Newest Foreflight Q+A thread (hint)

Dave I think you only have to checkmark the ones you want once, then one click the DL button?
My solution is to just accept them all - one button click, takes 20-40 minutes. Just got to remember to watch for them and dl the night before a trip....not as you are heading out the door!

And you posted about discovering gridded-out charts earlier - I wonder if that was a radar map and not a navigation chart, mine does that too.
 
Dave Siciliano said:
I made the suggestion that there be a one click update of current charts. Seems on my last flight, one of fifty somethings I selected didn't fully download and affect all the charts on my route. Since I don't download the entire database, I select 17 low altitude, same VFR, terminal procedures where i'm flying, FBOs and all high altitude. It's fifty something different check marks I have to push; then, monitor to make sure they all download. And, they suggest I test without an internet connection or in airplane mode before departure.
Why not one button to update all charts selected?
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Dave,

It's there... It's the big green button at the bottom of the Downloads tab that's marked "Download." ;)

Here's how it should work: ONE time, you select the states you want and what types of data you want (VFR sectionals, IFR approach plates, etc.).

From then forward, when there's new data available (as indicated by the little red badge on the ForeFlight icon on your home screen, and on the Downloads tab within ForeFlight), you just flip to the Downloads tab and tap the green Download button at the bottom of the screen.

Or am I misunderstanding your question?

EDIT: Here's a screenshot:

web.png


I deleted Louisiana for the demo - You can see the "1" badge on the Downloads tab at the bottom, and the row above that there's the green Download button. Tapping that button downloads all available charts that haven't yet been downloaded.
 
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Okay, following up on Dave's question, what if I want to add a few high-altitude IFR charts (so I can follow the commercial flight on the trip back). I would be downloading this from a bandwidth/volume limited connection, so wouldn't want to re-download all my charts.
 
Dave Siciliano said:
I made the suggestion that there be a one click update of current charts. Seems on my last flight, one of fifty somethings I selected didn't fully download and affect all the charts on my route. Since I don't download the entire database, I select 17 low altitude, same VFR, terminal procedures where i'm flying, FBOs and all high altitude. It's fifty something different check marks I have to push; then, monitor to make sure they all download. And, they suggest I test without an internet connection or in airplane mode before departure.
Why not one button to update all charts selected?

Best,

Dave
Click to expand...
I just lcick download each cycle and it downloads all the charts that I've selected in the past. You shouldn't be having to go and recheck all of them each time. Just hit download.
 
gprellwitz said:
Okay, following up on Dave's question, what if I want to add a few high-altitude IFR charts (so I can follow the commercial flight on the trip back). I would be downloading this from a bandwidth/volume limited connection, so wouldn't want to re-download all my charts.
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Grant,

It doesn't re-download anything already downloaded. Just click IFR High charts to "On" (There's only one file but IIRC it's something like 178 MB) and then click "Download." It'll only download the now-missing IFR High enroute charts.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I would like to be able to see the radar and sat images captured in the fbo just before departing. Especially helpful are the animated images. They disappear when I reopen the map.
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I have used the screen shot function so I have a photo of the radar at departure. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
 
jesse said:
Illegal? No. Work reliably? No.
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To be more specific, what I expect might be illegal is the fact that the phone is basically making a cell phone call while in the air to download the latest weather or any information that is being queried for download.

Doc
 
MBDiagMan said:
To be more specific, what I expect might be illegal is the fact that the phone is basically making a cell phone call while in the air to download the latest weather or any information that is being queried for download.

Doc
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Which is not illegal with modern cell phones. You'll have to talk to the radio guys for the exact FCC regulation and what it applies to.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Dave,

It's there... It's the big green button at the bottom of the Downloads tab that's marked "Download." ;)
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Well, I did that and some charts didn't download; so, I rechecked those and made sure they downloaded. A couple days before the flight, I checked it. My err seemed to be I had an internet connection when I checked them. So, be sure to check before a flight. I'd actually enter the route and make sure the charts on the route come up in Airplane Mode or Wifi off.

No, it was enroute charts. I couldn't get high or low altitude enroute charts, but did get VFR charts. I went back later and checked and a couple charts along my planned route hadn't downloaded. When I downloaded them, all was fine, but that was after I had finished the flight!

I might add, it was in a period of new charts coming out. My I-Pad showed I had all the new charts and the old charts where still showing as being used. I flew on the changeover date. Something happened going from the old to the new charts--a couple new ones didn't seem to have gotten fully downloaded although it all showed good before I left as far as I could tell. Yet, when I got back home, a couple finished downloading when I got a connection again.
Flying again on a changeover date: I'll double check everything before I leave.

Best,

Dave
 
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Dave Siciliano said:
Well, I did that and some charts didn't download; so, I rechecked those and made sure they downloaded.
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Hmmm... You shouldn't have to re-check them (unless you're talking about tapping on the blue arrow on the right to download them).

A couple days before the flight, I checked it. My err seemed to be I had an internet connection when I checked them.
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Another thing that can happen: Not all the charts become available simultaneously - So if you see a bunch of charts available for download, and you hit the Download button, it'll grab everything provided you keep FF open and have a connection the entire time. But, in another day there might be more new charts available and you'll have to download those too. This tends to happen 3-4 days before the rollover date.

Also - When it's finished downloading, the download button will be black and un-tappable, not green. There may occasionally be errors - say your internet connection goes down for a minute or two, the downloads in progress at that point will error out, but FF will keep trying on the next ones so if the connection comes back up, most of them will download, but the ones that error out won't be. If that happens, the download button will be green again, and there will be that badge on the ForeFlight icon on your homescreen and on the Downloads tab within ForeFlight - It'll just be a smaller number.

ForeFlight does NOT do anything like "download all states between here and there." For anyone who may be geographically challenged, a select all might be in order. ;)

Anyway - If you have an active Internet connection and there's no badges and the Downloads button doesn't turn green within a few seconds after getting to the Downloads page, the charts you selected should all be there.

One more clarification worth mentioning: You need to select both chart types, and states you want. Selecting "Missouri" won't get you anything unless you turn on "VFR Charts" for example. There are five types of charts, 50 states plus DC and PR/VI selectable under United States. If you don't select what you need, the badge won't appear and the downloads button won't turn green.

Hope this helps Dave and anyone else who uses ForeFlight!
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I have a better idea, lets have a FF employee get a user ID here and monitor the thread. Then they can correct or improve things in a timely manner for us!
Click to expand...

Done....and I'm also on the Red Board too!
 
Yay,.. and welcome, Greg!
Thanks so much. I realize this can be a difficult thing and appreciate it.
 
I did make a suggestion that one put in a route and let foreflight download charts on the route. There is no graphic of states that I could see where one can tell which are needed. I have to look at something else, then, try to get all those states. They took note of the suggestion, but it didn't sound too promising.

Best,

Dave
 
Does anyone recall discussing the idea of "bulk downloading" the map info/updates on their PC via a "very fast connection" and then transferring via the USB cable to the iDevice?
 
Is there a way to edit the route of an existing "Favorites" route? I know I can hit "Edit", then delete the route or change its position in the list, but I don't see any way to edit the actual routing or aircraft ID or altitude or gph. To get around this, I've been opening the route, making my edits in the route box, hit Search, save it as a NEW favorite, open Favorites, Edit, delete the old favorite, move the NEW favorite into position.
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Is there a way to edit the route of an existing "Favorites" route? I know I can hit "Edit", then delete the route or change its position in the list, but I don't see any way to edit the actual routing or aircraft ID or altitude or gph. To get around this, I've been opening the route, making my edits in the route box, hit Search, save it as a NEW favorite, open Favorites, Edit, delete the old favorite, move the NEW favorite into position.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. You can just make changes and add a new favorite.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Does anyone recall discussing the idea of "bulk downloading" the map info/updates on their PC via a "very fast connection" and then transferring via the USB cable to the iDevice?
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You lost me on this one. My I-pad downloads off Wifi as fast or faster then my PC. Are you saying your PC has a faster connection like T-1 or something?
When I transfer from my PC to the I-Pad, I have to play the I-Tunes game which I don't much care for.

Best,

Dave
 
Dave Siciliano said:
You lost me on this one. My I-pad downloads off Wifi as fast or faster then my PC. Are you saying your PC has a faster connection like T-1 or something?
When I transfer from my PC to the I-Pad, I have to play the I-Tunes game which I don't much care for.

Best,

Dave
Click to expand...
Your PC does not have a faster connection - and most users will be downloading as fast on their iPad as they would on their PC.
 
Dave Siciliano said:
You lost me on this one. My I-pad downloads off Wifi as fast or faster then my PC. Are you saying your PC has a faster connection like T-1 or something?
Click to expand...

jesse said:
Your PC does not have a faster connection - and most users will be downloading as fast on their iPad as they would on their PC.
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Haven't taken the opportunity to compare download rates between my PC (connected directly to router which is connected to Verizon FiOS) to my iPad's wireless connection (to same router). So I don't know if there would be any throughput gain.

@Dave; If the only way to put a file from my hard drive into the iPad is through iTunes, then you've nailed the flaw in my thinking. That additional step kills any speed gain.

Question came from selecing to download all of the VFR and low IFR maps the other evening. Took what was likely the typical amount of time. But I was curious if anyone had investigated a faster way.

I'm satisfied with what I got... but always enjoy finding a new angle...
 
jesse said:
Your PC does not have a faster connection - and most users will be downloading as fast on their iPad as they would on their PC.
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Jesse-

My Macs smoke my iPad2 in download performance. I regularly see 5.2MB/s (about 40Mbit) down on my FiOS connection on my Macs, while my iPad maxes out at about 15-18Mbit, less than half as fast. Both on the same 802.11n WiFi.

Additionally, I'd love a way to have my Mac download in the background (either via me starting a download and hiding the app, or a scheduled download) instead of doing it manually on my iPad and having to keep the app in the front, not being able to use it for anything else while it's downloading...which can take quite awhile.

I understand the iOS limitations of data transfer not being able to be backgrounded for longer than a few minutes, but surely ForeFlight could let one use existing maps/WX/etc while downloading?

Lastly, I'd guess that there are people out there that have access to quick connections at work but slow connections at home. Perhaps their work network is locked down and they can't use their iPad on it, but could use their laptop. This would be one of many scenarios where computer-based downloads could be valuable.
 
Mike I said:
Jesse-

My Macs smoke my iPad2 in download performance. I regularly see 5.2MB/s (about 40Mbit) down on my FiOS connection on my Macs, while my iPad maxes out at about 15-18Mbit, less than half as fast. Both on the same 802.11n WiFi.

Additionally, I'd love a way to have my Mac download in the background (either via me starting a download and hiding the app, or a scheduled download) instead of doing it manually on my iPad and having to keep the app in the front, not being able to use it for anything else while it's downloading...which can take quite awhile.

I understand the iOS limitations of data transfer not being able to be backgrounded for longer than a few minutes, but surely ForeFlight could let one use existing maps/WX/etc while downloading?

Lastly, I'd guess that there are people out there that have access to quick connections at work but slow connections at home. Perhaps their work network is locked down and they can't use their iPad on it, but could use their laptop. This would be one of many scenarios where computer-based downloads could be valuable.
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Interesting. Of course, not many people have 50 megabit internet connections at home. The majority of us are stuck at 5 megabit-ish :)

You should be able to view other things in Foreflight while downloading. I guess I haven't tested it, but as a developer, there is nothing in the framework that would prohibit it.
 
I know I'm way behind the power curve on Foreflight, because I saw it the first time yesterday, but this looks very interesting.

In conjunction, it would be the fix for my internet access problem in the M/H.

This looks like it will put a real dent in the hand held GPS sales.

How much does it cost to hook up to the internet with Ipad?

who has the best deals or ? how is that done?
 
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Mike I said:
I understand the iOS limitations of data transfer not being able to be backgrounded for longer than a few minutes, but surely ForeFlight could let one use existing maps/WX/etc while downloading?
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You *can* use the rest of ForeFlight while data is downloading. At least, I can. :dunno:
 
Tom-D said:
I know I'm way behind the power curve on Foreflight, because I saw it the first time yesterday, but this looks very interesting.

In conjunction, it would be the fix for my internet access problem in the M/H.

This looks like it will put a real dent in the hand held GPS sales.

How much does it cost to hook up to the internet with Ipad?

who has the best deals or ? how is that done?
Click to expand...

Tom,

With AT&T, you can get 250MB/month for $15/mo or 2 GB/mo for $25/mo. I think the Verizon plans are the same. If you're going to be downloading tons of video, or the entire country's worth of charts in ForeFlight, you'll want to connect via some other method, at least for those things. The 2GB plan will keep you up to date on your email and PoA posts though... If that's what you plan to use it for, I suggest a Bluetooth keyboard as well.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Tom,

With AT&T, you can get 250MB/month for $15/mo or 2 GB/mo for $25/mo. I think the Verizon plans are the same. If you're going to be downloading tons of video, or the entire country's worth of charts in ForeFlight, you'll want to connect via some other method, at least for those things. The 2GB plan will keep you up to date on your email and PoA posts though... If that's what you plan to use it for, I suggest a Bluetooth keyboard as well.
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No, Verizon is 1GB for $20, and I think 2GB for $30. They have other plans, too.
 
On the radar images, there are 3-digit numbers in some of the returns. Couldn't associate them with tops, or dBs, or speed/direction in my mind.
 
What is the best charge/discharge profile
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I think I will:

-charge it irregular amounts during the month -such as, when it is 80%, charge it up. Next time I will wait til it is 20%. Then I will charge it when it is at 50%. Etc.

-once a month I will take it down to 10% or less and fully recharge it.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
On the radar images, there are 3-digit numbers in some of the returns. Couldn't associate them with tops, or dBs, or speed/direction in my mind.
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Those are supposed to be tops, I believe...

Let'sgoflying! said:
What is the date of the next db download?
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You can always see the effective dates of the data on the Downloads page, and the next cycle will become available a few days before the current one expires. For example, I saw the July 28-August 5 data appear today (July 24th).
 
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