Getting Weather, TFRs, and Other Data on a 740b Prior To Flight?

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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly General Di...iFly General Di...Getting Weather, TFRs, and Other Data on a 740b Prior To Flight?Getting Weather, TFRs, and Other Data on a 740b Prior To Flight?
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6/13/2018 12:52 PM
 
Hook wrote:

Just don't try to update the maps and other big datasets via your phone.  That would have to be an EXTREMELY long pre-flight you're doing.

I bring my tablet(s) home and keep them updated that way.  Like you, I sometimes forget them.  (I try to find ways to reduce those occurrences, such as putting it/them back in my flight bag after updates.)   But if I forget, my phone (with iFly on it) provides my backup.  It's small, but it works OK in a pinch, and it's always up to date..  In fact, I've decided that will be my primary EFB in my amphib.  Which... 

...freed up a tablet holder to mount on the passenger side of my other airplane (I already have one on my side).  Then I went on Craigslist, found an extremely cheap 8" tablet ($30), and that will, for the most part, remain in the plane on the passenger side.  Gives them something to play with, and they can set it to whatever type of map display suits them.  (And, obviously, provides a different map display for me if I want; and provides a backup EFB for me if my primary fails; and provides an EFB [if sometimes out of date] if I forget my primary tablet at home.) 

P.S. If anyone else wants to score a low-cost tablet, I suggest you look for Playster tablets.  They're 8" Android tablets that people get for free if they subscribe for 12 mo. to the Playster media service.  But they're not "locked down" in any way, and will run any Android app, incl. iFly.  For $30 I got a new one in the box that this person never used.  Just a note: for some reason iFly does not recognize these as tablets, so you have to set it as such in Settings if you want it to provide better looking map and menus.  That's a one-time thing -- unless you flip-flop back and forth between landscape and portrait (or vice versa).  In that case, iFly keeps setting itself back to phone mode.  It's a very minor annoyance, requiring a couple of menu taps to rectify each time, and only if you switch back and forth.  I'll report it.

Good point about the map download times. We do have wifi in the airport terminal so I could drag it over there for those downloads or take it home and make darned sure I don't forget it!

 
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6/13/2018 4:30 PM
 

I keep my 740 in the plane, and take it to out update by WiFi in the pilots lounge when I need new charts. I also teather to the phone to update TFRs and weather before every flight. It seems like TFR data over the ADS-B link is unreliable  

 
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6/14/2018 8:43 AM
 

Regarding downloading maps:

I bought a Samsung TAB A from COSTCO ($129) to replace my LG GPAD. It is WiFi only, but if I need to connect to the internet I can use my WiFi at home OR I can make my Verizon phone a hot spot and download maps through the Internet connection from phone WiFi to my tablet. 

The TAB A has great screen brightness, by the way.

I tried using a RAM  mount, but find I can see it best when it is on my kneeboard.

 

John M

 
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6/15/2018 7:40 PM
 

For those who keep devices in the plane...

Mine sits on the ramp and boy does it get HOT and COLD out there....just thinking about what the extreme temps might do to any device is enough for me to bring it home...

And then there is the case of moisture and humidity...boy I wish I had a hangar! (Have full wing and body covers)

Again, if you have a hangar, probably not an issue!

(Been on the ramp for 20+ years) 

Mike N714AJ

 
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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly General Di...iFly General Di...Getting Weather, TFRs, and Other Data on a 740b Prior To Flight?Getting Weather, TFRs, and Other Data on a 740b Prior To Flight?