Comparing Anywhere Map to the Competition
Garmin®:
No doubt, Garmin makes some capable GPS systems. But did you know that the Garmin handhelds have a smaller screen than the ATC and HP 210, even though they look larger in the ads? The biggest disadvantage is that whatever model of Garmin you buy, it will only function as it does out of the box. You can’t upgrade its basic features and you can’t add new capability like weather or approach plates. So if you want to start with a GPS moving map and add weather later, you’ll buy 2 Garmins: the 296 for $1500 and the 496 for $3000. Approach plates? Can’t be done.
With Anywhere Map, you’ll buy the GPS moving map for $695 and add weather later for under $1000. And then you can add approach plates, traffic, etc. as your flying needs change.
What about updates? Garmin systems use Jeppesen data: $295 per year for data only. (obstacle databases are an additional $200 per year)
Anywhere Map is only $115 per year, for data AND software updates (including obstacle data updates). Anywhere Map offers fuel prices from our 100LL.com website at a low annual subscription cost of $39.95/year. Garmin can’t accept that type of data at any price.
The Garmin subscription for data only prices at $500/year (which will start as soon as you buy the unit and use the 1 single update you’re allowed at purchase to bring it current). XM WX subscriptions of course, would be the same price for either unit.
eFlybook?
This is a black and white document reader. It displays charting information such as approach plates and enroute charts. It does not navigate, display weather, traffic or fuel prices. If all you’re looking for is electronic paper, then this is a lower cost device. The cost of subscriptions are not really any less than any of the other offerings and the plates are NACA, just like the rest of us.
Anywhere Map is a navigation system that focuses on single pilot flight management, weather avoidance and emergency situation management. It is a real navigation device that also shows charting elements from sectional and low altitude enroute chart types. Pocket Plates is the complete set of NACO instrument approach procedures including DPs, STARs, and airport diagrams. Unlike the Flybook, you can actually see your position on the instrument approach plate.
3D Terrain?
At first blush, the idea of looking ahead seems to make sense. What isn’t obvious is that this look-ahead view is only useful for very short range. This is because your distance context is completely lost out beyond 25 miles or so. It is just not possible to make decisions beyond this range because the display can not show you the level of detail required. Further, because weather data from XM is presented in two dimensions, the look-ahead renders the weather completely useless in that view.
Certainly the idea of having backup attitude capability is attractive – Anywhere Map had a similar system on the market three years ago. So the short-distance look ahead view is only really good as a pitch and roll indicator and that could just as easily be addressed with the blue-over-brown EFIS presentation.
Anywhere Map uses proven bird’s-eye views. Why? Because the views allow you to make BOTH tactical (close in) and strategic (far away) decisions about terrain and weather and airspace, etc. without changing views.
Highways in the Sky (HITS)?
Highways in the Sky features are similar in their usefulness as the “3D Look Ahead” view. On the surface they seem to make sense: In the look-ahead view you see boxes that are positioned every so often along your course line. As long as you’re flying through the boxes, you’re on course. Fundamentally, this makes sense.
Practically, HITS on a portable system doesn’t, for several reasons.
- You must be in look-ahead mode because they don’t work in top-down views. Unless your flight management requires a view of only 30 miles ahead, you’re going to be in top-down view as discussed above. No HITS in this view.
- For pure on-course enroute flying, the little boxes may give you some reference. But just like on MS Flight Simulator, you generally don’t start modifying your flight path to fly through the next box until you’re close enough to it to see whether you’re high or low, left or right. So now you make these erratic course and altitude deviations just to “make it” through the box. We have all been taught to hold a heading and altitude and then adjust them when your course deviates from the path: Don’t “chase the needles”. Flying the HITS boxes causes you to chase the needle, only in three dimensions instead of two.
- What about climbs and descents? The descent path can only use expected rates of climb or descent you program in to the software, if it even allows this (Anywhere Map does). The boxes are on the path and you fly through them. If your aircraft can’t achieve the required rates, you’ll fly out of the boxes. Stop paying attention to the six pack (primary 6 instruments) while you’re fixated on the boxes, and you’ll stall the airplane or over speed it in a decent.
- VistaNav’s 3D view and HITS gives the impression you’re going to fly the boxes, etc. right down to the runway like an FMS with command bars. Anyone that has flown a true FMS (NONE of the portable systems are FMS systems by any stretch) knows that the magic of flying the command bars is NOT the command bars themselves – it’s the FMS being programmed properly in the first place. And the FMS needs to be programmed perfectly, not just for the long straight parts of the flight, but more importantly, for the decent, arrival legs, and approach legs. Fail to program the FMS properly and the command bars will fly you into the trees. In addition, the FMS is connected to the air data engine so it knows your speeds, rates, and headings. The portables know NONE of this, leaving the HITS boxes to be effective only in straight and level flight – which is where you simply have to hold a heading and altitude.
Other handhelds?
Like Garmin, Lowrance and AvMap make fine GPS units. But neither of these other two offer weather capability or approach plates. Yes, the screens are larger and they have some really nice capabilities, but the ability to upgrade your sysprotem as your needs and your aircraft change is key to good value over the long term.
Anywhere Map is built by pilots for pilots
Anywhere Map is the value leader and the one that understand single pilot operation. We know how you fly and what you need to make good decisions. We help you out when things get tough. We help you buy fuel at much better prices and help keep your flying costs low. We don’t get sucked into the latest “geek” features just because they’re cool. If we don’t think it will help you, the single pilot operator, we put it on the back burner.
Anywhere Map is the system you can trust now and as your flying needs evolve. Trust us to keep a look ahead for sensible, safety-oriented navigation features. It’s what we do. |
