Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 22:13:44 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from apollo.email.starband.net ([148.78.247.132] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.8) with ESMTP id 3045567 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 25 Feb 2004 19:48:18 -0500 Received: from oemcomputer (vsat-148-64-12-247.c050.t7.mrt.starband.net [148.64.12.247]) by apollo.email.starband.net (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id i1Q0lP3Z020217 for ; Wed, 25 Feb 2004 19:47:32 -0500 X-Original-Message-ID: <002f01c3fc02$30c8b560$f70c4094@oemcomputer> From: "Tom Hall" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: Subject: Re: [LML] Re: wxworx X-Original-Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 19:47:57 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002C_01C3FBD8.444FE420" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C3FBD8.444FE420 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I was one of the original users and subscribers to the EchoFlight = system. It was the only real product for sometime. I used the system = until I got the WXWorx unit in September. The EchoFlight was SLOW as mentioned and frequently unreliable. I have = had downloads that failed for over an hour. This is not a option when = dealing with storms. The images were very pixelated. They did improve = this some, but it was possible to fly directly thru a red box and not = even find precip.=20 The available bandwidth of the EchoFlight sats are too low for much = improvement. The wx reports are limited to metars. Looping of radar = images is painfully slow. A friend of mine and I used the systems for about three years and we = have both gone to WxWorx. We discussed problems with EchoFlight on = numerous occasions. They promised better performance, but it never = really happened.=20 We went to OSH last year to evaluate the options. I went with the = preconceived notion that the WSI was the system I would like best. It = was a good system, but I personally found the WxWorx more to my liking = and it was considerably more economical. I reviewed every system = represented and looked at all the hardware.=20 If you want to combine radar with moving Map or if you want certified, = in-panel system, I think that the WSI and a MX20 is a quite good system. = This is a fairly expensive alternative, but it is nice and can also run = JeppView FlightDeck. Wxworx can be run on PDA and can be entirely self-contained with GPS = module on PDA.=20 I know that last Fall, Garmin was buying back and replacing all of the = GDL 49 units and a local Avionics shop indicated that rarely had there = been sucessful installation. I had the understanding that Garmin was = planning to use WxWorx in the new 1000 avionics. I ask Garmin if it = would be retro to 430/530 and they said that memory capabilities in = those units was not sufficient, but might be upgraded and that they = likely would move to WxWorx when possible. At any rate, based on my experience, I would suggest WxWorx or WSI. Your = mileage may very.=20 Tom I agree that with a Garmin in the Panel that the cost of the GDL 49 = isn't the issue. The issue is the performance of the SERVICE provider = for the weather information. EchoFlight's system, and the whole request = / reply method, is pretty pathetic compared to other alternatives. The = GDL 69 box should be out within a year, and the cost of the WxWorx = receiver is cheap enough, that I'll wait for the GDL 69 to display on = the Garmin before I spend lotsa $$$ on the GDL 49. I agree with Ron, Someone needs to come out with an all in one = system just like a handheld GPS. I have enough trouble keeping charts = and plates handy. Having to deal with wires and laptops ectra just does = not cut it. The Lancair has a small cockpit so the extras for weather = need to be small. With a Garmin in the panel the GDL 49 makes sense = even at the high cost. ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C3FBD8.444FE420 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I was one of the original users and = subscribers to=20 the EchoFlight system. It was the only real product for sometime. I used = the=20 system until I got the WXWorx unit in September.
 
The EchoFlight was SLOW as mentioned = and frequently=20 unreliable. I have had downloads that failed for over an hour. This is = not a=20 option when dealing with storms. The images were very pixelated. They = did=20 improve this some, but it was possible to fly directly thru a red box = and not=20 even find precip.
 
The available bandwidth of the = EchoFlight sats are=20 too low for much improvement. The wx reports are limited to metars. = Looping of=20 radar images is painfully slow.
 
A friend of mine and I used the systems = for about=20 three years and we have both gone to WxWorx. We discussed problems with=20 EchoFlight on numerous occasions. They promised better performance, but = it never=20 really happened.
 
We went to OSH last year to evaluate = the options. I=20 went with the preconceived notion that the WSI was the system I would = like best.=20 It was a good system, but I personally found the WxWorx more to my = liking and it=20 was considerably more economical. I reviewed every system represented = and looked=20 at all the hardware.
 
If you want to combine radar with = moving Map or if=20 you want certified, in-panel system, I think that the WSI and a MX20 is = a quite=20 good system. This is a fairly expensive alternative, but it is nice and = can also=20 run JeppView FlightDeck.
 
Wxworx can be run on PDA and can be = entirely=20 self-contained with GPS module on PDA.
 
I know that last Fall, Garmin was = buying back and=20 replacing all of the GDL 49 units and a local Avionics shop indicated = that=20 rarely had there been sucessful installation. I had the understanding = that=20 Garmin was planning to use WxWorx in the new 1000 avionics. I ask Garmin = if it=20 would be retro to 430/530 and they said that memory capabilities in = those units=20 was not sufficient, but might be upgraded and that they likely would = move to=20 WxWorx when possible.
 
At any rate, based on my experience, I = would=20 suggest WxWorx or WSI. Your mileage may very.
 
Tom
 
I=20 agree that with a Garmin in the Panel that the cost of the GDL 49 = isn't the=20 issue.  The issue is the performance of the SERVICE provider for = the=20 weather information.  EchoFlight's system, and the whole request = / reply=20 method, is pretty pathetic compared to other alternatives.  The = GDL 69=20 box should be out within a year, and the cost of the WxWorx receiver = is cheap=20 enough, that I'll wait for the GDL 69 to display on the Garmin before = I spend=20 lotsa $$$ on the GDL 49.
 

 
I agree with Ron,  Someone = needs to come=20 out with an all in one system just like a handheld GPS.  I have = enough=20 trouble keeping charts and plates handy.  Having to deal with = wires and=20 laptops ectra just does not cut it.  The Lancair has a small = cockpit so=20 the extras for weather need to be small.  With a Garmin in the = panel=20 the GDL 49 makes sense even at the high=20 cost.

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