Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #52775
From: Matt Hapgood <matt.hapgood@alumni.duke.edu>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Tablet / GPS / WxWorx package for
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:35:21 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>

I plan to sell my in-flight chart/weather stuff and, before breaking it up and selling it on ebay as pieces, thought I’d offer to the list first.  Here’s the description:

 

·         Motion LE-1600 tablet.

o    64Gig HD

o    2 Gig RAM

o    Fastest processor available on the LE1600 (not the smaller centrino)

o    Bluetooth & wifi

o    ViewAnywhere display (absolutely no problem in a 360 with a bubble canopy)

o    Preloaded with all Motion software and weather / charting software.

o    Two complete power cords/converters

o    Motion cover/keyboard

·         WxWorx receiver (Bluetooth)

·         Holux GPS (Bluetooth)

 

Here’s the really cool part… I can’t stand wires running everywhere, so everything operates with Bluetooth, and I had a wonderful little “black box” built that contains EVERYTHING to make this work.  Basically, you just plug in the black box and fire up the computer.  You can plug the black box into the airplane 12 or 24 volt outlet, or into household 120 current, just by changing the tail.  Then turn on the GPS (which can also run on battery power alone) and fire up the tablet.

 

The black box contains: WxWorx receiver and antenna, GPS, USB hub, and a Juice AC/DC power converter.  The box has an input for the incoming power cord (either 120 VAC or 10 – 28 VDC).  It then spits everything out via Bluetooth or the following wired outputs: USB (for WxWorx if you want) and power output for the tablet (if you don’t want to run on battery power).  There’s a picture attached to this email.  You’ll notice a switch labeled “AC/DC” or “BAT” – BAT theoretically allows it to operate off an internal 9volt battery, but it doesn’t last long enough to be of value…

 

I’ve used it with WxWorx and FlightPrep ChartCase Professional for several years and it is wonderful.  The ChartCase subscription (including all VFR, IFR charts and plates) is paid up through next May ($450 itself). 

http://www.flightprep.com/rootpage.php?page=HomeEFBSW

 

It’s a really clean set-up in the plane.  I usually plug in the tablet for longer flights, but otherwise the black box sits in the baggage compartment plugged into my accessory outlet and it all works beautifully. 

 

Only two downsides: 1) I cracked the plastic surround on the tablet, so it is no longer beautiful.  It doesn’t impair its performance, just not as pretty anymore (and it is a sexy tablet – very thin and light).  Also, if you fly high and unpressurized, the HD won’t work for you.  It’s limit is 10,000 feet.  Lately I’ve been flying higher and that is the ONLY reason I’m selling it.  It has much more capability than a Garmin 696 or anything like that (you can actually use it for something when you get to your destination) and the database updates are much less expensive (you can get for about $400 per year what Garmin will charge $700 for).

 

I’d much rather sell it to someone who will appreciate it for it’s aviation uses than piece it out.  The black box took a ton of work and experimenting to build.  Attached is a picture of the black box.  I’ll sell the whole package for $600 – that’s less than the tablet ($400), WxWorx receiver ($125), GPS ($50) and Juice ($25) would sell for on ebay – it’s practically giving it all away if you place any value on the ChartCase Professional data (it would be good through May or June of 2010).

 

Let me know if you have an interest. 

 

Matt Hapgood

919-933-3295 (home)

919-619-3296 (cell, and coverage is terrible at both my home and office)

Matt.hapgood@alumni.duke.edu

 

Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster