 
Dave
Calgary, AB
Nov 14, 2010
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AERA 500 - MIXED BAG
Replaced GPSMaps 296 with an Aera500 Overall the functionality is a significant improvement. The interface is dramatically improved, allowing much easier navigation. Physical design suffers in two important respects. First, in order to connect the PC-Garmin USB or the AC power-USB you have to remove the battery door. The mounting bracket has a USB plug, but the device displays 'USB on wrong port' every-time I have tried to use it. Putting the USB behind the waterproof battery door seems to come from a waterproofing effort. The battery door has an o-ring which makes it hard to open. However, why the USB on the mounting bracket is only partially functional is bizarre. Either make it useful & functional (AC power & PC connect) or remove it. Second, battery life. The small 1800 mAH lithium-ion battery doesn't carry the unit far (about 2 hours with the display set so I can read it in the cockpit with sunglasses). Understand fully the challenge with display life, device size & battery size. The trade-off seems reasonable. With in-plane 12V (cigarette adapter), this isn't an issue. However, not every plane I fly has functional 12V at the panel. A spare battery & charging kit is available, but in-flight replacement is impractical - small mounting bracket & hard to remove battery door are small parts that would want to be on the cockpit floor. I have trouble with the battery door on the ground. Third, the terrain resolution on the Aera 500 is lower than the GPSMaps 296, don't notice it in the flats, but I fly in the Rockies. Resolution seems to be a marketing/product placement choice and 100% more for the Aera 550's 9 arc second was not happening. (Flying in Canada the Safetaxi & AOPA database were not useful and 1 year Jeppsen doesn't push the math over the edge)
In net - I'm very happy. The interface is far more usable in the air. The non-functional USB is odd and a decided negative, and the battery life manageable if you go in with your eyes open.
Recommend? YES
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