ADS-B

[Charles Schefer]

Jim - thanks for that intel. Bummer on the GNS-480 not being an approved GPS source for ADS-B. That's very disappointing. Another reason for me to keep waiting. Does the Freeflight solution accept the 480 as a source? I suppose if not the solution is to get a model with a built in source. Will the Freeflight output data to the 480? I love my 480 and have no intention of giving it up.

- Charles

[JIMICS2452]

FreeFlight will accept the 480 as a source when Garmin says it is an acceptable source. This is a paper problem, not a hardware/wiring problem. I have a verbal quote for approximately $4500 for a FreeFlight box with its own internal approved GPS installed from Gulf Coast Avionics in Lakeland, FL, This includes the wiring to display the "out" weather and traffic on my MX20 and traffic on the 480. This unit does not need to get position data from any other device, a big advantage IMHO.

[Pat Donovan]

Jim,

You are correct that the Garmin 110 210 will only work with Garmin's Pilot. What a shame! I had seriously looked at that during Airventure, but decided I wanted to continue with Foreflight rather than pay the additional Garmin DB repetitive costs. Per the Garmin representative, the rationale for only interacting with Pilot was the upload capability might be compromised with incorrect and/or malicious data going to the on-board systems. I also have been a fan of FreeFlight's products, but they won't interact with the 430W (Garmin proprietary again) and require their own iPad software to be used. I'm afraid there will be minimal mixing/matching in this game and that once you start down a path, the financial impact of changing will be larger than most of us want to absorb.

That said, I recommend deciding and proceeding sooner rather than later. In my case, the kids don't need the additional inheritance.

Pat

[JIMICS2452]

I spent some time with a FreeFlight guy yesterday and found out that the problem with approving a 480 for ADS-B is that is does not have a position output in the RS232 format, but only in the ARINC429 format. Garmin has been promising a software upgrade for over a year to add an RS232 output, supposedly by the end of this year. For those who are not geeks that means that the language required for ABS-B position is "English" and the 480 can only do it speaking "French".

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

Just a couple of things about ADS-B. When it comes to the weather broadcast, it is a blanket broadcast that anyone with a 978 receiver and appropriate means of display, who is listening in range of an ADS-B tower,will get. Traffic on the other hand is a different animal. Traffic can come in in several different ways. If you are in the vicinity of an ADS-B equipped aircraft, you will see the direct broadcast from the aircraft, IF you have or someone in your area have an ADS-B system that interrogates it on the 978 frequency, or an ATC radar or TCAS interrogates on the 1090 frequency. This can come from either 978 or 1090ES equipped aircraft, but not Mode C or S only equipped aircraft. If the ADS-B in/out equipped aircraft is in range of an ADS-B tower, then any traffic that the ATC radar sees in the area of that aircraft will be up linked. This includes any traffic that has a transponder regardless of type. Those using the "listen only" receivers without having an ADSB out source in the aircraft will not trip the uplink and thus will not see the tower transmitted traffic unless there is an out equipped aircraft within plus or minus 1800' and within 15 miles. The GDL88 hears both frequencies, but only tea mitts on 978 so it does not qualify for the high altitude mandate that piggy backs on the TCAS technology of aircraft to aircraft datalink with no ground station.

Zach

[Charles Schefer]

An update on this thread for you fellow GNS 480 / CNX80 users out there. I spoke to Garmin just the other day on this and worked my way up thru the call chain until I was talking to a service tech. The tech assured me that a software update to the 480 is imminent (no later than just after the first of the year he said) which will make the 480 an approved ADS-B WAAS source compatible with the GTX 330-ES transponder. The tech said the unit will not need to be removed from the panel for the software update, the tech will simply remove the data card, insert a firmware update card in it's place and the update will be applied during reboot - then done. He said that there will be no cost / charge for the software update other than what your local Garmin dealer charges for the labor to apply the update.

- Charles

[Jerry Mazza]

I agree with the comment on XM weather being superior. The resolution is great, there are never areas ( in the US) where there is no reception, and it usually updates about every five minutes. I would not fly without XM weather. When there are thunderstorms all around, it is worth every penny, and having flown with onboard radar and XM side by side, the XM is far superior, with onboard being slightly better only for the really up close weather.

[JIMICS2452]

[Charles Schefer]

[JIMICS2452]

Charles - I fly outside the US - Bahamas, Caribbean often, and occasionally Canada. None of them have announced any plans for ADS-B implementation except Canada in some areas over 18,000. I am not concerned with offshore ADS-B at this time.

The main reason for this purchase was to get weather and traffic for my MX20, or a possible upgrade to GMX200. Traffic requires ADS-B out to be reliable. The whole 1090 thing for offshore under 18,000 will probably not happen in my lifetime.

Jim Hiatt

[Charles Schefer]

Thanks Jim good to know. From my reading I understood it to be that after 2020 aircraft with a UAT only solution would be stuck in the US but from your post it sounds like that's wrong and that's good to hear.

- Charles

[Charles Schefer]

I just noticed something on Garmin's site. The GTX-33 remote mount transponder which interfaces with the GNS480 says "Optional 1090 MHz ES broadcast technology". Is this new? If so perhaps this is an ADS-B out solution for the GNS480. See the second bullet on the overview tab here->

https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/aviatio ... od202.html

- Charles

[JIMICS2452]

The GTX 33 family has always interfaced with the GNS 480 for control input, this include the GTX 33ES, which supplies ADS-B out in the 1080 band. I currently have a GTX 32 in my Aztec, and it is controlled by the 480. The problem remains that the 480 is not an approved source for ADS-B position. Will Garmin ever deliver on the long promised software upgrade? I am not holding my breath!

[Charles Schefer]

[JIMICS2452]

I have, regretfully, cancelled my order for a FreeFlight ADS-B ranger. The reason was not technical, but paperwork. I was planning on installing it in my Aztec, and had received several assurances from FreeFlight that it was covered in their STC. When I got the unit the first thing I reviewed was the installation paper work, and to my surprise there are no PA23 models in the AML (Approved Manufacturers List) that goes with the STC. With that said I could only install it with a Field Approval, which or FSDO strongly suggested was not a good idea. The good news for the Comanche is that ALL models of the Comanche are included in the list. I still think this is a good 978 solution. One of my neighbors is installing "mine" in has Rockwell Comander 112.