Which GPS?

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:04 pm

Hi All,
Which is a good gps to buy (still 76c?)and is there a problem with buying one from USA, such as iinformation pre loaded? I am looking on the net and the gps's from the states seem quite a bit cheaper?
Cheers
Jim

Davehorne · Post by **Davehorne** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:17 pm

Well I am very happy with my Flytec 5020. It's been around a couple of years or more now so you might be able to pick one up cheap

Paul Smith · Post by **Paul Smith** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:40 pm

5020 gets my vote. had mine prob about a year now and the only problem I have had is it only logs my small xc’s, all the 50k plus ones (that ive done loads of) it tends to delete before I have time to upload onto the xc league....

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:34 pm

thats strange paul mine has the same problem just keeps on deleting the long flights.

5020 great to use and easy and lots of help available if needed

or competino or compeo if you are going to get real serious

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:57 pm

The 5020 looks like a combined vario and gps. I already have a 4005 vario. Is it better to have a combined 2 in 1 unit or 2 separate units? Obviously weight wise one would be better, do shops take part ex?

Jim

Post by **colin keightley** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:33 pm

The benefits of 2 in 1 are that when you download your flights your track has speed, elevation, lift and sink all overlaid on your track

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:35 pm

Cheers Colin, is that how folk can lay their flights over google earth in 3d? Sounds good but costs loads

Davehorne · Post by **Davehorne** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:58 pm

Have a good look around for a 5020 Jim, you might find one at a reasonable price now.

I don't have the problem with it deleting big XCs cos I haven't done any

But it does keep ending flights in mid-air when set on auto, must be all the gale-hanging I do

Post by **colin keightley** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:21 pm

As for part ex-ing yes there are places that do it but if you have bought new I wouldnt recomend it. I use a Garmin 12 £35 off Ebay it hasnt got all the bells and whistles but but for a begginer its good enough you can put your flights on the XC league with it it records max min ground speed distance time everything you need for now if you have a vario. It doesnt have maps but that shouldnt really be a big problem untill you gain your pilot rating. And then when you do decided to go all in one in the future it serves as a good backup to make sure you dont loose that big XC. I mean you cant go wrong for less than £50

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:19 pm

Jim go to the Sick and the Wrong and get a 5020 they are more than enough for your needs. Plus Steve at the Sick and the Wrong did give a part exchange on your old unit....plus I bought mine and had a problem when the batteries leaked (Not the originals) The ones I put in. Steve sent it off for repair I was expecting the worst as it had shagged the circuitry so what did they do....Repair it no! They give me a brand new unit FOC. look no further than Flytec (In my opinion) Fantastic service and backup.

JW

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:32 am

Hi John,
And other supporters of the 5020. The 5020 has been superceeded by the 6020 at £599!

Cheap it aint! No-one sells the 5020 anymore, such is life.

I will search for a cast off or a cheaper garmin 76c perhaps.
Tomorrow is another day.

Cheers
Jim

bill-scott · Post by **bill-scott** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:02 am

Ive been looking for a secondhand 76c for ages now but havent been able to find one.There doesnt seem to be that many about, I think the cheapest way to get one new is from the states but you run the risk of getting customs duty slapped on, meanwhile I have been using my old garmin 12 which does the job fine and is just about indistructable I heard about one being runover by a tractor and it still worked ok

Sad Northerner · Post by **Sad Northerner** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:23 am

Bill

the story was mine. Durig the Bright open in Australia a German bloke by the name of Ulif drove over my entire kit in his suped-up landcruiser.... everything was knackered apart from the garmin.

In respect of using a gps for airspace I don't think their is anything that suits our needs much better than a 76. Getting the colour version helps identify certain types of airspace and one with expandable memory is good for finding your way back to civilisation. However, I've recently seen the new garmin Colorado which is pricier but has a much better screen/display, it does chew the batteries though.

Ali

milleboy · Post by **milleboy** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:39 pm

Hi

We still have a Garmin trade account, so if any of our regulars want to put up a group order we'll pass these on at trade price.
They'll still possibly be pricer than the US, but they'll be UK models and you won't get stung on import tax.

Only rules are no p*ss taking, we'll be doing it as a favour......

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:24 pm

Cheers, Mighty hospitible of you. I'll mention it at the meeting tonight.
Jim

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:15 pm

We still have a Garmin trade account, so if any of our regulars want to put up a group order we'll pass these on at trade price.
They'll still possibly be pricer than the US, but they'll be UK models and you won't get stung on import tax.

Only rules are no p*ss taking, we'll be doing it as a favour......

Post moved to private forum for those interested in garmin deal from Steve,
Cheers
Jim

Post by **chrisfozz** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:05 pm

For a start I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, its horses for courses.

Garmin 76c, 76cx, etc are the good for avoiding air space and with some more derailed maps they are useful for finding your way back after xc or giving directions to retrieve drivers. Airspace charts are free and with a bit of IT savvy can be loaded up on top of regular garmin maps and you can toggle them off and on as required. The 76has a good memory and battery life.

Combined GPS/vario units give you a bit more info when your flying, some of these feuatures I find more useful than others;-
Wind direction, I use this regularly if flying xc. It’s particularly useful if you’re getting low and want to drop onto a ridge, as last weekend, to be sure it’s into wind and going to work.
Glide ratio (L/D), you don’t need the speed probe for this, it just tells you your glide angel over the ground, useful in deciding the most efficient sped to fly to get you best height at your next objective. (The Garmin also gives this.)
Thermal Indicator gives distance and direction to your last thermal over 1m/s. I’ve not had much success with this but then I’ve not tried to use it much.
You can get airspace charts for Flytec 5020 / 5030 but have to pay extra, I’ve not tried them
These units also give the usual vario stuff like average over 15 seconds or whatever you set it at and average climb for the flight etc.
I’ve got a 5030 and particularly like the automatic flight recording although it can switch itself off now and again (when dangling) and the built in battery, a full charge gives enough for a weeks holiday!
Service from Flytec is also 100%. My keypad recently developed a fault, I emailed them on Tuesday and a replacement part arrived today, from Switzerland, free of charge. It wasn’t difficult to replace the keypad myself.
Garmin on the other hand want a standard charge of £75.00 for any repair.

I recently bought a 76cx off eBay from the states, price including delivery was £133.00 but I got hit for another £33.00 for VAT but still a reasonable price total in my view.
It is better having a UK unit for the base map but this does not make that much difference if you are going to have access to something like the European Metrogide Maps which give pretty good detail. Depending who your friends are these are very reasonably priced.

On the subject of these maps, see bottom left of the photo.
“Include route calculation data.
(Useful if you’re GPS supports auto routing)”
well, the 76 does do auto routing but it only works on the base map, if I could transfer this data I recon it would work a lot better. But, on my copy of mapsource this is greyed out, I’ll by anyone a pint if they can show me how to make this work.
Chris

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:52 pm

me and neil have got the 496 and it is just mind blowing it even has auto pilot facilitys to have toilet stops etc. you can even det extras to have direct weather maps coming on screen what all the budding pilots need. who can do ridge runs and coastal flying.

cheers gary

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:24 pm

what all the budding pilots need. who can do ridge runs and coastal flying.

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:03 pm

Hi All,
Thanks for the info. I'm chuffed for you that you got the keypad fixed Chris, I thought when I met you at Tailbridge that it was goosed, beeping all the way to Long Mynd.
Flytech seem to be an excellent company to deal with. Others have mentioned them as giving good back up.

Gary I'm not sure what you are on about toilet stops and auto pilots. I can only assume you've turned to the demon drink whilst the weather is cack.

If you can set it alight it's probably too strong.

I have a flytech 4005 and I think I'm going to get a garmin Colorado or a 76Cx or 76CSx possibly from Steve. I will keep an eye open for a reasonably priced 5020 for when I am promoted to a XC god.

For now I can only

do ridge runs and coastal flying

but who knows, if these coaches pull their fingers out and coach a bit, we budding pilots may just progress a bit and give some of you cocky young tinkers a run for your money?

Or is that what you are afraid of?

I'd rather just buy once, it's easier if you just buy one of everything I suppose, but I can't. I have considerably less money than you.

I know some folk change their wings and associated gear more than Naomi Cambell changes her knickers but I neither have the time, the fund nor the inclination for such activities.

Game on
Jim

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:49 am

Hi All,
I'm putting the Garmin order in on Friday. If you want anything please get in touch. It's a trade deal offerred by Steve for club members.
Cheers
Jim

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:42 am

Forgot to put my number
07930 337 436

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Which GPS?

Which GPS?

What GPS???