Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.2.20011220182253.00a6b9e0@pop3.olsusa.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 18:23:46 -0500
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: Wclarkstill@aol.com (by way of Marvin Kaye <marvkaye@olsusa.com>)
Subject: Re: Garmin vs UPS Moving Map Stacks
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Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com

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Concerning the UPS MX20 MFD, there was an article in Flying several months
back (sorry, but I lost the issue & page number) by Tom Benenson about the
installation and performance of a full UPS stack including the MX20 (he liked
it a lot but said it was a little expensive to install).  There is also a
nice description of the MX20 in AOPA Pilot (Sept, 2001, p 109).  The charts
on the MX20 certainly look great - and the ChartView option that shows
approach plates seems like a major plus.  I was initially sold on the UPS
system but a comparison of full IFR stacks from both UPS and Garmin changed
my mind.  First, the total prices for the stacks are similar (mainly because
a single unit GNS 530 is not too different in price from a MX20(MFD with
ChartView)+GX60(GPS)).  What tipped the scales for me toward Garmin is the
annual cost of data base updates:

IFR Stack Comparison

UPS System (SL15M, MX20 w/ ChartView, GX60, SL30, SL70)
Stack Height = 11", Cost ~25K.
PLUS's - Lovely VFR & IFR en route charts on MX20.  Jepp Approach Plates with
the ChartView option.

MINUS's - Relay switching means more wiring.
Three different NAV/COM boxes to operate
GX60 GPSCom has ONLY GPS approaches.
MX20 with ChartView ($2.5K option + data base updates) provides all
approaches via using GPS to position plane on a displayed Jepp approach
plate.  Even with ChartView, you still need paper approach plates in plane to
be legal.

Data Base Costs:
GX60 - $595/year, 28-day updates
MX20 - $238/year, 6 mos updates
ChartView - $950/year, 14-day updates


GARMIN System (GMA340, GNS530 (or 430), UPS SL30, GTX 327*)
Stack Height = 10", Cost ~$25K.

PLUS's - Relatively easy to wire, digital switching.
GNS 530/430 has all approaches.
*New GTX 330 xpdr can display traffic on the GNS 530/430 navigators in
terminal radar environments (add $3K to price)

MINUS's - No VFR or IFR charts

Data Base Costs:
GNS530 or 430 - $595/year, 28-day updates
If you want two GNS navigators, some users suggest using previous (outdated)
data base for second unit.

If you want two GPS navigators in your stack, then things look a little
different (I'm planning on having the SFS GPS be my 'second GPS').
...Clark Still (814 hours worth of a LIVP) 

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