REFLECTOR: Foreflight and ADS-B

[Terry Miles]

Foreflight and the Stratus2 for ADS-B Rec'rHi all,
I think I did already, but here's my thanks for everyone who helped put together and run this years OSH cookout.

While at OSH, I bit the bullet and bought that Status ADS-B receiver. They sell for $900. Currently I use a Sirius aviation subscription that is $55 per month into a GRT. My hope is to drop the Sirius and save some operational costs. I have already dropped my $550 per yr Garmin GNS480 Jepp subscription, and use instead the Foreflight subscription at $175.

I hope it's OK to raise this question since it is not so much a build question and more a panel design and operation question. Anyway I just wanted to pass along my observations so far, and ask how others might be using the Foreflight stuff and/or this latest Status box.

Regards ForeFlight map thing: It requires a cockpit mounted iPad and it is really nice, and works great both for preflight planning and for enroute chart and approach plate depictions in the cockpit. One downside, of course, is during the arrival stage, updating the iPad becomes a burden when updating your in-panel navigation gear keeps you busy enough. Your experiences might be different.

Here is what I think of my $900 Status so far: The weather radar service cannot be ground checked. I have only flown with it once, and I am trying to see how fast or slow it is to present storm cells immediately after takeoff. I know it cannot be used to pick your way between cells due time between updates, but this weather depic feature is why I bought it, and it is a big loss not to see stuff on taxiout. 

I have also found it eats battery life pretty fast on less powerful apple devices like the iPod touch, or first generation iPads. The other thing essential to its eventual usefulness is finding a rock solid iPad mount that will articulate some, but not come so loose with re-positioning and inflight vibrations such that the damn thing gets loose in its swivel socket right when you need it in view. My bracket is from Mount Boys and not RAM. 

Right now, I say the Foreflight is great, but the jury is still out on if the Stratus2 receiver is a good substitute for Sirius. I will keep you posted. Again, I'd be happy to hear what others are doing.

Terry 		 	   		  
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