Holding out on buying Handheld GPS... waiting for Nexrad...

[MarineGrunt]

I have had the urge in the past to spring for a nice handheld GPS such as the Garmin 296, but the way my luck is, as soon as I buy something "high tech" and expensive, it becomes obsolete a day later.....

I have decided to wait until Garmin (or whoever) develop a handheld with weather reporting capability... and some type of weather radar display. I know they have the setup on PDAs, but I don't like that option.

Think this is realistic, or am I dreaming...?

 

[Moonfly201]

Hang tough ....

Think this is realistic, or am I dreaming...?

... it's coming. I just lost my in-flight NexRad weather (on a Palm Pilot) because they are shutting down the analog PalmNet wireless service the end of this month.

XM satellite capacity already can to do everything needed for both handheld and panel mounted NexRad capable boxes. Now we need to wait for the boxes. Shouldn't be too long a wait.

 

[MarineGrunt]

SCHWEEEET.......

I'm gonna go dream about the future Garmin 396 with Nexrad...... it's mine baby...

 

[TDTURBO]

Good move holding out. The people that were unfortunate enough to buy the 296 had a big surprise when Lawrence announced the 2000 that will cost much less with XM Nexrad and terrain clearance to be released later this year. It is sold now without this feature but will have it as an add on in the upcoming months. The release has been delayed because of issues with the receiver fitting in the 2000 box. I have a 295 but will jump on the 2000 when released.

I doubt I will buy anything Garmin in the future because of their price fixing policies that prevail behind the Colgate precedent. Do a little research and you'll get the same attitude.

 

[MarineGrunt]

Anyone got a link to info on the 2000?

 

[sky37d]

I doubt I will buy anything Garmin in the future because of their price fixing policies

I agree about Garmin, they penalize the re-sellers who do not sell at LIST price. It was a sad day when they bought UPSAT.

As for handhelds, look here http://www.anywheremap.com/pages/Raven.aspx It is bigger than the IPAQ stuff, is full featured GPS, and can be had with XM Weather. Saw it at OSH, it's fabulous.

For panel stuff, the one I lust after is http://www.avidyne.com/ex500/EX500_CMax.shtm
which does XM, and Narrow cast nexrad with TFR's, approach plates, display for onboard radar, it isn't Garmin, and would work with my radar unit.

Oh, here's the link to Lowrance http://www.lowrance.com/Aviation/default.asp

 

[JimNtexas]

I'm in the anti-Garmin camp also, mainly because they've stopped making updates for my Garmin 90. I also am not pleased about their price fixing.

The new Lowrance handheld looks pretty good, I played with it at OSH. The day they get XM weather is the day I order one.

 

[SMOE]

I bought an Airmap 1000 right before they announced the 2000. However, I'm really happy with the performance of the 1000 and its a lot of equipment for the price.