Hi...Just wondering if anyone can recommend what they feel may be the best freeware/payware GPS systems, as a standalone that can be added or as one that comes with an aircraft.Thanks,Andrew

The two that immediately come to mind are Reality XP and Simflyer. I have gauges from both, and they're both good. Reality XP simulates the original almost 100% and uses the actual Garmin trainer for their Garmin 430 and 530, but the RXP GNS series causes a negative frame rate hit on my system due to the 16 bit Garmin trainer software that provides the higher realism. The Simflyer GPS's are wrapped around the original FS9 GPS and are no where near as realistic, but they are less expensive and more FPS friendly on my system.http://www.reality-xp.com/http://www.simflyer.net/Try the Dreemfleet Beech A36 or Baron if you want to try the Reality XP gauges. You can get a fantastic aircraft with the RXP Garmin already installed (the same but tied only to that aircraft).

Simflyer is a nice looking update to the FS9 native GPS. Reality XP is a completely separate emulation of the REAL GARMIN GNS 430 or 530. I've retrofitted virtually ALL of my airplanes with the RXP stuff. More powerful and not hard to use if you read the help file. AND...if you really fly and have access to the units, you'll know how they work.Simflyer looks good and is simpler but not a model of anything real to my knowledge. I own both the Simflyer 430 and the XP GNS 430 and the moment I started using the RXP stuff, I ceased with the simflyer tool.Eric

Thanks guys!How much of a frame rate hit might I expect from the Reality XP stuff?I'm sure it depends on the system to some extent, at least, but ballpark is good..cheersAndrew

I can only state my own experiences, but on my system, I see no difference at all between using GPS systems modelled around the default system and the RXP modules.HOWEVER... Some people (not me) have reported problems with the 16-bit applications required by the RXP gauges (also known as the real Garmin simulators). It's worth downloading the Garmin sims from their site and installing them to make sure they work before buying the RXP GNS systems.I would definately recommend any of the RXP gauges over the re-skinned default GPSs, but that's just my opinion. :-hahCheers,Ian P.

Thank you Ian - Good news about the framerates, and also about the sims on Garmin!I'll check it out. Naturally I'd far rather use a unit based on a real-world counterpart.Andrew

I see no change in FPS when I run either RXP GPS unit. Perhaps that is because I lock them at 30, but either way I don't notice any performance hit on my system.P4 3.2HT, 2GB Ram, & 6800GT 256mb video.

>I would definately recommend any of the RXP gauges over the>re-skinned default GPSs, but that's just my opinion. :-hahHow would you feel about a GNS430/530 that was as close to the real unit as RXP's, but without the requirement for the 16-bit Garmin Trainer? One that used the FS database so that all navaids, airports, rwy's etc. matched the simworld precisely?I'm not suggesting such a thing exists at present, but am curious about how such a unit would be received.

the 16 bit just kills my FPS. I can't even run the RXP GPS. What a shame Bob

Not sure why some systems have issues with the 16 bit. I truly see no FPS loss on my machine, but I have heard others complain about a large impact. Dunno.

>How would you feel about a GNS430/530 that was as close to the>real unit as RXP's, but without the requirement for the 16-bit>Garmin Trainer? One that used the FS database so that all>navaids, airports, rwy's etc. matched the simworld precisely?>>I'm not suggesting such a thing exists at present, but am>curious about how such a unit would be received.To be honest, I left an exact dimension space in my RV6A's radio stack for a Garmin 430. But after purchasing my Garmin 296 hand-held, the desire for the new 396, and use of the Garmin 1000; I no longer have any want for a 430 or 530. The resolution, computing power and information, of the new hand-helds and Garmin 1000 glass panel is just too much better.On the other hand, the Garmin 430/530's work very well when supplying direct GPS inputs to the Avidyne glass panel systems. I just don't like them as "stand alones".L.Adamson

It's less than 1% of users that have issues with the trainer. No doubt some system issues at play there that should be looked into.Of course, what they are is another story.Heck, I still use the trainer as a stand-alone to keep me up to speed with my real 430.Either way, stand-alone or with the RXP units, it runs smooth as silk- no issues.Regards,http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...R_FORUM_LOU.jpg

>>How would you feel about a GNS430/530 that was as close to>the>>real unit as RXP's, but without the requirement for the>16-bit>>Garmin Trainer? One that used the FS database so that all>>navaids, airports, rwy's etc. matched the simworld>precisely?>>>>I'm not suggesting such a thing exists at present, but am>>curious about how such a unit would be received.>On the other hand, the Garmin 430/530's work very well when>supplying direct GPS inputs to the Avidyne glass panel>systems. I just don't like them as "stand alones".I suppose I should have been more clear, this 'hypothetical' GNS430/530 would not simply be "yet another rewrapped XML GPS," but would be programmed in C++ using the same vector drawing technology that is being used in FSX.

I think I only take a couple of FPS hit on mine. biggest problem I have sometimes is having to load the A36 twice, as the first time it won't always fire up the Nav properly, some error message about not enough resources. But when I reload the plane a second time all seems just dandy.

http://www.avsim.com/pages/0405/gauges/gauges.htmHere is the review... :-)