Sky Radar

[KLRDMD]

I got my Sky Radar unit last week. Here are a couple of images from last Thursday's flight to and from Las Vegas. The glare in person is really not noticeable but the iPhone camera makes it seem pretty bad. The first one is just west of Phoenix and the second one is pretty well in the middle of nowhere, still showing traffic near PRC.

[carusoam]

Ken,

The sky radar is overlaying on top of your sky charts pro?

-a-

[KLRDMD]

Quote: carusoam

The sky radar is overlaying on top of your sky charts pro?

[eldeano]

Looks like it is the Skyradar app. Did you get just the app or the actual ADS-B unit?

I have been seriously looking at the ADS-B unit and would be curious to know what you think. 

I currently have a Garmin Aera and XM then use the ipad for plates and skycharts as well as airguide. I would love to drop the $75.00 a month for XM and $300.00 a year plus for Garmin updates.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: eldeano

Looks like it is the Skyradar app. Did you get just the app or the actual ADS-B unit?

I have been seriously looking at the ADS-B unit and would be curious to know what you think. 

I currently have a Garmin Aera and XM then use the ipad for plates and skycharts as well as airguide. I would love to drop the $75.00 a month for XM and $300.00 a year plus for Garmin updates.

[eldeano]

I first heard about skyrader on this board, maybe form you, got the free trail and like the software, the box with GPS and ADS-B weather is all I need. I think I will take the plunge!

Thanx

Dean

[Immelman]

Tell us more about the weather displayed by it as you get info... I am very interested to hear your reports!

[FlyDave]

Ken - I've made the decision to go with the iPad.

I'm just about to pull the trigger on SkyRadar setup for delivery for my weekend/next weeks flights. Any updates on Skyradar? Are you happy with it? Can you post additional images of it in operation?

Thanks,

[KLRDMD]

Quote: FlyDave

I've made the decision to go with the iPad. I'm just about to pull the trigger on SkyRadar setup for delivery for my weekend/next weeks flights. Any updates on Skyradar? Are you happy with it? Can you post additional images of it in operation?

[FlyDave]

Quote: KLRDMD

No additional images right now. I've been sick and have not flown in a week. Probably won't fly again until after the holidays too.

[fantom]

Reports are that Palm is coming out with a tablet that will blow the iPad away sometime in early 2011.

Food for thought, and yet another reason to delay the purchase of something that's not a must have. :-)

[eldeano]

Just like the palm pre was going to take out the iphone the zune was going to replace the ipod. I suppose if you have waited this long though the Consumer Electronics Show is in a couple of weeks, and usually apple comes out with their own announcments shortly after.

Actually the HP/Palm ipad looks pretty cool, but its main benifits are hdmi, flash and a camera.I like the size of the Samsung Galaxy, but reviews on it are pretty mixed.  Apple I'm sure will come out with an updated ipad, then sony is coming out with a playstation pad etc. etc. it would be impossible to keep up. For now if you find something that works that you can afford, in my opinion, you might as well just get it otherwise you will always be waiting instead of enjoying.

I'm hoping my skyradar will be in the mail today then I will give updates. 

[DaV8or]

Quote: eldeano

Just like the palm pre was going to take out the iphone the zune was going to replace the ipod. I suppose if you have waited this long though the Consumer Electronics Show is in a couple of weeks, and usually apple comes out with their own announcments shortly after.

[Igor_U]

Quote: KLRDMD

[KLRDMD]

Quote: Igor_U

[TLSDriver]

Quote: KLRDMD

I got my Sky Radar unit last week. Here are a couple of images from last Thursday's flight to and from Las Vegas. The glare in person is really not noticeable but the iPhone camera makes it seem pretty bad. The first one is just west of Phoenix and the second one is pretty well in the middle of nowhere, still showing traffic near PRC.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: TLSDriver

[TLSDriver]

After using it awhile would you recommend it?

[KLRDMD]

Quote: TLSDriver

After using it awhile would you recommend it?

[FlyDave]

Quote: TLSDriver

Was wondering if you can give an updated pirep??

Do you have to be at a certain altitude to recieve weather?  

Do you get much traffice information?

Have you used it with other programs such as WingX pro?

[Hank]

Dave--

I just inherited an original iPad, and need advice on both aviation apps [thanks for the WingX thing--I was thinking about ForeFlight] and general operation for the cockpit. Anything you can PM or email would be great! Note that I live in a high-spped-internet-challenged area. Nothing like mountains, small populations and high poverty rates to reduce availability.

[carusoam]

Dave,

Comparing WingX experiences....

I fell for the WingX promise(s)...

Have you purchased the subscription for Geo referenced instrument approaches?

I have been using WingX PRO7 since November 2010 on the Ipad.  Until recently (ver 5), it did not have real chart data.  No MEAs or charted holds.  For a while it was unable to draw a line to "go direct".  This meant paper charts in the cockpit still.  (how dissapointing).

Now WingX has been updated with real charts in the background, but has lost functionality.  I received an upgrade again this week that restored the lost functionality (weather data was missing for a couple of weeks, touch screen functionality would not work at some times.)  TACs still seem to be unavailable - Went VFR up the Hudson River exclusion with colleagues from Europe, again paper in the cockpit.

Unfortunately, (just last night) the program would crash and exit.  So after 6 months, i have found WingX just not done yet on the things they promise that it can do....

I would find it highly unlikely that it would perform on the less popular, and more critical things like sky radar.

Not to be too hard... WingX is not at the level of completely empty promise, but I am still unable to trust that it will work as a reliable resource.

Overall, before spending any more money with WingX / Hilton Software, be sure that it will perform the way you expect. 

The reason I initially selected WingX over the other offerings ...Actual position on IAPS and terrain.  I never bought the extra subscription because the first part didn't work as advertised.  

Change at Hilton Software is glacially slow for the Ipad.  The Hilton website well overpromises what the program will do.  They overpromise when the upgrades are coming.  They are a small company, with a good idea, but they seem overwhelmed...

My initial rating was 1 out of 5 stars.  I have recently brought the rating up to 3 out of 5 stars.  I feel program crashes for a situational awareness device nearly unforgivable.  Each program revision makes me start testing the system all over again.

I should have just followed Ken Reed's advice...

Best regards,

-a-

[KLRDMD]

Quote: carusoam

I should have just followed Ken Reed's advice...

[FlyDave]

Gee Ken - I didn't realize how.....aw, never mind...it was just a smart-ass comment

carusoam - WingX has crashed on me a couple of time as well, but so has SkyCharts Pro, SkyRadar AND Foreflight! None of them are perfect but the funtionality of WingX combined with the SkyRadar receiver wins hands down.

I do not use any of these apps for navigation. I have both a 430 and 496 (if needed) for navigation. I use the iPad as a source of information only. I have not purchased a subscription for geo-referrenced approach plates and don't plan to. The information I get from WingX is wonderfully easy to retrieve and provides what I want when I want it in the cockpit. None of these apps are without "warts" (as Paul Bertorelli put it). You just have to pick the warts you're willing to live with.

[FlyDave]

Quote: Hank

Dave--

I just inherited an original iPad, and need advice on both aviation apps [thanks for the WingX thing--I was thinking about ForeFlight] and general operation for the cockpit. Anything you can PM or email would be great! Note that I live in a high-spped-internet-challenged area. Nothing like mountains, small populations and high poverty rates to reduce availability.