Thought users might like to hear my thoughts on this very cheap 7" device running WinCE6 R3.

Google MID X10 and you will find lots of refs to it.

Its a 7" screen with 800*480 resolution. I have it running MemMap, Sky demon & Pocket FMS  .. all from same MicroSD card. Apart from ensuring you get the right version (road angel build) of mem Map, you do not have to do any WinCE fiddling (like installing miopocket, .net etc).

Alos it does run Active Sync (or MDC in Vista/W7) properly  .. but this buried in the settings.

My main concern was whether the screen would be bright enough. If you have a bubble canopy (a la Eurostar, Sportcruier etc), then in direct sunlight it wd be too dim, I think. I fly a CT and there is a bracing tube along the top of the cockpit just above eye level and about 12-14" in front of one's face. I fashioned a good support to position from this bar. Worked a treat and it was a pretty bright day today.

Ran it from battery which is said to ahve 6-7 hr duration. Not sure its that good but I cd easliy believe 3+ on full brightness. But you can use cigar lighter charger (not USB unfortunately).

Its very slow to acquire a GPS fix but once it has seems pretty good. SUGGESTION for Tim here. PFMS changes the colour of the plane icon to designate quality of fix  .. default is black for no fix, red for poor fix and green for full fix. Works great as you are always looking at the icon. Stops those annoying alerts.

BUT the mobile version still needs improved ergonomics in my view:

1. It should be possible to increase the size of the menu items. With this big a screen that wd be no problem.
2. There is room for some programmable buttons  .. eg invert route
3. The altitude and other data readout size cd be increased  .. say by 50%
4. Size of time readout is small too.
5. Trackup often lags behind and does not right itself quickly enough. I am used to the track line being vertical  .. at times it was often 15 degrees off vertical. Then caught up after a minute or so. Especially happens after direction change at a way point.

Well that's my first impressions. Feel free to add comments, ask Qs or send PM so we can chat on the phone.

David

Chances are that if you have a cheapo 800x480 device, it is reporting its screen size wrongly to software that runs. See the thread below for how to tell SkyDemon that you're running on a high-DPI device if the operating system itself is not telling it.

http://www.skydemon.aero/forums/Topic615-7-1.aspx?Highlight=dpi

Great. Set pixel value to 180 and it is now much, much more usable.

Reverse flight plan  .. wd still like this feature on the Route sub menu. I know its in the wince edit menu but then we are back to stubby finger problem inflight!

Cheers

D

Good point; we'll get that added to the main menu.

David

I have purchased a X10 MID. How did you install the software? I do not need mem map. Skydemon is the only thing I need.

Works straight out of the box. Just use the SD mobile install programme that comes with the software. Then sync via PC and this loads the license file onto the card plus any routes you have set up, latest weather & TAFs etc. You can use either a card reader or Active sync which by default is turned off on this unit (find in settings somewhere). Then navigate via Explorer to launch the programme.

One trick re WiFi. You can use this to update weather and NOTAMs without going via PC. Very useful indeed. However, changing from the Chinese homepage is difficult with the built in virtual keyboard. A USB keyboard works though you will need a USB mini adapter to attach it.

David

Has any user had success downloading to a NAVIGON car GPS? if so I should be grateful for some feedback regarding difficulties in loading the Skydemon software (if any) and its readability in the cockpit.Currys have them on sale at the moment and they look tempting, that is if they do the job !!

Bill D

Alpi Pioneer 300 Owner



BGA Inspector 854

Bill

Navigon 8410 works just fine with Skydemon  .. see many posts here on it.

Screen readability is excellent. I use in a CT and can help with mounting system etc.

David

Am I correct in that this device can be used with portrait & landscape modes?

Very Newbytheway

DurhamTeaseAirport

8410 works in both portrait & landscape mode.

D