GPS screen preferences?

[Scott]

I've been practicing with my GPS and am curious to know what Garmin GPS screens XC pilots prefer to fly with?

In a driving test last night, I found a few screens equally useful and couldn't really decide which was best. Of course there's no saying you can't switch screens while flying---but it seems easier to just pick one and leave it.

Ron Gleason flies with the map screen + 4 data fields: speed, dist to next, off course, and the "pointer."

I'm not sure how much use the map screen is unless you're threading the needle between restricted areas and need to know exactly where you are. Otherwise, I found the compass screen with the course pointer to be useful---the course pointer shows your bearing as well as how far (and to which direction) you're off course. (Plus you can still choose 4 data fields.)

Finally, my GPS has a "BIG NUMBERS" screen which will show your choice of up to 3 data fields in REALLY BIG CHARACTERS." That one's nice too, just for ease of reading at a glance.

Just curious to know what experienced XCers have found useful? Kevin? Paul? Ric?

Scott

[Paul Tjaden]

In a message dated 8/31/2005 8:01:12 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, sw@shadepine.com writes:

I've been practicing with my GPS and am curious to know what Garmin GPS screens XC pilots prefer to fly with?

I think it depends on whether your flying in a comp or just free flying. Before I started competing, I flew with a Garmin E-map and used the map screen and sometimes added the data fields. If you're not on a specific and pre-determined course, it's nice to look at the map and know where you are. The Flytec 5030 that I (and just about every comp pilot in the world) use now does not have mapping capabilities. I can set up the screen to give huge amounts of info but my only knowledge of current location is an arrow pointing to the next waypoint and distance and bearing info to that?point (or to the previous waypoint). In a comp all you need to know is where that next turn point or goal is. When I have used the 5030 for free flying XC I have downloaded numerous local waypoints that I can call up during flight and then by knowing my distance and direction to them I know my location in the air.
?
Paul

[MikeBalk]

Scott,

I use the Map page with the Distance to Next Waypoint on the screen. I select GOTO and use the launch location. That way I always know how far from launch I am. I use the map to help find thermals if I lose them, and to help determine drift direction while in the thermal. I anchor the map with North always up.

[Scott]

Thanks Paul & Mike. I'd actually read (somewhere) about watching your track log "breadcrumb trail" (zoomed way in) to see your thermal circles. Haven't tried that yet (and I wouldn't want it to become a crutch).

I'm sort of surprised that for $1,000 the Flytec 5030 doesn't have mapping ability...but I guess it's not meant for that purpose.

For non-comp use, I might even try using my GPS alone while flying, since it has a reasonably accurate variometer function (have to do without the beep though---probably good practice!).

Scott

[heaviek]

Those are the 2 screens I use. You can add more or
less lines of data fields by hitting the menu from
that page. I think I have 6 lines on one of them.
There is a ton of good data in those lists of
variables.

Kev C

--- Scott <sw@shadepine.com> wrote:

>
> I've been practicing with my GPS and am curious to
> know what Garmin GPS screens XC pilots prefer to fly
> with?
>
> In a driving test last night, I found a few screens
> equally useful and couldn't really decide which was
> best. Of course there's no saying you can't switch
> screens while flying---but it seems easier to just
> pick one and leave it.
>
> Ron Gleason flies with the map screen + 4 data
> fields: speed, dist to next, off course, and the
> "pointer."
>
> I'm not sure how much use the map screen is unless
> you're threading the needle between restricted areas
> and need to know exactly where you are. Otherwise, I
> found the compass screen with the course pointer to
> be useful---the course pointer shows your bearing as
> well as how far (and to which direction) you're off
> course. (Plus you can still choose 4 data fields.)
>
> Finally, my GPS has a "BIG NUMBERS" screen which
> will show your choice of up to 3 data fields in
> REALLY BIG CHARACTERS." That one's nice too, just
> for ease of reading at a glance.
>
> Just curious to know what experienced XCers have
> found useful? Kevin? Paul? Ric?
>
> Scott
>

[heaviek]

The 5030 does more and more mapping with the recent
firmwares. It just isn't as good as a stand alone GPS

KEv C

--- Tjadenhors@aol.com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 8/31/2005 8:01:12 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time, sw@shadepine.com writes:
>
> Quote:
> I've been practicing with my GPS and am curious
> to know what Garmin GPS screens XC pilots prefer
> to fly with?
>
>
> (end of quote)
>
>
> I think it depends on whether your flying in a comp
> or just free flying. Before I started competing, I
> flew with a Garmin E-map and used the map screen
> and sometimes added the data fields. If you're not
> on a specific and pre-determined course, it's nice
> to look at the map and know where you are. The
> Flytec 5030 that I (and just about every comp pilot
> in the world) use now does not have mapping
> capabilities. I can set up the screen to give huge
> amounts of info but my only knowledge of current
> location is an arrow pointing to the next waypoint
> and distance and bearing info to that point (or to
> the previous waypoint). In a comp all you need to
> know is where that next turn point or goal is. When
> I have used the 5030 for free flying XC I have
> downloaded numerous local waypoints that I can call
> up during flight and then by knowing my distance
> and direction to them I know my location in the air.
>
> Paul
>