Aviation GPS Units

[popeye]

My son is a helicopter tech. He bought a Garmin too because of the reputation of reliability around the aviation community. You'll love it!! I have a Magellan Sportrac but I am not a pilot. It does everything I want it to do.
Mike

 

[JATO_RaT]

I have the Garmin eTrex vista. I have been looking at the StreetPilot III which is a color unit and portable. The external antenna is supposed to be a valuable asset of course, being in an airplane may cause problems here. Various websites have given it great reviews especially for the price of the unit. Its under $900 and has a very nice display. I have considered going through Amazon as they have a very gracious return policy should it not be all it claims to be or you find out more about it through use. Rat...

 

[Hank]

<font color=blue> I have considered going through Amazon as they have a very gracious return policy should it not be all it claims to be or you find out more about it through use </font color=blue>

In addition to a good price, which is the main reason I bought my Garmin GPS V through Amazon /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[GaryM]

I have the Garmin III+ that I use in the car as well as handheld. It's a good unit. I have used it in Cessna 172 and it worked well there too.

I use a RAM Mount. They make a cradle that holds the unit, and I think the III+ and the V are the same size. The cradle than can mount on the rest of their system. Mine has a ball mount on the cradle, then a shaft about 10CM long. This shaft then clamps to a suction cup about 10-12 CM in diameter. With the ball mount on the cradle as well as on the suction cup most any adjustment can be made. The suction cup can be replace with any of their other accessories, such as different type of clamps or flange mounts.

So with one cradle and arm you could have a flange mount on the tractor, another on the boat, and a suction cup for the airplane! Just loosen the knob and move the unit around as required.

They make cradles to fit various GPS units as well as other types of electronics.

This page http://www.gps4fun.com/rammount_gar2and3.html shows mounts for some Garmin units. The home page at www.ram-mount.com seems to be down right now. If you, or anyone else, wishes I'd be happy to provide photos of my mount.

Have fun!

 

[njrqs]

Gary

I looked up Ram on the advice of someone else's post too.

Seems we have them here but the pics didn't make it look like they would work.

But I am interested in the suction mount. Will that stick to the plane windshield and stay there ??

Cheers

 

[GaryM]

Yes it will. That's what I used in the 172. We were going to take some photos of our property. I set a way point and we flew right to it. Just follow the pointer!

Here's a shot showing the Ram Mount from the back with my III+. Note the balls attached to the suction cup and the bottom of the cradle. There is an alternative mounting point on the cradle. Use what's best in your application. The balls are rubber coated and the thing clamps tight. But by loosening the knob, adjustments may easily be made.

Let me know if you want more photos or information.

 

[GaryM]

I just looked at the Ram site, it's back up, and they have released a bunch of new items since I was there last.

And my wife says I should apologize for the cluttered background on the photo.

As I mentioned, once you have the cradle and arm pieces, all you have to do is add a different base for each vehicle and you're good to go. Or add a different "top" for a new piece of electronics such as a PDA or cell phone. Mount your phone on your tractor! Don't have to worry about it coming off your belt or out of your pocket.

I'll bet the rig shown in the attachment would mount on a ROPS!

 

[njrqs]

Thanks Gary

That makes it a bit cleaer for me. I price a Ram mount here but didn't realise it has a suction cap. I have asked the guy to clarify that. If it does, for $81 A (approx $40US) it might be what I need.

The Garmin yoke mount kit sold here looks OK but is dearer than the ram and would then be useless for any other application.

IN the 172 (what I also fly), does that mount get the unit nice and close to the edge of the dash, and doesn't tend to get in the way of your vision?)

Don't suppose you have any pics of it in the aircraft or is that asking a bit much /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Cheers

PS - Like your website !


PPS - Just check with the Ram guy. The section cap bit is an EXTRA $50A. So maybe no for me..................

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...I'll bet the rig shown in the attachment would mount on a ROPS!...</font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I put my GPS in the "useless" cupholder and wrap the lanyard around the PTO lever and haven't lost her yet... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

(now my cellphone is another story! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif)

 

[GaryM]

I was not the pilot. I was working on a license, but last flew in 1968! I was up to my dual cross country and it was going to cost about $60 or so. I told them I'd be back when I had saved up the cash. I guess I'm not doing too well am I?

Anyway, because of the way the ball and socket works, I stuck the suction cup on the section of the windscreen just forward of the door. Where it's more or less parallel to the side of the A/C. It seemed to stay in place OK. I think that on a long flight you might need to squish the air out of the cup as it leaks in. How clean is the surface? Are you willing to apply a little silicone grease? Mary variables. The unit ended up just forward of the edge of the dash. Sorry no pictures of it in place.

Cabela's, an outdoor outfitter, has the cup in their on-line catalog here:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0000826&navAction=jump

$19.99 USD

I don't know if they ship to OZ, but I suppose I could get it at the local BassPro shop and send it. I've seen it on the rack. I'd imagine it wouldn't cost to much to send. It weighs 3.3 Oz. The US postal service site says it's $14.50 to send 8 Oz. by air parcel post.

I just spoke to Cabela's on the phone and they ship to OZ, but couldn't provide a shipping cost without an address. Computers you know.

Let me know if I can help.