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lawrence
Pulcino
United Kingdom
65 Posts |
 Posted - 14/10/2011 : 11:45:26
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Hi all - I've been using LK8000 a while but was always frustrated at the screens I was using on PDA / PNA etc with regards to sunlight and being unreadable. I've now managed to outsource a PNA with sunlight readable screen that actually works!! I'm in the process to testing battery life and making a few comparisons with my test sample.
I will post the results here against a HX4700 / Garmin 96C / Standard PNA. Should anyone be interested in obtaining one please contact me to discuss. I'd also like to offer two users here a free sample to test and possibly write their reviews too.
More details to follow soon |
Edited by - Coolwind on 11/03/2012 07:55:03 |
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lawrence
Pulcino
United Kingdom
65 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2011 : 15:58:05
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Hi All - the two free units have been taken already. I'll be posting up a comparison next week, anyone else interested please contact me for further details.
Cheers Lawrence |
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lawrence
Pulcino
United Kingdom
65 Posts |
Posted - 19/10/2011 : 09:26:42
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| I'll be delayed by a few days for any comparison test but will post the results asap. My test unit has gone to Coolwind (Paolo) for his review and for the Italian gliding conference. I'll do by best and keep everyone posted here. |
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Horacio Castelli
Pulcino
Argentina
52 Posts |
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wolf_pg
Falchetto
Czech Republic
148 Posts |
Posted - 24/10/2011 : 23:12:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Horacio Castelli
Anyone knows something about this company ???
http://www.alibaba.com/member/kr118371827.html
Cheers
Horacio
Dear Horacio,
interesting link....and units. I started my personnal process of particular manufacturer/products verifications.... I will here about results inform here  ....
....but I am little bit sceptical about positive results.... I paid several PND...and my friends received several car navigation units... very cheap, but with diferrent quality.not usable for serious use in the air ... |
wolf
---------
SOL paragliders and Holux aero GPS distributor
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Coolwind
Moderator
Italy
7451 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 16:26:09
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This is a preview of the PNA kindly sent to me by Lawrence.
It was shown at the national gliding congress in Calcinate on october 23rd.
The verdict is positive, this device is better than a MIO 400.
Screen is 5 inches, 480x272 but soon 800x480 hopefully.
The miniUSB offers a real RS232 TTL which is working with Glider Tools cable once set to Wayteq mode (cable for only MIO will not work).
CPU is fast, dual core 500mhz. Very thin design, much thinner than a MIO.
Installation is really easy, since the software can be installed on the internal 2G memory, or on a microSD (optional).
The backlight is powerful, more brigher than a HP310, I would say around 600 nits. However, it won't make a real difference under sunlight. You need at least 1000 candles to notice any difference.
What is really making the difference is the LCD coating.
The coating procedure is aimed to reduce the space between the LCD film and the glass: once this is accomplished, the screen will not reflect much the light (no mirror effect) as in an ordinary LCD. And in our case, looking at the screen from 80 to 100 degrees orientation (almost perpendicular, that is) will make it almost perfectly readable.
Sun should not be at 90 degrees. Even 5 degrees angle will make it disappear from the screen and let the LCD be perfectly readable.
Like for a MIO400: you need to twist a bit the position if you have the sun on your back, but with this device the movement can be much reduced, since a small angle will fix the problem.
What happens if you are looking at the screen with a non-perfect angle? Here it is an example, compared to the MIO.
As you see, it is better visible all the way.
With a normal positioning, looking at the screen perpendicularly, you get the best vision (SUN is on the BACK! Othe PNAs would be 100% unreadable in this condition)
In an hangar you can notice the brighter screen, which will make it readable better than other products when the sun is in front of you.
This device is so far the best I could test, in the 4.3-5 inches range.
It has a power autonomy of about 2 hours at full brightness.
COM4 available on miniUSB with baud rates ranging from 4800 to 115200, all tested by me.
There is an FM radio transmitter that can be activated, and thus allowing the LK to transmit audio in FM mode (88 to 108 mhz).
Some gadgets include a really fine video and mp3 player.
With a 800x480 screen it would be simply perfect for any pilot.
But even with 480x272 it is just great.
LK8000 is running on this device using only 50% of CPU available, so this device is capable of supporting any further improvements in calculations we might add in the future.
The OS is CE6 which has no memory limits, and thus this device can support extended maps (currently we keep a limit to 5 mega for DEM terrain, but we have 100 Megabytes available here!).
Thanks Lawrence. We await for further communications by you about prices and distribution.
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Edited by - Coolwind on 26/10/2011 16:28:23 |
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lawrence
Pulcino
United Kingdom
65 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 18:27:18
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First of all I need to thank Paolo for the review and all the testing and everyone else who has shown interest in this unit.
My main aim was to bring something to the market that could be used well running LK8000 for all glider pilots. Prices and distribution details coming soon but we're working on getting the 800x480 available before christmas.
Lawrence: Vertica Sports |
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TiGuy82
Pterodattilo
Canada
1443 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 19:00:03
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| Don't forget to put a good battery on it ;) Paragliders pilots need a device that can last for hours... |
www.facebook.com/LK8000 |
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Coolwind
Moderator
Italy
7451 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 20:08:09
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We all know that there is no PNA with a battery lasting more than 2 hours. They wouldnt be thin enough. External power supply is always needed, if you plan a long flight.
I instead can recommend NO battery at all, if we can have a better screen visibility or brightness.
Or a battery lasting 30 minutes, it is the same! |
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ASMiller
Pulcino
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 20:36:19
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Wouldn't disagree with your argument, Paolo, but, to my astonishment, my Mio 300 regularly runs for about 3 1/2 hours.
Small screen of course, and sunlight readability just like my Mio 400.
(Amazing what is discovered if you forget to turn on the external power) |
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Coolwind
Moderator
Italy
7451 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 21:43:36
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Ok but let's focus on the screen in this thread, not on the batteries..
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AlphaLima
Moderator
Germany
826 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 22:08:09
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Hi Paolo,
how ist this device compared to the Holux 130, compareable or is the Holux still the best device in sunlight? |
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Enders13
Pulcino
United Kingdom
49 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 22:12:30
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I use a Dell Axim X51v, no back light, 2600mah battery and a TomTom bluetooth gps.
Lasts for a good 12-16 hours and is clear as a bell as it's propperly trans reflective. In fact when I get a bit of shadow it can make it harder to see.
I'm still waiting for something better to come along. |
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Coolwind
Moderator
Italy
7451 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 22:32:56
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The Holux is great when you have full sunlight on the back. The brighter the day, the better it is. But given the 5 inches size, I would say that visibility is quite good for the big one.
However we cannot compare them: funtrek has an incredible power autonomy, plus barometer etc.
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AlphaLima
Moderator
Germany
826 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 22:53:42
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| OK, thanks! |
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TiGuy82
Pterodattilo
Canada
1443 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2011 : 23:46:08
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| I need to retire my HP310! And this one seems to be a good option. |
www.facebook.com/LK8000 |
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Topic |
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Sunlight readable Screens