Sky Radar

[N33GG]

Very impressive and great information.  You guys are gonna cause me to spend some money!

[eldeano]

I own a skyrader box but haven't been using it, as I prefer foreflight to the skyrader app.  I haven't tried the new version of wing-x though, so maybe I will give that a shot.  Wasn't impressed with there older offerings.  

Foreflight with an external GPS is, in my opinion, awesome for long cross country's to unfamiliar airports because of all of the easily accessible information, including info on FBO's and fuel prices, freqs, taxi diagrams, etc.  What you don't get is weather and terrain.  They are putting together a weather package through wx works, but it will be about $200.00 for the interface, $650.00 for the wxworks box, then you need a xm subscription.  You can buy an Aera for that, which is what I use for weather, and just keep it minimally upgraded, as to not break me.

Looking forward to checking out the new Wing-X.

Thanx for the info

[carusoam]

Dave,

I was wondering about the other system's warts too... Thanks for sharing.

For $.99 sounds like an excellent way for someone to try the program.  This was not available when I first signed up.  I used the trial period for ForeFlight but was unable to really give it an honest workout before my trial period ran out.

I am currently using a KX165 for ILS, KLN90B for IFR nav along with a garmin portable for back-up.  I was hoping to use the WingX as a simple cross checking feature. 

While sliding down an ILS in the murk, I was hoping to match that up with picture on WingX to build that comfortable feeling that the ILS is in fact working the way I was expecting it to....  (my A/P will blindly follow an inappropriate signal if the pilot makes a simple blunder)

Primarily my Ipad purchase was to eliminate paper in the cockpit.  I was initially very dissapointed with the minimal information delivered through WingX.  Now this goal is almost the reality.  WingX would finish this by adding TACs to the program.

Then I saw Ken R's report on sky radar.  This would help on those long cross countries to add weather to the whole thing.  I don't have an XM device or any other strategic onboard weather device.  When the storms stretch 1/2 way across the country it would be nice to know where the big holes are. 

I am looking forward to somebody's review on combining WingX with the skyradar.  The Waas addition along with weather may be a nice combination.

Best regards,

-a-

[TLSDriver]

Quote: FlyDave

I got an iPad and SkyRadar reciever late last year.

I had been using the SkyRadar app with it. But IFR magazine reviewed the major apps in their last edition and rated WingX Pro7 as the best in the cockpit. Part of their decision was that WingX supports the SkyRadar reciever. Boy, are they right!!!

The SkyRadar receiver is GREAT to have in the cockpit for weather, NOTAMs, TFR's, etc. I get weather on the ground in the LA basin after about 5 minutes but it's much more reliable in the air. I've only seen traffic once on it using the SkyRadar app and I'm not sure if WingX will support it. I haven't seen anything on their website about traffic but I think they will in time.

I didn't like having to use a number of different apps to get what I wanted in the cockpit. I was using SkyRadar and SkyCharts Pro and Foreflight (a little) because each had something the others didn't.

But WingX is a great app:

Well thought out interface

A lot of information available when and where you'd want to see it

Configurable screens - see what you want and no more/no less

Good weather for planning (I still use aviationweather.gov/adds for the java tools)

Flight plannng using victor airways (shows all intersections in flight plan - very nice as I've never had that before)

Dimmable screen so your iPad doesn't blind you at night

A number of other nice features

So I'm using WingX exclusively now in the cockpit.

If you're buying an iPad II you'll be even happier as these larger apps don't screen refresh as fast as I'd like.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: carusoam

I am looking forward to somebody's review on combining WingX with the skyradar.  The Waas addition along with weather may be a nice combination.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: TLSDriver

One thing that I read was that you can't pull up weather for areas other than your general geographic area.  Is that correct?

One of the items that I was exited about with XM was that I could take off out of Ft Myers and pull up a METAR for my destination 500 miles away.  Plus I could pan over to the area and take a look at the radar.

Will SkyRadar do the same thing?

Once you are airborne do you ever lose conectvity?

My local shop is trying to sell me a Garmin 696 or Aera with XM.  Says ABS-D doesn't work.  I think that is nonsense.  The coverage map looks good and getting better all the time.

[eldeano]

I have had some problems getting ads-b coverage over the Cascades here in the Northwest.  That may have Changed, but I will not know until summer when it is safe to fly over the Cascades again.  I am going flying tomorrow and will try wing-x with the skyradar box and see what happens.  I'm downloading the databases as I type this. Just doing the 30 day trail for now.  I flew to New England this fall/winter and back down through the south and had planned on checking coverage, but our small M20C cockpit was already pushed to the limit, so just used the Aera and the ipad strapped to my leg with the bad elf GPS.  I now use the GNS 5870 bluetooth gps as we had problems charging the ipad with the bad elf on those longer days.  

[FlyDave]

Quote: TLSDriver

Would you say the information that you get from skyrader is bascially the same as XM weather?  

One thing that I read was that you can't pull up weather for areas other than your general geographic area.  Is that correct?

One of the items that I was exited about with XM was that I could take off out of Ft Myers and pull up a METAR for my destination 500 miles away.  Plus I could pan over to the area and take a look at the radar.

Will SkyRadar do the same thing?

Once you are airborne do you ever lose conectvity?

My local shop is trying to sell me a Garmin 696 or Aera with XM.  Says ABS-D doesn't work.  I think that is nonsense.  The coverage map looks good and getting better all the time.

Skipping the monthly fees seems like a cool idea but i dont want to be in the clag wishing I spent the few bucks.

What say you?

[KLRDMD]

Quote: KLRDMD

If there is a one month, 99¢ trial, I'll do it and let you know what I think.

[carusoam]

I would like to add Sky Radar (w/WAAS), and Geo-referenced IAPs to WingX (if it works)...  See photo below.

Simple presentation of the WingX product.  This an example of setting up the flight, flying it, and finishing with an IAP, all in one screen shot.

Left side, is an easy to use form with keyboard option to type in flight way point details.  point and click works also.

Middle, is your choice of background chart, this one is a low IFR with geo referenced chart in background.

right side, is the instrument approach chart that is easy to pull up based on the airport of landing.

Although this looks busy, each of the sections can be turned off.

note the signal accuracy listed at the bottom left of the middle section.  Accuracy from my kitchen table( 10 feet from a window), with the non-waas internal GPS is shown as 98' horizontal and 187' vertical.

As pointed out prior in the thread.  Charts can be easily called up including sids, stars and airport (safe-taxi) diagrams.

I wish I could add writing on top of the taxi diagram.  When the controller rattles off the taxi instructions it would be nice to draw a line right on the diagram including the hold short locations.....

This is not a robust endorsement of WingX, I am still dissapointed by all the things that are not garanteed to work as advertised.  It does show promise and getting better at a glacially slow pace....

Best regards,

-a-

Dave,  I am going to try to a stylus to see if I can add note taking during flying...I am currently still using pen/pencil for clearance info.  I will also see about adding my manuals into .pdf format (great idea).

[KLRDMD]

Quote: carusoam

I would like to add Sky Radar (w/WAAS), and Geo-referenced IAPs to WingX (if it works)... 

[eldeano]

Wouldn't you know I try to review wing-x with skyradar on the only perfect clear no weather day we have seen in the Northwest for like ............ well ever it seems!!  The new wing x is a drastic improvement, but still not as user friendly as foreflight(in my opinion).  I like foreflights interpreted tafs in local time better, and the info you need is easier to get to such as freqs and fbos etc.. Also the flight rules and ceilings charts.  I do however like the wing x split screens and terrain info. Also the airspace feature is great in our area. 

Sometimes Wing-x seems to give you to much info to sort through, which is great on the ground, but in the air you want just what you need in my opinion. Probably part of this is that I am used to Foreflight, but I challenge the Hilton software people to get in the air and streamline their product. I feel like foreflight has done this.

Maybe someday in the distant future  we will get bad weather again in the Northwest and I can give a better weather interface review.  I really, really, want to drop the xm subscription, and the Garmin Aera updates, as I already pay enough to Garmin for the Panel GPSs' updates.

[TLSDriver]

How do you power the Sky Radar?  Does it use the cigarette plug?  Is it difficult to configure the ipad to see the connection?

Same for Wing X.  Once you have Sky Radar up can you just fire up Wing X and they start talking?  

My thinking was if the weather was fantastic no need to fire it up however if there appeared to be some guly ugly stuff ahead I am trying to figure out how much of a hassle it is, if any, to grab it from the back seat fire it up.

 

[FlyDave]

Quote: TLSDriver

How do you power the Sky Radar?  Does it use the cigarette plug?  Is it difficult to configure the ipad to see the connection?

Same for Wing X.  Once you have Sky Radar up can you just fire up Wing X and they start talking?  

My thinking was if the weather was fantastic no need to fire it up however if there appeared to be some guly ugly stuff ahead I am trying to figure out how much of a hassle it is, if any, to grab it from the back seat fire it up.

 

[eldeano]

The long wait is over, we have bad weather!!  Flew as a pax on one of our Kenmoreair Express flights from bfi to frd.  Used wing-x with skyradar box.  Worked great, we flew right into the weather as predicted on radar.  Pretty nifty.  Wing-x is starting to grow on me a little more as I get more familiar with it.  The geo-referenced airport diagrams are a nice feature that I wish I had on my last trip across the country.  Split screen feature is also handy, although it seems that if you have a vfr sectional on the top and bottom screen you can not have different overlays for each.  Sometimes it was a little slower to refresh, especially with terrain, but probably wouldn't be an issue on the ipad 2.  Also being able to hit the route button and having airport and other info available without having to leave the map page is nice.

[TLSDriver]

I should have asked this before.  Besides nexrad and METARs what other weather products can you pull up through Sky Radar?

 

[KLRDMD]

Quote: TLSDriver

I should have asked this before.  Besides nexrad and METARs what other weather products can you pull up through Sky Radar?

[KLRDMD]

I "remote mounted" my ADS-B box today. Previously it was on top on the glare shield but I put it under the right side panel, just under the Garwin gauges. It took two zip-ties so it is obviously not permanently mounted and it cannot be seen without specifically looking up behind the panel. The GPS antenna remains on top of the glare shield and the ADS-B antenna has always been stuck on the left rearmost window.

[TLSDriver]

Quote: KLRDMD

From the FAA web site:

 

10. WhAt products Are provided through Fis-B?

The basic, free FIS-B service will transmit graphical and textual weather, as well as other aeronautical products. These include:

• Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs).

• Non-Routine Aviation Weather Reports (SPECIs).

• Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) and their amendments.

• NEXRAD (regional and CONUS) precipitation maps.

• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Distant and Flight Data Center.

• Airmen’s Meteorological Conditions (AIRMET).

• Significant Meteorological Conditions (SIGMET) and Convective SIGMET.

• Status of Special Use Airspace (SUA).

• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

• Winds and Temperatures Aloft.

• Pilot Reports (PIREPS).

• TIS-B service status.

 

[KLRDMD]

Quote: TLSDriver

From the FAA web site:

 

10. WhAt products Are provided through Fis-B?

The basic, free FIS-B service will transmit graphical and textual weather, as well as other aeronautical products. These include:

• Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs).

• Non-Routine Aviation Weather Reports (SPECIs).

• Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) and their amendments.

• NEXRAD (regional and CONUS) precipitation maps.

• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Distant and Flight Data Center.

• Airmen’s Meteorological Conditions (AIRMET).

• Significant Meteorological Conditions (SIGMET) and Convective SIGMET.

• Status of Special Use Airspace (SUA).

• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

• Winds and Temperatures Aloft.

• Pilot Reports (PIREPS).

• TIS-B service status.

 

[eldeano]

Pireps and notam-d are there as well, just hidden unless you scroll over to them.

ADS-B METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, PIREPs, and AIRMETs appear right on the moving map page.  Don't be surprised when you get to your destination and the weather isn't what you had expected or perhaps a runway was closed.  Get the latest AIRMETs and PIREPs for your flight and know the unexpected.

[FlyDave]

Quote: TLSDriver

From the FAA web site:

 

10. WhAt products Are provided through Fis-B?

The basic, free FIS-B service will transmit graphical and textual weather, as well as other aeronautical products. These include:

• Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs).

• Non-Routine Aviation Weather Reports (SPECIs).

• Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) and their amendments.

• NEXRAD (regional and CONUS) precipitation maps.

• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Distant and Flight Data Center.

• Airmen’s Meteorological Conditions (AIRMET).

• Significant Meteorological Conditions (SIGMET) and Convective SIGMET.

• Status of Special Use Airspace (SUA).

• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

• Winds and Temperatures Aloft.

• Pilot Reports (PIREPS).

• TIS-B service status.

 

[FlyDave]

One question I have is, if you upgrade a Garmin GTX-330 with the ES (Extended Squitter) option, will this trigger the ADS-B ground stations to provide traffic?

[Piloto]

Quote: FlyDave

One question I have is, if you upgrade a Garmin GTX-330 with the ES (Extended Squitter) option, will this trigger the ADS-B ground stations to provide traffic?

[FlyDave]

Quote: KLRDMD

I've downloaded it and will be flying with it probably every day Mon-Sun. I'll let you know what I think, FWIW.