Garmin Aera 500 vs iPad with Foreflight

[Becca]

We added a Garmin 500 panel dock to our plane and it was a great cheap solution to a moving map GPS.  But now I am reconsidering and wishing we went the iPad route instead.   The price is approximately the same, $700 for the Aera 500, $600 for the iPad 2 3G (you don't have to pay for 3G service, but you need the 3G iPad for GPS).   The Garmin Aera 510 is $1100, has capability for XM weather if you pay the subscription fee.

What we did not consider is the price of keeping the Aera 500 charts up to date.  The advertisements say comes with a "free update" and we assumed that was good for a year of charts, since they sell their updates in annual packages ($530 for the complete annual package).  But that is incorrect.  The free update keeps the data in the Aera updated for 28 days, and after that you are on the hook to buy either the annual package or the one time update fee ($50 per update).   So in other words, its a $700 device that will cost you $530 more after 28 days to keep up to date for the first year of ownership.

The iPad, on the other hand, with Foreflight loaded, costs $75 annually (provides updates every 28 days included in that fee) or $150 annually if you want moving map approach plates too, it also provides DUATs weather coplotted on charts (not XM) as part of the package.  And you also get a fancy new gizmo that is useful outside the cockpit too.

Just my thought for the day...

[ELT]

Unfortunately, you probably will want both.  I use a 496 for a moving map that works 99% of the time. The iPad with Bad Elf ( you really need a waas gps in the iPad) has neat moving map presentation on both low altitude and sectional charts. However, on a flight yesterday the 496 lost gps for 5 seconds and the iPad gps was down much longer.  The iPad is a very good paper chart replacement and with the Bad ELF a good VFR situational awareness tool.  On the same flight over eastern NC the 3G was less than 50% working at 6,000 msl. The iPad is good but not a replacement for even a portable aviation GPS. It is another tool for your tool box.

[KSMooniac]

I prefer the bigger form factor of a tablet for a paper chart replacement, and use my 496 primarily for the XM weather functionality, and as a battery backup navigator second.  The Garmin update pricing kept me from being un-interested in the 696.  I'm anxiously awaiting development of a portable ADS-B solution that will work with my Xoom tablet for WX, and then I'll ditch my XM subscription.  But for now, a Garmin handheld + XM is the best solution for XM WX and a requirement for serious XC travel in my opinion.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Based on the good reviews I've read of the ADS-B hardware for the iPad, I'll probably be getting that equipment and not worrying about starting a subscription with XM.

Unfortunately I've never been a big fan of wires going everywhere throughout the cabin, so a panel-mounted Aera 510 still seems like a good idea until we get ADS-B receivers for the airplanes.  Anyone up to date on this?

[Becca]

So I've read things about people adding blue tooth gps attennas to their ipad and getting pretty much full coverage while flying as good as a Garmin Aera.  Any experience with this?  As for 3G, I guess that would only be needed for real time weather (since with an application like foreflight the charts get downloaded and stored on your ipad while in flight).

[Magnum]

I experienced much better GPS reception from the Garmin units (296/496/695, without external antenna, mounted to the yoke) than several bluetooth GPS, IPAD etc. The Garmins are made for one purpose and do that very well. I update the navdata once a year and have the Jeppesen approach plates subscription anyway so it is only US$ 50 per year. Maybe every other year I buy new obstacle data.

As mentioned before, IMHO the best solution is using both. IPAD for preparation on the ground, Garmin for flying.

[carusoam]

Becca,

Consider adding sky radar to your I-Pad thoughts.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?page=4&mainaction=posts&forumid=2&threadid=2009

It gives blue tooth, waas and weather to your I-Pad....

I am with Magnum on the proven value of the portable garmin.   I am still using both.  But the IPad always has up to date charts and approaches.

I am also thinking that the lower cost I-Pad is an excellent solution.  I have not used my 3G, an external Waas antenna is better, 64MB of memory is way more than neccessary......

If you have an I-phone or other smartphone with "Hot Spot" connectivity, than your wifi enabled Ipad should be able to communicate through it anyway....  I usually don't go anywhere with just an Ipad and no phone....

Best regards,

-a-

 

[DaV8or]

I think the entire aviation community is hoping and praying that the pressure brought on by the iPad and ForeFlight will force Garmin to lower the cost of their updates. Garmin and Jeppesen's lock on the market has finally been compromised.

I am surprised that AirGizmo hasn't come out with a panel dock for the iPad. Maybe it's because Apple doesn't seem to want to commit to a product for more than about 6 months.

[FlyingAggie]

I think having both is a good combination.  I just bought an Aera 560 and installed it in the airplane today and have just recently bought an iPad2 for running ForeFlight HD.  The Aera is mainly for XM weather and the iPad for flight planning and elimination of paper charts.  I feel more comfortable using the Aera for navigation,especially around special use  airspace as opposed to the iPad.  The 560 features 9 arcsec resolution.  It will be expensive keeping the database updated, but comes with a year of "free updates."  Maybe by then the pressure from Foreflight and WingX, will cause Garmin to moderate their "highway robbery" of GPS portable users for data.  The iPad2 (with it's internal GPS)  will be okay as backup.

The compact size of the 560 fits nicely on the yoke and I like it up close and instantly accessible. It is small enough that it doesn't block my view of the instruments.   However, I am disappointed with the yoke mount included with the Aera.  The clamp that clamps to the yoke shaft is way too long and just barely tightens down of theMooney's yoke shaft.  It was designed to be a universal mount and fit over the the massive yoke arm found on Bonanzas.  It sticks down about 2-1/2" below the yoke shaft and today kept hitting my clip board and approach plates on my clipboard in my lap.  It could rack havoc on the screen of an iPad.   Anyone encountered this problem and figured out a better solution?

I plan to use the iPad on a knee pad and looking for different strap on options for it.

 

[jetdriven]

Quote: carusoam

Becca,

Consider adding sky radar to your I-Pad thoughts.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?page=4&mainaction=posts&forumid=2&threadid=2009

It gives blue tooth, waas and weather to your I-Pad....

I am with Magnum on the proven value of the portable garmin.   I am still using both.  But the IPad always has up to date charts and approaches.

I am also thinking that the lower cost I-Pad is an excellent solution.  I have not used my 3G, an external Waas antenna is better, 64MB of memory is way more than neccessary......

If you have an I-phone or other smartphone with "Hot Spot" connectivity, than your wifi enabled Ipad should be able to communicate through it anyway....  I usually don't go anywhere with just an Ipad and no phone....

Best regards,

-a-

 

[jetdriven]

Quote: FlyingAggie

I think having both is a good combination.  I just bought an Aera 560 and installed it in the airplane today and have just recently bought an iPad2 for running ForeFlight HD.  The Aera is mainly for XM weather and the iPad for flight planning and elimination of paper charts.  I feel more comfortable using the Aera for navigation,especially around special use  airspace as opposed to the iPad.  The 560 features 9 arcsec resolution.  It will be expensive keeping the database updated, but comes with a year of "free updates."  Maybe by then the pressure from Foreflight and WingX, will cause Garmin to moderate their "highway robbery" of GPS portable users for data.  The iPad2 (with it's internal GPS)  will be okay as backup.

The compact size of the 560 fits nicely on the yoke and I like it up close and instantly accessible. It is small enough that it doesn't block my view of the instruments.   However, I am disappointed with the yoke mount included with the Aera.  The clamp that clamps to the yoke shaft is way too long and just barely tightens down of theMooney's yoke shaft.  It was designed to be a universal mount and fit over the the massive yoke arm found on Bonanzas.  It sticks down about 2-1/2" below the yoke shaft and today kept hitting my clip board and approach plates on my clipboard in my lap.  It could rack havoc on the screen of an iPad.   Anyone encountered this problem and figured out a better solution?

I plan to use the iPad on a knee pad and looking for different strap on options for it.

 

[pilot716]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

Based on the good reviews I've read of the ADS-B hardware for the iPad, I'll probably be getting that equipment and not worrying about starting a subscription with XM.

Unfortunately I've never been a big fan of wires going everywhere throughout the cabin, so a panel-mounted Aera 510 still seems like a good idea until we get ADS-B receivers for the airplanes.  Anyone up to date on this?

[LuvFlying]

Quote: Becca

(since with an application like foreflight the charts get downloaded and stored on your ipad while in flight).

[Barry]

There are other options. On this site it was suggested to me to check out Anywhere Map among other options. I purchased Anywheremap after checking out the others and am very happy. The updates are cheap, it gets XM-WX, has features that Garmins is only now beginning to implement.

Downside ?? A little hard to read in sunlight ... but positioning is everything.

Anything that needs a cell signal will not work at altitude. The antennae is designed to flood the land. Very little signal leaks through  to altitude.

I'm not saying that Anywheremap is for all, but there are quite a few options out there that are affordable and work quite well.

YMMV ...

[jetdriven]

Quote: ELT

Unfortunately, you probably will want both.  I use a 496 for a moving map that works 99% of the time. The iPad with Bad Elf ( you really need a waas gps in the iPad) has neat moving map presentation on both low altitude and sectional charts. However, on a flight yesterday the 496 lost gps for 5 seconds and the iPad gps was down much longer.  The iPad is a very good paper chart replacement and with the Bad ELF a good VFR situational awareness tool.  On the same flight over eastern NC the 3G was less than 50% working at 6,000 msl. The iPad is good but not a replacement for even a portable aviation GPS. It is another tool for your tool box.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: Becca

The iPad, on the other hand, with Foreflight loaded, costs $75 annually (provides updates every 28 days included in that fee) or $150 annually if you want moving map approach plates too, it also provides DUATs weather coplotted on charts (not XM) as part of the package.  And you also get a fancy new gizmo that is useful outside the cockpit too.