best IFR gps

[pa24-250]

Ok everyone, in your opinion whats the best IFR gps other than the Garmin 430, I just dont have 9500,00 to spend on one of those right now.
Kevin

[VANBLADEREN]

To be serious, I would not say the 430 is the best IFR GPS, the GNS 480 (CNX 80) is the best. But to address your question with a budget in mind, I think that the GX series ie GX 50 or GX 60 is the one of the easiest to install and to operate. I did use the GX 50 as a primary GPS and was happy with it. It was simple to load approaches and a resolver was not needed as is the the Garmin GPS's. I would think you would able to fine a GX 50 for $1500 to $2000. You need a CDI (without resolver) and annunciation to be legal IFR.. Midcontinent makes a two inch model and you might be able to find those used as people upgrade.

Good Luck a

Regards

jvb

[ics-12766]

[Jay]

[davesturm]

OK;
This question becomes very personal and deals with personnal tastes and how you wish to use the system but I use a panel mounted Trimble 2000 Approach plus which you can find on the internet for relatively low dollars as it is oldand it is a pretty streight forward installation and is connected for approaches to an S-TEK-50 autopilot so is great for IFR. It's an older system and Trimble no longer supports it (Supported by Free Flight, Waco, Tx) but is less expensive due to all these factors and still works great and gets 28 day Navdata updates by Jeppesen. I recently, however purchased a "portable" GPS off ebay for $1000 that is wonderful. It is a AVMAP EKP IV. I also purchased seperately a Ram mount to mount it to the windsheild. Its main usefullness is that it fits in my Comanche easily and is very freindly to use and provides full flight plan presentations, TCAS as well as Terrain warning and if I also purchase a Weather receiver can provide XM real time weather. I do not have it coupled to the autopilot as I use the Trimble for that but the AVMAP is a great bang for the buck.