Thanks all for your replies. I've looked at the free GPS tracker software (and SDK on their website) that comes with MI and basically it just locates and constantly updates your position. This is simple and good, but we are looking for something that adds navigation parameters to the screen and allows us to navigate directly to a waypoint (or series of waypoints). Being able to get distance (in meters), bearing (magnetic or true), cross-track error, waypoint name and satellite positioning errors displayed ON THE LAPTOP is key. Also telling the software when and which waypoint we want to goto next is key. We try and hover over a position and get as close as possible to the waypoint before we release our survey markers. Telling the pilot... a little left.... a little right, allows the pilot to make corrections without him always staring at the screen..... in windy conditions, mountainous areas, snow on the ground etc.... I like the pilot to concentrate more on flying the aircraft.... :-).
The idea is to eliminate the need for the navigator to hold the GPS unit and replace it with the large laptop screen, navigational fields, and ability to select the next waypoint to goto. Other issues involve using NMEA output (which is every two seconds) versus Garmin proprietary output (every second). The sooner we are updated with positional info the better. Customization is also key. Font sizes, data fields, hotkeys (can't use a mouse and the touch pads are a bit touchy under bumpy flying conditions. Anyway..... thanks for the help. -Carl ____________________________________ Carl Schaefer [EMAIL PROTECTED] Northern Associates, Inc. Fairbanks, Alaska --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 10345
