I have heard that the $200 Palm VIIx has wireless internet
access and can display weather charts.
Regular cell phones are not allowed to be used in the air
so if two or three cells see your transmissions you
might get in trouble if you try.
I think this Palm works off another wireless system.
Anybody have any experience with this?
Paul Lamar
Subject: Bubba gets Nexrad
From: Dan Barclay
OK, boys and girls, I'm in love with a new gadget.
I've read off and on about using Palm Pilots for different things, and have
noted a couple of nexrad display programs.
After having been vectored into some "stuff" I didn't plan on being in late
one stormy night I decided to find out if that stuff really works.
I'll be danged if it don't!
Three or 4 weeks ago I bought a Palm VIIx ($199), signed up for the
wireless network ($9.95/mo) and downloaded Cheap Bastard AvInfo (no, I'm
not making this stuff up).
I've been using it for several weeks now and have had good success over the
parts of Texas I frequent (East Texas (Org-Dal-Aus-Hou)). In fact,
everywhere I've been I've been able to use it... including a trip last week
to Lubbock (many miles from nowhere). I sent email and downloaded weather
at 11,000 ft between Abilene and Waco with no problem. Nexrad views are
15-20 minutes old, but if you've been in the air over 30 minutes it's
probably been more than an hour since you saw radar anyway.
The display is monochrome and the VIIx has been out a while. Price dropped
earlier this year from 600-700 range (I think) to $199 which put it in the
range of "just try it". My guess is that there will be a new model out
before long.
You can take a look at it at (I'm not kidding)
www.CheapBastardSoftware.com
Another source for Nexrad is WeatherClip. Their service is $6.95/month in
addition to the wireless charge. Me, I like the Cheap Bastard stuff so I
haven't tried them.
The Palm VIIx uses the Mobitex network that is used by the two way pager
devices (*not* cell frequencies) so it's OK in the air. I get signal on the
Palm when my cellphone shows no service.
Dan
Yes I have seen this one. Anybody else have this positive experience?
Paul Lamar
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