Stratus.

J

JOhnH

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Does anyone here have a functional crystal ball?
I am about ready to pull the trigger on a stratus unit to use wit FF but I have a tendency to buy tech toys just before new versions are announced. I took delivery of my newly installed 530W the day the new Garmins were released. And my iPhone 3s died a few weeks before the 5 was announced.

Does anyone have any expectation that a new Stratus is on the horizon?
 
The Stratus 2 hasn't been out all that long, and I don't see it being a quick upgrade cycle like an iPhone or anything. It's not like they can make it with a better GPS or more ADSB services that don't exist. I would imagine the only realistic short term improvements will be battery life and perhaps a price cut. I think you can buy now.
 
FWIW, I bought a Stratus 2 when it first came out. I had previously used XM for weather.

In retrospect, I think I would have been better off buying one of the discounted a Stratus 1s. I just haven't seen anything with the 2 that was worth the price.

If you are seriously waiting for the next model, I'd try and find a deal on a used Stratus 1 first.
 
You are going to be better off with your 530W. I have a 530AW and tried a friend's Foreflight on an iPad. The Foreflight map is too cluttered for me, there is no decluttering like on the 530. When in track mode and heading south the map text is upside down. There is no navigation guidance or a compass arc. The map has very poor contrast and is hard to see in a cockpit environment. Half the time I was seeing the hair on my nostrils. I gave it back to my friend.

José
 
I have the stratus 2 ,before purchasing the unit ,asked about the future. Seems any improvements will be made to the 2 and would be software updates. If you wait you will always be wondering about what is next.
 
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see an ADS-B capability like the SkyGuard TWX.
 
I thought hard about Stratus 2 and decided the benefits weren't worth $900 as much as things are changing and that we'll probably do a panel upgrade sometime.
 
I purchased a Stratus 1 about a year or so ago, after previously flying with XM weather. I am reasonably happy with the ADS-B weather products delivered by Stratus, especially for the price. ForeFlight is an excellent EFB and an acceptable navigator, and displays the weather products well. Certainly nothing available for the panel comes close to delivering the benefits as cost-effectively as a tablet-based EFB.


JKG
 
JOhnH said:
Does anyone here have a functional crystal ball?
I am about ready to pull the trigger on a stratus unit to use wit FF but I have a tendency to buy tech toys just before new versions are announced. I took delivery of my newly installed 530W the day the new Garmins were released. And my iPhone 3s died a few weeks before the 5 was announced.

Does anyone have any expectation that a new Stratus is on the horizon?
Click to expand...

Everyone is anxiously waiting for you to make your purchase so the Stratus 3 can be released. You're holding up progress! :D
 
LDJones said:
Everyone is anxiously waiting for you to make your purchase so the Stratus 3 can be released. You're holding up progress! :D
Click to expand...

LOL! Just as long as he buys the Stratus 2 and not the GDL-39! I just bought one.
 
JGoodish said:
ForeFlight is an excellent EFB and an acceptable navigator, and displays the weather products well. .


JKG
Click to expand...

If ForeFlight had an HSI display like the Garmin Pilot app does, it would be that much better.
 
JOhnH said:
Does anyone here have a functional crystal ball?
I am about ready to pull the trigger on a stratus unit to use wit FF but I have a tendency to buy tech toys just before new versions are announced. I took delivery of my newly installed 530W the day the new Garmins were released. And my iPhone 3s died a few weeks before the 5 was announced.

Does anyone have any expectation that a new Stratus is on the horizon?
Click to expand...

To the OP. Specifically why do you want to buy Stratus, ie what features are you looking for?
 
asgcpa said:
To the OP. Specifically why do you want to buy Stratus, ie what features are you looking for?
Click to expand...

I'm looking for ADS-B in, including weather to replace the XM subscription and I need something that will work with Foreflight on at least two I-Pads at once. I'd like to have ADSB-out too, but my Garmin 327 is not capable or upgradable and other options I found are still too pricey.
 
We have the Stratus II for our club aircraft and like it. For what it is and does, it's a useful product.

Since there are a few portable ADS-B "out" products on the market currently, I wonder why the designer didn't include that capability? Could it be it was held in reserve to add as the "killer app" item for the Stratus III?
 
I bought the Stratus 1 when it first came out and loved it! (still do) When the 2 came out I was eager to buy but just couldn't pull the trigger. I thought I had to have the 2 for the extra traffic display but I found the traffic was spotty at best and even annoying here in the northeast. I like the form factor of the 2 but not enough to upgrade, The battery life on the 1 is very good too.

So since I really just use it for weather, the more accurate GPS and linking between my iPad mini and iPad 4, the 1 is fine for me.

Until something else sparks my interest….
 
AggieMike88 said:
We have the Stratus II for our club aircraft and like it. For what it is and does, it's a useful product.

Since there are a few portable ADS-B "out" products on the market currently, I wonder why the designer didn't include that capability? Could it be it was held in reserve to add as the "killer app" item for the Stratus III?
Click to expand...

Garmin probably wouldn't have an interest in producing an "out' capable portable unit since it could potentially eat into their GDL-88 and/or ES transponder sales.

Then again (BIG HINT TO THEM), there are a number of people who rent and would have a serious interest in buying one for it's portability.

ForeFlight on the other hand has no reason not to build one with Appareo. They don't manufacture panel mounted stuff. ANOTHER HINT.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Since there are a few portable ADS-B "out" products on the market currently, I wonder why the designer didn't include that capability? Could it be it was held in reserve to add as the "killer app" item for the Stratus III?
Click to expand...

A few? I only know of one, and I seriously doubt its legality.

Marauder said:
ForeFlight on the other hand has no reason not to build one with Appareo. They don't manufacture panel mounted stuff. ANOTHER HINT.
Click to expand...

Again, I don't think a legal portable ADS-B Out is gonna happen. There's never been an IFR-legal portable GPS either...
 
I bought a Stratus 1 then was ticked when they came out with the 2. Bought a 2 anyway after my club bought one and was going to give the 1 to the kid. Ended up selling the 1 to a nice young man serving our country. Like both, but the 2 fit better in my bag and had a few new features.
 
AggieMike88 said:
We have the Stratus II for our club aircraft and like it. For what it is and does, it's a useful product.

Since there are a few portable ADS-B "out" products on the market currently, I wonder why the designer didn't include that capability? Could it be it was held in reserve to add as the "killer app" item for the Stratus III?
Click to expand...

:rofl: Mom learned a lot from the history books reading about Apple's marketing.
 
I'm also looking at buying a Stratus 2. What would you all recommend for "accessories"? It's going in a 182RG.
 
Z06_Mir said:
I'm also looking at buying a Stratus 2. What would you all recommend for "accessories"? It's going in a 182RG.
Click to expand...

The remote antenna for sure. Allows the stratus to be on the floor (out of the sun) and the antenna suction cupped to the window to talk to the towers.
 
AggieMike88 said:
The remote antenna for sure. Allows the stratus to be on the floor (out of the sun) and the antenna suction cupped to the window to talk to the towers.
Click to expand...

You didn't just bolt it to the wing strut ? Sheesh. I thought you were a Texan who knows Red Green! ;)
 
AggieMike88 said:
The remote antenna for sure. Allows the stratus to be on the floor (out of the sun) and the antenna suction cupped to the window to talk to the towers.
Click to expand...

I haven't had heat shut-downs with the stratus 2 and it's on the glare shield. Never could do that with the stratus 1.
 
Z06_Mir said:
I'm also looking at buying a Stratus 2. What would you all recommend for "accessories"? It's going in a 182RG.
Click to expand...

Just a cigarette lighter adapter plug to power it. The battery lasts a long time, but it'd be a pain to constantly be pulling it out of the airplane and taking it home to charge it.

I agree that heat isn't nearly the issue it was with the black Stratus 1. The new one is white and has a fan for when it gets hot. Try it up on the glareshield (that's where mine is), see if it works OK for you up there. If not, then maybe do the floor/antenna thing. I just prefer to have as few extra wires in the cockpit as possible.
 
Someone needs to Photoshop a cockpit covered in non-certified crap everywhere, all plugged into the cigar lighter, that's a better and more useful aircraft that the FAA "certified" panel of old junk right behind all the portables.
 
AggieMike88 said:
The remote antenna for sure. Allows the stratus to be on the floor (out of the sun) and the antenna suction cupped to the window to talk to the towers.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I will order that then
Clark1961 said:
I haven't had heat shut-downs with the stratus 2 and it's on the glare shield. Never could do that with the stratus 1.
Click to expand...

Being as I live in AZ I think it could get considerably warmer than what you can probably imagine. There is little like being up at 10k feet still sweating because it's still 80 degrees up there.
 
So should I be ordering the remote GPS antenna as well as the remote ADS-B antenna? Also ordering the 2 USB charger.
 
I use the stratus without any extras ,placed on glare shield ,works great. Power from lighter plug. Use two headed adapter for stratus and I pad.
 
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