XM Weather

Slugger

Slugger

Well-Known Member
Do you have to be subscribed to XM to use it? http://www.woot.com/ has a really cheap nexrad weather gps on sale (usually it retails for like $300)

Secondly, is that unit worth it to use for a casual flier? I may also just buy it and resell it for more.
 
2 tips if you are trying to resell something for a profit.

1) Research your product. The page you linked to answers your question about XM subscriptions, specifically:
THE WEBSITE YOU LINKED said:
# Displays NEXRAD weather data downlinked via XM NavWeather (requires XM subscription)
# XM Satellite radio entertainment including XM sports (requires XM subscription)
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2) if you want to turn a profit, dont advertise your source of cheap product.
 
You need the weather subscription from XM to get the NEXRAD, I think it's somewhere around $10/mo.

I think this is a great deal and for the casual flier this might be ok as long as you understand this is for reference only and certainly not legal for enroute navigation. The weather is a great feature but I don't know how much of a lag nor how accurate it is.

At this price its worth the gamble but don't make the mistake of using it as anything more than a cockpit supplement. No gadget takes the place of proper planning.
 
casey said:
2 tips if you are trying to resell something for a profit.

1) Research your product. The page you linked to answers your question about XM subscriptions, specifically:


2) if you want to turn a profit, dont advertise your source of cheap product.
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Thanks, and I wasn't gonna sell it here anyways. I was gonna sell it on ebay.
 
ackeight said:
Unless your planning on doing some "off roading" with your aiplane I wouldn't use a camping GPS to fly.

Edit: I'm also sorry to burst your bubble, but a savy ebayer would do a simple google search and find that site(unless it's a quick sale price).
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I've already done that research and the sale ends @ 1AM
ebaycompleted.png
 
ackeight said:
Do they have a limit to how much you can buy? Stock up.
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Not sure. I'm probably just gonna buy one.
and by "is it good for the casual flier" i meant for weather, but i'm not paying $10/mo for it when I would probably never use it since I usually only fly if the weather is good in the general area of where i'm flying.

Actually, i'm not gonna buy it. i'd rather not risk losing money if it didn't sell.
 
Woot limits you to 3 of any item.

Subscription is tiered, the base level is around 40 bucks a month.

The lag on the Nexrad is 5-7 minutes.
 
A five minute delay seems like a deal-breaker to me. If the weather is challenging enough that you need data, you need it right now. Seeing the weather five minutes ago strikes me as not-much-better than just cinching down the belts to "ouch" and hoping for the best. Weather changes FAST.
 
XM weather is a strategic tool while on-board radar is a tactical one. Do your long range planning using XM, but don't try to pick your way through a line of weather with it.
 
SteveC said:
XM weather is a strategic tool while on-board radar is a tactical one. Do your long range planning using XM, but don't try to pick your way through a line of weather with it.
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+1. Because

killbilly said:
The lag on the Nexrad is 5-7 minutes.
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only in a best-case scenario. When it's quiet the refresh might be 2-3 minutes which is about a 5 minute delay. When there's a lot of weather, the system slows down. I've seen delays of 30 minutes before when flying in areas of widespread precip. Kinda sucks because that's when you need it updating rapidly the most. Don't rely on it to get you through rapidly changing conditions because it will lead you straight to the slaughter.
 
Right, I wouldn't pick my way through a line of thunderstorms with it, but the availability of TAFs, METARs, and AIRMETs/SIGMETs without having to get a hold of FSS is great.
 
wjmiller3 said:
I love XM......
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Me too. I realized this as I was rocking out to L.A. Woman by the Doors as I was shooting an ILS the other day.

My wife and I bought one of these GPS's so we can start Geocaching, hopefully that's a good time too.
 
esa17 said:
Me too. I realized this as I was rocking out to L.A. Woman by the Doors as I was shooting an ILS the other day.

My wife and I bought one of these GPS's so we can start Geocaching, hopefully that's a good time too.
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I had a flight about a month ago leaving Houston before sunrise to pick up a passenger in San Angelo. Up there solo in an empty plane, watching the sun rise, jammin to hair nation!! Days like that make it all worthwhile...
 
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