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Posted for "Giffen A. Marr" <GAMarr@charter.net>:
I found this quit interesting. One of the things I am looking for at Oshkosh
this year is in-flight current pictorial weather displays.
Giff Marr
IV-P/20B 21%
http://www.matronics.com/digest/avionics-list/Digest.Avionics-List.2004-06-22.html
Time: 03:28:35 AM PST US
From: "Mark Thomas Mueller" <mark.t.mueller@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Avionics-List: Garmin GDL 49
--> Avionics-List message posted by: "Mark Thomas Mueller"
--> <mark.t.mueller@comcast.net>
I went around and around with Garmin about two years ago about the GDL 49.
The SOLE reason I bought the GNS 530 over the 430 was the larger screen to
accommodate weather datalink display. The Garmin reps and engineers I spoke
with all swore they had the solution (which turned out to be the 49).
I did EXTENSIVE research on the OrbComm based request-reply system when it
finally started to see the light of day (EchoFlight was the first to use
this approach), and it was fairly unanimous that these datalink systems did
not perform to expectations. Many users liked the fact that they were
charged only by the amount of usage, but then were chagrined when the bills
came. Turned out they were charged for data upon request, not reply. Thus,
if their box sent a request but never received the data, they were still
charged for the "message". There is no way to prove your box never got the
data, and the reception was unreliable. They had to argue with the billing
company, EchoFlight, not Garmin.
The data resolution using this system was never great to begin with. The
data throughput is around 1200 baud. Too slow for hi-res NEXRAD.
I talked with WSI and WxWorx at OSH. They said Garmin would not release
their proprietary data standards to allow third parties to develop
alternative weather products for the 430/530, and Garmin would have to get a
significant cut even if they did. So it would basically be up to Garmin to
do something.
I pressed the Garmin reps several times. They had the standard corporate
response. "Garmin stands behind the GDL-49, and for the 430/530 users, that
is what you can have."
Let me say, my opinion of Garmin changed significantly that day. Then Garmin
bought UPSAT, so the only other company that would actually allow third
parties to develop other weather datalink technologies went away.
Then at OSH last year, Garmin unveiled the G1000. It was also mentioned that
the G1000 would use the XM-based weather datalink! They ABANDONED their
GDL-49 for their flagship product. So again, I pressed Garmin when they
would have the link for the legacy 430/530 products. The response was
"Garmin is still committed to the GDL-49 for the 430/530 user base." I had a
sidebar with a Garmin engineer that admitted last summer the GDL-49 was a
problem child, but we would not see an XM solution for the 430/530 until the
roll out and certification of the G1000 was 100% completed. The GDL-69 was
in development last year, but initially will ONLY support the G1000. They do
not want to spend their engineering resources for the legacy products at the
moment. I was quite disappointed.
It is interesting to note that even Avidyne is releasing an XM-based
datalink system for their MFDs now. I think everyone realizes LEO
request/reply systems are not practical for high-reliability, time critical
datalinks.
I got tired of waiting, and needed weather datalink for THIS T-storm season.
So I went with the NavAir PocketPC software running the WxWorx portable
receiver. The ENTIRE system was less than $2K, and it works brilliantly. I
just navigated around a line of Level 5 T-storms on Saturday with this
product. I would never have attempted the trip without it.
As far as the soon to be certified systems, you are looking at around $5K +
install which includes boring another hole in your airframe for yet another
antenna. Also, the 430/530 screens are only 8 colors, I believe, which will
limit the variety of data that can be displayed to some degree.
Had I to do it over again, I would have saved my pennies and got the 430
over the 530. I won't trust any Garmin rep about future product capabilities
again. They have been perpetually late supporting legacy products. Don't
even get me started on WAAS! That was another thing they PROMISED the
430/530 were WAAS capable prior to my purchase. Now it turns out you will
have to yank the box and ship it to Garmin for a major board modification.
Not to mention, this mod was due out last January. Still have not heard any
more news about their progress.
Never trust an avionics rep!
YMMV.
Regards,
Mark
Time: 09:05:52 AM PST US
From: "Ron Curry" <rec@curry.org>
Subject: Re: Avionics-List: Garmin GDL 49
--> Avionics-List message posted by: "Ron Curry" <rec@curry.org>
There has been extensive discussion of the GDL-49 over at the Cessna Pilots
Association forum. The fairly unanimous opinion is it's not recommended.
Apparently the reception is poor, the update delay's are extensive, and the
data is frequently inaccurate. I have personally spoken with Garmin's VP of
marketing about this product and they are aware that it has problems and
plan to obsolete it soon and release an XM satellite based product called
the GDL-69.
Nearly all of the owners over at CPA would recommend that you save your
money for something better. The most reliable datalink with the best data
seems to be the WSI right now. It displays on the MX-20 and a couple of
other devices but not on the GNS-530/430.
Regards,
Ron Curry
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