Lowrance AirMap 2000C
When Lowrance re-entered the aviation handheld market with its AirMap GPS in 1997, it aimed at being a lower-cost alternative. The company has spent its time since then steadily developing solid GPS handhelds with ever-advancing features. So it makes sense that the next step for Lowrance is a color display, which it debuts on the AirMap 2000C.
The 2000C comes WAAS-capable (Wide Area Augmentation System) and is sized similarly to the AirMap 1000 (see " On Display: Bright Companion: Lowrance AirMap 1000," July 2004 Pilot), with a sharp 5-inch-diagonal screen. It retains a menu structure similar to that of the 1000, and you access the menus and move the cursor by using the eight dedicated buttons and arrow keys on the case.
Once the unit is set up, you'll handle most navigation tasks from the Pages menu, which accesses three main screens and their various displays. On the Map page, you have a choice of a map panel (which includes GPS-derived displays of groundspeed, altitude, and heading), a full map (with data blocks at the bottom), a compass overlay (at the top of the screen), a two-map display, and a digital data display (which shows seven data blocks plus a latitude and longitude readout).
The Navigation page offers three choices. The first is a navigation panel with a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) using GPS-derived data and a simulated flight director with yellow bars and an orange chevron. An HSI map screen replaces the flight director presentation with a map on the bottom half of the screen. The aviation map selection gives a full-screen map with the lat/long displayed along the bottom.
While the menu logic makes sense once you've worked with the 2000C for a bit, there is some inconsistency I've noted regarding the pop-up alarms and boxes. It's more of a frustration, but to get rid of the alarm boxes, you hit the Exit key, which seems different to me after using a succession of handheld GPS units. This wouldn't bother me too much, except that some pop-up boxes ask you to hit the Enter key to escape them. There's a method to it, but I always seem to hit the wrong button.
One nice feature is the night display mode, which also backlights the 2000C's buttons. The daylight screen is bright enough to stand up to the strongest winter daylight I could find during the testing period.
The 2000C operates from a DC power adapter or from four AA batteries (standard alkaline, rechargeable alkaline, or NiMh). Because the color screen sucks up power, the batteries are recommended for use only as a backup. Battery useful life is about 45 minutes, according to our experience using standard alkalines. You can save the batteries somewhat, if you need to operate on them alone, by reducing the delay between your last button push and when the screen darkens — the default is 30 seconds. The all-important battery gauge is found on the Status page along with GPS constellation information.
Lowrance has incorporated airport taxiway diagrams for major (Class B primary) airports to its database. This is a great start; of course, I'd like to see taxiway diagrams for airports I'm more likely to fly into and get lost at. As with the 1000, you can create custom map files with MapCreate software (included) or purchase Freedom Maps — preloaded MMC cards.
While the 2000C lacks the terrain features of the high-end color Garmin handheld, the price (only $200 more than the 1000) makes it attractive if you're determined to have a color screen.
Price: $999
Contact: 800/324-0044; www.lowrance.com
VFlite's AirMap 2000C Interactive Guide
Pegasus Interactive has also developed a niche in the GPS business — in training software. Among its titles for learning both panel-mount and handheld avionics is its latest offering, the AirMap 2000C Interactive Guide.
Using scenario-based training, the CD-ROM breaks down the functions of the 2000C into phases of flight. A narration and text accompany a demonstration on a built-in 2000C simulator — so you don't need to have the unit powered up alongside you to complete the training. This is a plus, since the battery life on the 2000C is relatively short.
The program is both PC- and Mac-compatible, and comes recommended by Lowrance. We can recommend it as well. Check out the other VFlite titles, which include the Lowrance AirMap 1000/500, Garmin GPSMap 296 and 196, and Garmin GNS 430/530 interactive guides.
Price: $69.95
Contact: 610/738-6901; www.vflite.com
PS Engineering PMA8000-SR
Once again, PS Engineering has look-ed at the audio panel and found a way to incorporate the latest audio technology. With the PMA8000-SR, the company joins forces with Sirius Satellite Radio to bring seamless, coast-to-coast radio programming to the cockpit.
The PMA8000-SR includes all of the audio functions of the current PMA-8000, which includes a six-place intercom with two independent music inputs, a marker beacon receiver, and a cellular or satellite telephone interface. In addition, the PMA8000-SR has a built-in Sirius Satellite Radio receiver. Sirius provides more than 120 channels of entertainment: 65 channels of commercial-free music and more than 55 channels of news, talk radio, and sports coverage. A split mode allows passengers to listen to a music input (such as a CD) while the pilot and copilot or front-seat passenger listen to Sirius programming. The Sirius satellite signal is available across the 48 contiguous United States, with plans to extend into Canada and Mexico in the works.
The PMA8000-SR is a pin-to-pin replacement audio panel for the Garmin GMA 340, so if the airplane is already wired for the Garmin unit, installation is simple.
Price: $2,590 list price
Contact: 865/988-9800; www.ps-engineering.com
Niborex PEC for PocketPC
The Portable Electronic Co-Pilot (PEC) suite of applications from Niborex combines several useful tools for pilots in one program for PocketPC-based personal digital assistants (PDAs). You begin by creating a custom profile that matches your flying needs and can include checklists, graphics (including weather and airport diagrams), and media and text files.
With some help from program developer David Lane, we tested the PEC — it does take some legwork to get started. A pilot-defined "talking" checklist (the user can mute or play the aural annunciations as desired) helps guide you through procedures from preflight to emergencies. Timers include a flight timer and events timers (fuel reminders and meeting reminders), and they are accessible from most other parts of the program. You can download weather and flight-plan information from AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner, including weather graphics and text, to access during a flight. A range calculator serves as a time/speed/distance calculator, and makes calculations in various metric and imperial units. In addition, helpful info pages include light gun signals and a flight-plan page, which lists the standard flight-plan sequence.
A desktop-PC interface allows the user to customize the program; recent updates have smoothed this process. If you tend to customize what you have, this program may be a good fit. You need a PDA running PocketPC 2002 or higher for the PEC. The company also offers an E6B application, sold separately.
Price: $129.95 on CD-ROM; $124.95 to download
Contact: www.niborex.com
Quick Hits
Enhanced Flight Group has announced its new ground power unit, the Model 978 GPU. The 20-pound unit provides DC power converted from common 120-volt AC outlets. Both 14-volt and 28-volt GPUs are available.
Price: $795 for 14-volt unit; $995 for 28-volt unit
Contact: 859/255-4511; www.enhancedflight.com
Aviation Supplies & Academics offers several new products aimed at sport pilots. The Sport Pilot Logbook is optimized for logging this kind of flight time, and the latest version of Prepware prepares pilots for the sport-pilot written and practical tests.
Price: $19.95 for the logbook; $49.95 for Prepware
Contact: 800/426-8338; www.asa2fly.com
Hindsight Products has developed the ClipStick, a cockpit mounting device for charts, flashlights, and other gear. The ClipStick's flexible connectors allow the pilot to position objects in numerous ways. Order through Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.
Price: $19.95
Contact: www.aircraftspruce.com
Digital Cyclone has updated its Pilot My-Cast weather application for cellular telephones to version 4.0, which includes airmets, sigmets, and convective sigmets, as well as temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and winds and temperatures aloft. Many phone models are compatible, through most national service providers.
Price: from $12.95 a month or $129.95 a year plus set-up fee
Contact: www.my-cast.com/pilot
Unless otherwise stated, products listed herein have not been evaluated by AOPA Pilot editors. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. However, members unable to get satisfaction regarding products listed should advise AOPA. To submit products for evaluation, contact: New Products Editor, AOPA Pilot , 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701; telephone 301/695-2350. Links to all Web sites referenced in this issue can be found on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/pilot/links.shtml).
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