Airo A25

The Airo aA25 is a quad band GSM phone/PDA with GPS. It’s ruggedised form has been proven to protect from 1.25 meter drop to concrete while it’s sealed to IP67 meaning that it’s innards are protected totally from dust and water up to 1m. It comes with Windows Mobile 6 and many applications, can browse the internet and handle emails. When you slot in a C-eMap cartridge it becomes a chart plotter.

It has no sliding or flip-out components so by modern standards it’s large – but it’s also exceptionally rugged. The touch screen works well. While you can use your fingertip it’s easier to use the stylus (there’ a pack of spares).

The icon-driven software is easy to use, but it’s worth looking at the quick start guide. The full manual is on CD and the C-eMap manual is found on a separate one.

The C-eMap cartography is excellent but the navigation interface is basic. You can’t construct a route, being able to navigate only to a single way point. Navigation is by following the COG pointer and aligning it to the way point or adjusting COG to the bearing to way point. clarity is excellent.

Other features:
Bluetooth
Wireless lan
Mini DS slot supports up to 1GB
Li-Ion battery
Push to talk

http://www.airowireless.com/a25/

PBO Review

“If you want all your tools in one box, this does as well as any I have used. Its navigation logic is different from most, but works as long as you don’t want to construct a route. I could certainly live with this set, thought I could never justify it at a minimum cost of £703 by the time you’ve bought the marine charting.”

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