GNS480

[Robert Miller]

Good Day

Looking to upgrade my panel does anyone have a GNS480 installed any good/bad comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Kristin Winter]

I have a 480. I love the unit. There is a Yahoo email list thingee for the 480 that has a lot of knowledgeable folks.

The best thumbnail description of the 480 in comparison to the 430/530 units is that the 480 is for IFR pilots who occasionally fly VFR and the 430/530 units are for VFR pilots who occasional fly IFR. The two units think a bit differently and the 480 has airways in the database, and the 430/530 does not. To program the 480 for a trip, you have to tell it the destination first, and then fill in how you want to get there. The 430/530 you enter sequential points, one after the other. That is a lot of work on a long flight unless you are going direct or nearly so.

[MULEFLY]

Robert... this is kind of like arguing religion... There is a users group over on Yahoo that you should join and then you can view the several thousands of comments that are posted there.

IMHO It really comes down to your attitude and approach to flying. If you want to hit D> you don't want to go with the 480... you will not be happy with it. If you are a bit more of a geek (I'll throw myself on that pile as I have one)... and want an experience that is more like a FMS... the 480 does that. JVB pulled his dual 480s and installed a 750 and a 650 to replace. That is probably "the high end solution". I really like the 480 as it flys the airways... no intermediate way points have to be entered.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gns480-users/

It took me a few hours to get up to speed on the 480... I had to think... (YUCK!). But I love it.

Jim

Kristin beat me with her reply and it asked me to review my comments... still submitting as written

[James Turner]

Hi Bill,

I installed my 480 a year ago and absolutely love it. My only regret is not installing two of them. My background is military and airline; the 480 works very much like an airliners FMS so it was a very easy transition.

There is a great free simulator available for the PC where you are able to use your current Jepp database to practice whatever where ever. I have found it very useful to be able to see how the arrivals and departures load up and sequence from the comfort of my office desk before going out and flying it for real.

Bang for the buck; I don't think the 480 can be beaten.

James.

[MULEFLY]

In the interest of full disclosure. I have a GNS 480 (CNX ) with a MX200... flying is one step short of having synthetic vision...

Jim

[JIMICS2452]

I have added a 480 and an MX 20 to the panel of my plane this winter, and I could not be happier. I flew a corporate Seneca with that set up for over 400 hours and found the system to easy to use one I understood the logic behind it. Reroutes are easily accomplished with the 480, especially when the involve airways, as they usually do.

With a little selective shopping the cost for both was less than a 430W.

I also second all of the above comments.

Jim Hiatt

[Robert Miller]

Thanks for all the comments I watched video on line the other day from a fellow by the name of David McVinnie that gave what I thought a decent introduction to the unit and its capabilities. It impressed me in regards what it can do.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhIwBUKL_-E

Regards

[Charles Schefer]

+1 for the 480. I bought a PA-30 with a 480. I also fly a Cirrus equipped with Dual 430s and a Cessna 340A with a 530W. I would say for someone new to either unit the 430/530 may be quicker to learn and the operation is fairly simple. The 480 is a bit more sophisticated but I LOVE IT. It's like a full FMS with all the airways. There are LOTS and LOTS of cool details to it and it is very well thought out. One example (and I could give dozens) - When updating the database the card it uses is a simple Compact Flash card not a proprietary Garmin card. The CF card holds 2 databases at once so you can update the card to the soon to be current database version. The unit will keep using the "current" database until the new one becomes current based on date and it will then automatically switch. Very cool. With the 430 / 530 I always debate if it's "legal" to update before a new database is current. Anyway there are lots of things like that with the 480 that are cool.

I'd suggests downloading the manuals and PC simulator for it from the Garmin website to get a better hands-on idea. The "knob-ology" is very different from the 430/530 though so don't get frustrated and give it some time if the 430 is what you are used to.

One final comment.... recently I heard someone talk about waning support for the 480. I asked Garmin about this and they said they have government contracts that require continued 480 support for at least another 8 years. Just FYI.

Good luck,

- Charles

[Robert Miller]

Charles

Thanks for the all the positive comments I have purchased a unit and currently it is going into Garmin for a Software update and a bench test to 8130 standards. I go down to Houston on business in a couple of weeks and hope to bring it home with me. I will certainly down load the manuals and simulator and start working with the unit.

Regards

[MULEFLY]

Bill... a bit of a puzzle as you post as Robert Miller.. but hey... I've been called a lot of names in my life...so what ever.

A very knowledgeable source on these boxes told me that when Garmin announced that they would not be making any more that the gov't... ordered 200 more ... so a bit of a support statement.

It will tryst your mind..

but all the best in getting up to speed.... when you are in the "shit"... this is the box to have as your co-pilot.

All the best!
Jim

[Robert Miller]

Good Day,

Been working with the simulator manuals etc and looking for more advice.

The 430W /530W provide a glidepath style indication on RNAV a (GNSS) approaches called LNAV+V, the +V gives you a 3 deg Glidepath angle not necessarily guaranteed of obstacle clearance.

Will the 480 provide lat and vertical similar to the 430/530 on RNAV (GNSS) Approaches and does it provide obstacle information?

I cannot seem to find this info out in the material I'm looking at.

Also what nav head would you suggest to install for loc/gl support?

Thanks

Bill

[md11flyer]

The vnav portion of the 430/530 does provide obstacle clearance, as long as you follow the rnav approach plate limits.

Gary

[Ron B Keil]

I have been reading all of the posts praising the 480 and putting down the 430W and 530W. When investing in new avionics, one question I always have is what is the Manufacture's future direction, and how does my new installation fit into that future.

Clearly, Garmin is trying to move everyone to their new touch screen GTN series. They are building some bridges to the old GNS430W and GNS530W, such as crossfill.
The GDL88, which is Garmin's nicely thought out ADS B in and out solution will interface to the GTN series, the 430W and 530W, but not the 480, and there don't appear to be any plans to provide connection to the 480.

A lot of the products from the Garmin AT division, such as the SL30 and SL40, MX200, etc have very nice features, but Garmin has been slowly moving away from them.

Just some additional food for thought.

Ron Keil

[Charles Schefer]

Ron, I can't speak for others but the intent of my post was not to bash or knock the 430/530 line. I've flown 100s of hours with them and love them and frankly find them simpler to use. That said I very much like my 480. You are right that Garmin has not invested a great deal (and won't at this point) in making the 480 more compatible with the rest of the Garmin product line. Some things will interface (e.g. GTX 327 transponder) but other things won't (wish the flight plan on my 480 could be automatically fed into my aera510).

The 480 is (IMHO) a great product. Yesterday I flew from DC to Boston and back and my routing was changed no less than 6 times (complete new full route via airways). Having the airways in the 480 like a "mini-FMS" was awesome. Didn't have knob it all in. Also I can tell you that the folks at Garmin told me the 480 platform was what they used as the base for the new GTN series. Others may say otherwise and in truth I don't know for sure but that is what the techs I spoke to at Garmin told me during one call.

I think the 430 / 530 and 480 are all great tools...

- Charles

[MULEFLY]

@ Ron... over on Yahoo's 480 user's group... there was talk a few weeks back about one more upgrade for the 480... I was under the impression it related to ADSB... I don't recall the timing and I can't locate the exact post right now... but I'm pretty sure (short of finding the specific post) that there was an interface coming. The post contained a statement about the gov't has so many of these units that they were insisting that the capability be added.

Kristin... do you recall the posting?... you lurk there more than I do.

All the best!
Jim