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What is a GPS Mouse
For many years now glider pilots have
be making use of commercial GPS units and adapting them for use in
their gliders. The first of these units like the Garmin 55 were large
bulky units that consumed sizable current for what they were. The
next generation like the Garmin Pilot II and III are much smaller
units with the benefit of clear colour displays and moving maps.
With the introduction of PDA's to the
cockpit space has become an issue and the need for both a GPS and
a PDA makes finding space for it all a challenge on occasions.
The GPS Mouse solves many of these
problems. Measuring only
58 x 41 x 20 mm. A GPS Mouse is a stand-alone GPS engine
with circuitry to convert the signal into the standard NMEA-0183 protocol
making them compatible with most system used in gliders.
Both the small size and the fact that
there is no setting up involved make these units idea for use in gliders.
Competition pilots will find that
they provide an simple and cheap backup system for their flight
logging, either connected to a stand-alone logger or via their
PDA.
For the club the provision of a simple
GPS Mouse and an EW Logger make the perfect set up for those wishing
to complete a 50km Silver leg without the need to learn the functions
of a complex handheld GPS.
We understand the needs of glider pilots
and for that reason the GPS Mice (Mouse's?) we sell have been adapted
to suit the glider cockpit. Each unit comes ready wired with a connector
to suit a range of PDA types. The power supply is in a small box (rather
than a cigarette plug most are supplied with), the supply lead is
long enough to reach most expected installation locations and the
Data RX and TX are incorporated to allow for connection to other units.
Before long all gliders will have a
Mouse in their cockpit.
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