wallboy Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I am looking to get either a GPS unit or iPhone and use an app to track my flights. I do not like iPhones but have read they are the only phones with a built in GPS chip. Does this mean I can buy an iPhone, put a sim card in and use one of the apps like XC Soar without using any of my data plan? I only want it for flying so obviously don't want to keep paying to track my flights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 You should go for the dedicated GPS route- i'd recommend the old trusted Garmin cs60x Got all you need, waypoints, basic map, you can use it with one hand (gloves), colour illuminated screen, runs on 2 AA batteries for a long time, and BUILT IN BAROMETRIC ALTIMETER. These are old tech, but reliable- you should be able to get on dirt cheap on Ebay. The interface to the PC is via USB cable, and you can use free software to analyse tracks, plan routes, etc.. Check out GPS Trackmaker- www.gpstm.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 The iPhone with runway hd app auto logs flights it's amazing! SW Sent from my iPhone using PMC Forum mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallboy Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 Thanks guys Still not answered the question about data usage on the iPhone. Will an app like XC Soar or Runway HD require data usage or will it work purely off GPS alone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 The maps with RunwayHD are stored on the phone it's self so Although the mapping will work, the notams and any airspace updates (almost daily) will not be updated. Also things like weather, and automatic wind drift calculator will not work. Buy a super cheep pay and go and have an emergency phone as well, and a shed load of other useful stuff. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallboy Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 The maps with RunwayHD are stored on the phone it's self so Although the mapping will work, the notams and any airspace updates (almost daily) will not be updated. Also things like weather, and automatic wind drift calculator will not work. Buy a super cheep pay and go and have an emergency phone as well, and a shed load of other useful stuff. SW aaah choices choices. Maybe I should just get a Kobo with XC Soar, but again I wouldn't get daily updates of airspace updates, although I do usually check NOTAMS before going XC. The key features I am looking for are 1) a route logger so I can see a line where I have flown, 2) Flight time so I can log my hours and 3) the option to program in Waypoints. I always carry 2 phones with me while flying and have a hook knife and red smoke canister on board too which I hope I will never need to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzer04 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I use flyskyhy it does all of the things you want except notams. Height function doesn't work if you have a battery back case. Flight log is good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptwizz Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Most 'smart' phones have GPS. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy Ace (£100 or less) and I run Gaggle and Aircub on it. Many, many other phones with similar capabilities are available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor1 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Simon I use Runway Hd on my iPhone and have the caa charts and GPS, great app. Might be a silly question but how do you see your old flight logs on a map showing the route you took?? It says it does it but can't see how. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallboy Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Most 'smart' phones have GPS. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy Ace (£100 or less) and I run Gaggle and Aircub on it.Many, many other phones with similar capabilities are available. Yes many phones have GPS or similar but its weather I will have to use data to be able to track my flights which is the main question. I only plan on using it for flying so would rather splash out and buy some form of GPS unit and know im done, rather than spend £80-£100 on a phone, then have to keep paying data usage for each flight as that would work out more expensive in the long run. Maybe I should just stick to basic flying as I think I would only end up using the track logger to draw pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganers Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Ahhhh now we see, you just want to draw a massive cock in sky, admit it !!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallboy Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Ahhhh now we see, you just want to draw a massive cock in sky, admit it !!!! As well as other things yeah lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptwizz Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Gaggle tracks flights without using a data connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 There are apps that download and store maps directly on the device itself, and thus can work with the device completely offline (cellular data and wifi off or disconnected), but you need to find an app that does not stream any real time data. (so ANY online service) like google will require a data connection service. Runway HD stores all of the mapping on your iPnone and will NOT require any data connection during flight to track log, or route plan. Update your notams and weather in the morning from your home wifi and you have a fully upto date live GPS system no different from the software used in all of the UK's police heli's, air ambulances, and soon military ones too. That said, its actually WAY MORE than you need, but we all like a bit of that I suppose LOL SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallboy Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Just what I was looking for. Thanks Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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