EFASS or Aviasoft EFB...which one...or both?

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

Hi all,

 

I've been trying out EFASS for a while.  Really like the product but I'm also aware of Aviasoft EFB.  Seems to be a lot of overlap.  I fly about 80% GA and the Q400...rarely heavy metal.  US, Europe, Australia.  What's your opinion of these tools...which one is better suited?

 

Thanks,

Gregg

 

EDIT: My apologies to AivlaSoft for messing up the name.

[SouthPawPaul 11]

What do you want out of a product? If you're mostly GA then I'd recommend free and truly superb Plan-G3.

 

I have EFASS and there are issues that were being worked on until the lead developer/support guy was taken seriously ill, so I'm unsure as to the future of the project. It is however significantly cheaper than Aivlasoft EFB. I played with A-EFB in the past and I LOVE what it does, but it's expensive and doesn't work with my current favorite sim.

[zmak 331]

EFB is a  5 star product. Give it another star if you fly Vatsim

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

Does EFB have a moving satalite photo map? That's one thing I do like a lot about EFASS.

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

 

 

What do you want out of a product? If you're mostly GA then I'd recommend free and truly superb Plan-G3.

 

Fair question.  So far I largely use EFASS for the satellite moving map.  But I also do flightplanning and monitor when VATSIM has controllers and where.  I haven't used it for weight and balance (being mostly GA, that's pretty easy) but it would help with the planning on the Q400.

[SouthPawPaul 11]

I couldn't tell you about the satellite imagery in A-EFB, but there is a 30 day fully functional trial. Why don't you download it and give it a punt?

 

I do like aspects of EFASS, but I don't like how buggy it is and given that I run on an old i5 750 where spare CPU horses are rare, I don't like that it regularly uses 30% CPU to just display a moving map. Most times, I use it as a planner and shut it down.

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

 

 

I couldn't tell you about the satellite imagery in A-EFB, but there is a 30 day fully functional trial. Why don't you download it and give it a punt?



I do like aspects of EFASS, but I don't like how buggy it is and given that I run on an old i5 750 where spare CPU horses are rare, I don't like that it regularly uses 30% CPU to just display a moving map. Most times, I use it as a planner and shut it down.

 

I wonder if I can run it from another machine or if there's another product that has that feature.  I use it when I'm flying over ORBX terrain...just to get a sense for how accurate they're being and it's a compromise for not having photoreal (which I prefer but can't live with because of the lack of autogen.) 

 

I watched a video where Froogle was using EFB (among all of the tools he uses!) and thought it was pretty cool.  I'll download it and see what it can do.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,954]

 

 

Does EFB have a moving satalite photo map? That's one thing I do like a lot about EFASS.

 

If that's all you want from a moving map application then look at FS Earth. It utilises Google Earth to show the location of your aircraft. Around $17. Check here for a free demo around Anchorage, Alaska. http://www.wideview.it/fsearth/

 

EFB is aimed at aircraft that have a IFR flight plan and use SIDs and STARs.

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

 

 

If that's all you want from a moving map application then look at FS Earth. It utilises Google Earth to show the location of your aircraft. Around $17. Check here for a free demo around Anchorage, Alaska. http://www.wideview.it/fsearth/



EFB is aimed at aircraft that have a IFR flight plan and use SIDs and STARs.

 

That tool looks about perfect.  Google Earth is a resource hungry app but I suppose I could run it on my laptop.  I keep wanting to fly more IFR but I do get awfully tired of doing it with FSX ATC and I'm hoping one of these apps will help me get in sync with VATSIM.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,954]

 

 

That tool looks about perfect. Google Earth is a resource hungry app but I suppose I could run it on my laptop.

That's exactly what I do. It runs a dll on the FSX machine (no hit whatsoever) and GE on a laptop. I'm surprised it doesn't get mentioned more as it's so useful (even on IFR flights) to be able to identify a city or river etc.

[rototom 198]

EFB is buggy and there is no support. I would look at getting PFPX or FSBuild for planning and FS Commander or EFB for tracking.

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

 

 

EFB is buggy and there is no support. I would look at getting PFPX or FSBuild for planning and FS Commander or EFB for tracking.

 

Isn't the issue with PFPX that it is geared for heavy metal?  As the closest thing I fly is the Q400 (rarely the NGX), I wouldn't think it would be a fit.  FSBuild...is it supported these days?  Is it better than Simbrief?  I have to admit that I have an awareness of all of these tools but some of them focus on one job, doing it well...others, more of a Swiss Army knife. 

[Ray Proudfoot 8,954]

EFB is buggy and there is no support. I would look at getting PFPX or FSBuild for planning and FS Commander or EFB for tracking.

 

Please describe what part of EFB is 'buggy'. First and foremost EFB is not a flight planner. It cannot create a plan for you. It can import plans from various sources and it displays the aircraft's position overlaid on a map showing that plan including any chosen SIDs and STARs.

 

The only aspect of EFB that is a slight issue is it doesn't show Ai after a while. But that's down to SimConnect. A future version of EFB will use FSUIPC which will overcome that problem.

[rototom 198]

Isn't the issue with PFPX that it is geared for heavy metal?  As the closest thing I fly is the Q400 (rarely the NGX), I wouldn't think it would be a fit.  FSBuild...is it supported these days?  Is it better than Simbrief?  I have to admit that I have an awareness of all of these tools but some of them focus on one job, doing it well...others, more of a Swiss Army knife. 

Yes, I should have mentioned Simbrief..I actually use that the most. I used FSBuild for a couple of years and as long as you have a good profile for the aircraft, it can pretty much do anything. FSBuild works very well for the Q400 when you install the aircraft profile.

Please describe what part of EFB is 'buggy'. First and foremost EFB is not a flight planner. It cannot create a plan for you. It can import plans from various sources and it displays the aircraft's position overlaid on a map showing that plan including any chosen SIDs and STARs.

 

The only aspect of EFB that is a slight issue is it doesn't show Ai after a while. But that's down to SimConnect. A future version of EFB will use FSUIPC which will overcome that problem.

 

I think It is a flight planner, it generates routes at the click of a button; importing is an alternative option. It also picks your runways, plans fuel and gives you your aircraft weights, airport data and weather. All part of planning.

 

However, the route generator is horrible. It mixes in low airways for high level flights. It can't parse a real world (valid) route without losing waypoints. The fuel calculator has actually calculated a block fuel that was lower than trip fuel. The upper winds are almost never correct.

 

The problem with EFB is that they have tried to make it do everything, including the addition of a weather engine for X-plane. They need to get the current features working before adding new ones.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,954]

I think It is a flight planner, it generates routes at the click of a button; importing is an alternative option. It also picks your runways, plans fuel and gives you your aircraft weights, airport data and weather. All part of planning.

 

 

No, sorry, it is definitely not a flight planner. This is the blurb from the EFB site...

 

Routes may be created from several sources. Either creating a completely new route or getting the route description from internet based services like 'VATroute' or 'RouteFinder'. Reading a predefined FSX-route is just another way to get a route description. All routes (independent from which source they came) can be saved as FSX route and therefore they are immediately available at the FSX integrated GARMIN GPS system.

 

If you choose to create a new route you have to choose the waypoints or jet routes yourself. It cannot generate a plan from A to B automatically. You have to use an external source as they state.

 

Neither does it pick the runways. It makes them available for you to choose which one. Neither does it plan fuel. It just reads what's loaded in your aircraft. It does give weather data and shows airport layout.

 

It's probably best if I give a link to the product and let people decide for themselves. http://www.aivlasoft.com/index.html