Electronics

[skidsup]

I am thinking of picking up a transceiver and a GPS for use on seismic, forestry and maybe heliskiing down the road. I was considering either the Etrex Vista or maybe the GPS III Plus. For the transceiver, the IC-A5 caught my eye. Does anyone have any experience with these or other units and if so how do you like them. I'd also like to know how useful you find it to have your own vs. using the onboard GPS and/or the radio that may or may not be lent to you.
If anyone has specific examples of how a GPS can be useful on a seismic job I'd be interested to hear about it.

Thanks

 

[MagSeal]

I have an Etrex, the earlier yellow model. Does the job I needed it to do. Sounds like you want one with a few more gizmos though. I recommend making sure you have an electronic compass, mine you need to be moving for the heading to show. Standing still in a circle won't do it...
I bought mine to help me navigate my sorry butt to all the staging areas, or at least help me figure out how much further I needed to go. I got tired over the years of seeing the pilots get nice accurate GPS coordinates, while I got a hand drawn "turn by the big tree" map. Nine times out of ten I was more lost than a blind man in High Level looking for some action at the Stardust. For the simple task I gave it, it performed well for me. I like the Garmin products, and since they have many more models now, they're worth a good look to see if they do what you want.

 

[RDM]

Magseal,

Off the topic here slightly, but noticed your 130 in our barn here in YYT today. Nobody knew who was drivin the clean little ship.

Is it Richard or Gary?

BTW.......is Jim still in Fort Erie?

 

[412driver]

magseal,

so that was YOU at the stardust????????????? 😛 😛

man, haven't been there since 92'............

you brought back some visions from the "blurry" years.. :wacko: :wacko:


412driver

 

[Nomex]

i've had a IIIPlus for a few years and am happy with it - easy to mount in 206s, astars & mediums - you may wish to get a remote antenna as vibration tends to breakdown the GPS mounted antennas. if you're frequenting lots of different airports the IIIPilot may be worthwhile looking at - seismic machines usually are equipped with various GPS systems for dropping & picking up bags etc - your own GPS would mostly be to get from point A to B.

icom makes good radios - F3GT - 100 ch is one

 

[MagSeal]

RDM,

I haven't seen Gary or Richard lately so it could be either one of them (or both). As for Jim, he's kicking around every now and then, I don't think he's on a fixed schedule...(must be nice )
(News flash: I just got a tip that Gary may be in another country)

412,

The Stardust never changed over the years, I don't think the bartenders did either. I've always wanted to go back to places that changed my life and relive the memories, but as you said, those memories are fuzzy. Not sure if slugging back a few more cold ones would bring back the demons or not. Maybe we better not go there....(just let the nightmares end).

 

[RDM]

Thanks Magseal, (nice avatar)

Richard just burned outa here in the 130 a hour or so ago, she is a quiet little thing. Would not have known they had departed if they didnt scoot by the window.

Kinda wondering now how come LongRanger did not get one of those things, since it is a WIDEBODY! 😛

 

[LongRanger]

Bite me :hide:

Trying again tomorrow for a trip to the rock. Sould be in town Thursday but don't count on it. Lock up DQ.....call Ches's to make sure they stock up.....Cpt. Morgan Caucasian and Pepsi....and not that diet crap.

LR

 

[CHEVY II]

Went for a flip in the 130 the other day...nice machine, a little complicated though, don't know if I could catch on to the "flick the button to start" gizmo! That fancy new A-Star was pretty cool to...

 

[southoftheborder]

😛 Oh that old STARDUST. The last time I was in there was with you Magseal and I think TB was with us. Oh how I miss the old days ha ha. Got an e-mail from T-REx the other day will have to call him and catch up. Heading off to Palm Beach Helicopters at the end of Oct to do my FAA ATP. Hope the beaches are full. I'll try not to get sun burned.
SOB

 

[Winnie]

B) Well LongRanger, we do have a chess' in YQX as well now, so don't forget to stop by!
And the EC-130 passed through here for Fuel yesterday, on the way to Gros Morne.

 

[RDM]

Nice ride LR.................I will not ask who is driving, the coning of the blades gave it away 😀 😀

As for your requests;

DQ is going into hiding Wednesday night.

Talked to Ches himself today, they are puttin a ad in tommorrows Telegram for extra kitchen staff.

The Fairmont Newfoundland is having a Rum's From The World conference this weekend, I have booked you in a quest speaker..........almost like calling in a expert witness in a court case I figure.

The Fairmont has guarenteed me there will be no skinny Pepsi in the fountains.




BTW....when ya get of the ferry turn right, keep the land on the left water on the right. Do that for several hours until ya see this

you should be all right from here......but if ya do have any question please call me :blink:

 

[skidsup]

Whats does all this have to do with Transceivers and GPS's ?? 😱ff:

 

[MagSeal]

so we're off topic...big deal. it's not like it's the first time it happened. I'm putting in a request to Kyle so that we can arbitrarily change the topic heading as we see fit. That should alleviate any further whining.....

 

[Elvis]

There must be some way to get the Bell/Eurocopter bashing contest in here.