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Good morning:: Decisions, Decisions. I have an unfilled 2" opening in the radio stack on my Alon. this orifice once contained A Ross Loran. On recent trips it has become somewhat of a repository, similar to a glove box, with a removable cover it was a convenient location for the wallet, and cell phone while in flight. I looked into a GPS with "Extreme" features to install in this location, and settled on a GPS/Comm by Garmin a GNC-155 VFR version or a GNC- 300 series IFR version. there are many factors to consider with the Garmin. First of which is the depth of the unit is less than 7" which is the maximum depth from the panel to the fuel tank. and the actual versatility and durability of the unit. by durability I mean "Is the technology of GPS units going to change before I can justify the cost of procurement and installation in my aircraft!" I came up with a resounding "Yes!" the lack of features in the panel mount units that can be installed in an Ercoupe/Aircoupe panel are so far behind the handheld marketplace, regardless of cash outlay, that I am better off with the convenience of the glove box! That is a pretty sad commentary for the state of the art. of course it would help if there was at least 1 American Avionics manufacturer still in business, and it would help if somebody would measure the depth behind most instrument panels! How can a 760 channel radio, with battery, and a color GPS unit like a Garmin 295, require 11.5 inches behind a 2" panel height to the sum of 145 cubic inches? Some engineers need to get to work! (PS I'm a retired radio engineer!) Wayne Woollard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hartmut Beil" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 8:42 PM Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] GPS 196 vs Lowrance 500 > ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- > > > I am too using the Lowrance 300 and like it. > It is slow though when using the menues and because it's old it will have to > go soon. > I checked the Lowrance 500 at Lowrance website. > Main thing is that it is using it's own power supply cable to the Cigarette > lighter. You can not use just any cable on it because it is designed to use > low Voltage and the Voltage reducer is part of that cable. So in case you > misplace the cable , you need one from Lowrance. > The Lowrance 300 could use any Voltage from 7.5 V to over 30 Volts without > harm. > Not so the 500. > Also the screen seems smaller and the antennae is integrated, making the > upper space of the unit just a waste . > With the 300 I can detach the antenna and the battery pack, using my own > shorter power supply cable and voila, I have something like a directional > Gyro , almost a HSI on the dashboard without using too much room. > > Can't do that this easy with the Lowrance 500. The upcoming Lowrance 1000 > seems too big for my panel anyway. > > I tried the GPS on the yoke and did not like it at all. > > Looks like the next one is a Garmin for me. > > Hartmut > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Greg Bullough" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 6:12 PM > Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] GPS 196 vs Lowrance 500 > > > > ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any > advice in this forum.]---- > > > > > > Any perspectives on these two units? I can get a great deal ($399) on the > > Lowrance 500 because I'm retiring my Lowrance 300, which used to be > > trusty but now is tired. > > > > However, I really like the Garmin 196, and have the impression that > > it's going to be better supported over time. I like the display, and > > the fact that updates are downloaded, not inserted on a chip. Also > > the fact that the 500's 12V adapter is in the ciggy lighter plug itself > > seems to me to be a pain in the ass. The Garmin just tolerates > > voltages from 6 to 35. > > > > Then again , the 500 has an obstruction DB... > > > > Thoughts? > > > > Greg > > > > > > > ========================================================================== == > == > > To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm > > Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/ > > > > > > > > ========================================================================== == == > To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm > Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/ > > > > > ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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