garmin works fine in a plane. Maybe I shouldn't try using high-tech gadgets in a low-tech car

Cheers,

V.