n5lp
fugio ergo sum
I am one of those guys that tends to like the Apple stuff but it has never worked out that well for me in the cockpit. The iPad is way too big as is the iPad Mini and the iPhone is way too small. I have used the iPad Mini some in the cockpit, mostly on a kneeboard, and had screen visibility problems and didn't like the fact of always having to remember to bring it and then there is worrying about the state of charge.
The other day I installed a mount in my RV-6 for the iPhone 6 that I own. It showed promise. Still too small but the more vertical angle seemed to make the screen much more visible.
I always thought the iPhone 6 plus was too big to carry but I started thinking it might work out real well in the cockpit as an iPod micro so I ordered a used and unlocked one for way less than one would pay for any airplane avionic thing and activated it with the SIM from my phone, took that SIM out and had a small device with no contracts and no monthly expense of any kind.
I get the inflight weather from my Stratus I and ForeFlight and get it on the ground by tethering from my phone or by an inexpensive ($10/month) data only SIM. I have the flexibility to use Weathermeister and many other apps.
Boy, I loved the Garmin 496. Inflight weather through XM and many other terrific features. Things started to go bad when I got crosswise with XM. For the 496 I had a cable going back to the XM weather receiver, a cable for power, a cable to the necessary external antenna and a cable for audio. It seemed worth it but I hate cables running everywhere.
Now I have a simpler installation with a dual power cable from the 12V outlet to the iPhone 6 Plus and the Stratus. I may plug in the external audio cable for music. No more power worries and the iPhone 6 plus fits very nicely and way more neatly in the space vacated by the Garmin.
The Garmin had some features that ForeFlight doesn't and vice versa. It is pretty much a wash there. The iPhone will be much cheaper to run.
I was a bit worried about screen size but took the photo below to show how it is. I still think buttons may be a bit easier to use in turbulence, but the actual screen size is very satisfactory. When I took the photo below I had both units inside the house. The iPhone got an immediate GPS lock and the Garmin with the little stub antenna never did lock until I took it outside for about 5 minutes.
Oh, I still have the regular iPhone mount for what I always carry, for a backup.
The other day I installed a mount in my RV-6 for the iPhone 6 that I own. It showed promise. Still too small but the more vertical angle seemed to make the screen much more visible.
I always thought the iPhone 6 plus was too big to carry but I started thinking it might work out real well in the cockpit as an iPod micro so I ordered a used and unlocked one for way less than one would pay for any airplane avionic thing and activated it with the SIM from my phone, took that SIM out and had a small device with no contracts and no monthly expense of any kind.
I get the inflight weather from my Stratus I and ForeFlight and get it on the ground by tethering from my phone or by an inexpensive ($10/month) data only SIM. I have the flexibility to use Weathermeister and many other apps.
Boy, I loved the Garmin 496. Inflight weather through XM and many other terrific features. Things started to go bad when I got crosswise with XM. For the 496 I had a cable going back to the XM weather receiver, a cable for power, a cable to the necessary external antenna and a cable for audio. It seemed worth it but I hate cables running everywhere.
Now I have a simpler installation with a dual power cable from the 12V outlet to the iPhone 6 Plus and the Stratus. I may plug in the external audio cable for music. No more power worries and the iPhone 6 plus fits very nicely and way more neatly in the space vacated by the Garmin.
The Garmin had some features that ForeFlight doesn't and vice versa. It is pretty much a wash there. The iPhone will be much cheaper to run.
I was a bit worried about screen size but took the photo below to show how it is. I still think buttons may be a bit easier to use in turbulence, but the actual screen size is very satisfactory. When I took the photo below I had both units inside the house. The iPhone got an immediate GPS lock and the Garmin with the little stub antenna never did lock until I took it outside for about 5 minutes.
Oh, I still have the regular iPhone mount for what I always carry, for a backup.
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