New GPS and Palm-Based Devices Showcase WAAS, Terrain Awareness In Small Packages

Here at ANN we know what we are, and we have no problem admitting it -- we're gadget freaks. As far as we can remember, we've never turned down an opportunity to review a new aviation gadget, if we have the means to do so.

Just recently, two boxes arrived in our offices; one from Garmin, the other from Lowrance. In them we found two very cool gadgets which we intend to review in depth, but for which we wanted to give you our "first look" report.

One of the boxes contained one of Lowrance's cool new AirMap 2000c color GPS units. The AirMap 2000c is an all-new, brilliant, sunlight-viewable, 256-color TFT display unit which features Jeppesen and Lowrance obstructions databases loaded on one 32MB digital memory (MMC/SD) card. It comes with MapCreate software, a USB MMS/SD card reader/writer device, an accessory plug power adapter and four AA batteries, plus a remote amplifying antenna, a yoke-mount bracket and a suction-cup mounting bracket for your ground-bound vehicle.

• 5" diagonal (12.7 cm) 256-color, sunlight-viewable TFT display
• 320Vx240H pixel resolution
• Adjustable cold cathode screen backlighting for night-time viewing
• High-speed screen updates
• Jeppesen® Americas database with Intersections, NDBs, VOR, Airspaces (Class D included), and all Airport Approach Control and FSS frequencies
• Exclusive Lowrance Obstructions database with ground obstructions display in AGL or MSL heights
• Built-in, custom continental U.S. and Hawaii background Moving Map® with major highways, interstate exit services, and enhanced coastal/inland
• 12-parallel channel GPS+WAAS receiver with fast satellite acquisition and precise tracking
• Built-in antenna and an advanced RAA-4 Remote Amplifying Antenna
• Satellite status, battery life, and digital data position display pages
• Position information; lat/lon, altitude and velocity
• Quick-access Nearest Airport/Airfield feature
• Aviation-only, Aviation+Land, or Land-only Moving Map® display modes
• E6B and VNAV computer modes
• Customizable display with 20 different navigational information selections
• 1,000 waypoints/1,000 event markers/100 routes (up to 100 waypoints per route)
• Up to 100 savable and retraceable plot trails, with up to 10,000 points in any trail
• 42 graphic icons to mark locations
• 39 map zoom ranges, 0.02-4,000 miles
• Selective on/off visual and audible alarms
• Built-in back-up memory keeps stored settings and GPS data safe and accessible for years
• Waterproof to IPX7 standards
• External power and serial port connections, plus remote antenna jack
• Voltage input from 5 vDC (four AA batteries included) to 35 vDC (via the cigarette adapter included)
• Full one-year warranty; extended warranties available

The box from Garmin contained their brand new iQue 3600a product. This device looks like an advanced Palm PDA unit, because it is Palm-based! It's the next generation up from the Palm iQue 3600, with Garmin-specific software and a number of packaged features. The feature list of the iQue 3600a reads more like a computer than an aviation GPS.

• Powerful 200 MHz processor powering Palm Garnet
• Standard PIM applications: Address, Date Book, Memo Pad, To Do (all of which can be synchronized with Microsoft® Outlook®), Calculator, and Palm Reader for e-books
• Internal memory: 96 MB of ROM for pre-installed data and applications; 64 MB of SDRAM for downloading Palm OS-compatible applications and map data from Garmin MapSource CDs
• Expandable memory: SD/MMC
• GPS receiver/antenna: 12 parallel channel WAAS receiver/ Flip-up integrated GPS patch antenna with remote antenna capability
• Aviation calculator applications: QueE6B and QueWeight & Balance
• GPS applications: Location awareness, electronic mapping, address lookup, automatic route generation, turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance, trip computer, tracklog, route avoidance, and Contact Locator™ (geocoding a location within the Address or Date Book applications)
• New and enhanced Que™ applications
• • QueMap: Displays a comprehensive set of mapping data, such as a basemap of North/South America; aviation navaids, airports and airspace; navigation arc overlay with configurable data fields; Sectional chart-like topographic data; and U.S. obstacles like towers and obstructions
  • QueTerrain: Takes advantage of the topographic/obstacles database to alert the pilot of potential terrain conflicts within the proximity of the flight path using pop-up windows
  • QueNav: Displays GPS-derived speed, altitude and guidance features in an aircraft panel format
  • QueFlights: Keeps a record of flight time, mileage and start/end point as a digital logbook (also interfaces with Garmin’s PC-based FlightBook™ software
• Unit size (WxHxD): 2.8 ” x 5.0 ” x 0.8”
• Weight: 6.2 ounces with stylus
• Display: 320x480-pixel, transflective TFT display with 16 bit color
• Screen dimensions: 3.8” (diagonally)
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery/ Up to 9 hours of continuous use (at minimum backlight setting) and four weeks on standby

Our Associate Editor Juan Jimenez is hard at work (E-I-C Note: Work? He gets to play with these GREAT toys and he calls it work? I'm not buying it, Juan... grin) preparing a full report and review of each of these units, including inflight performance reports and commentary. Stay tuned for the "full Monty" on these two cool gadgets!

Shameless Bleg Request... If you are using one of these (or both?) and would like to share your opinion with us and contribute to the review, please email Juan at the FMI email link below.

FMI: mailto:juan@aero-news.net, www.garmin.com, www.lowrance.com