View Full Version : Question on Avidyne FlightMax
Jim Caldwell
March 7th 04, 12:54 PM
How do you update the GPS database? Does it have a portable uploader with a
CD-ROM? How long does it take? I have to keep a fleet of King Air arcraft
updated. They have an obsolete Interstate GPS system. The portable uploader
is floppy-disk based. You have to feed in a set of floppies, and the whole
update takes 40 minutes! But they are going to install Flightmax 850
avionics in them soon.
Henry
March 8th 04, 01:52 AM
> How do you update the GPS database? Does it have a portable uploader with
a
> CD-ROM? How long does it take? I have to keep a fleet of King Air
arcraft
> updated. They have an obsolete Interstate GPS system. The portable
uploader
> is floppy-disk based. You have to feed in a set of floppies, and the
whole
> update takes 40 minutes! But they are going to install Flightmax 850
> avionics in them soon.
>
You update the nav database on the FlightMax separately from that on the
GPS. The GPS feeds position and flight plan to the FlightMax and the GPS
has its own database. The Flight max uses a CDROM and only takes a couple
of minutes to update. It's up to you if you want to keep the FlightMax up
to date or not because its secondary information only. You may want to do
it like once a year or six months to save money. It's the GPS database you
want to make sure you keep current. When the Flight Max shows the waypoints
in the GPS flight plan, those come from the GPS. The flight max database
has all the map information like airspace, nav aids, airports and stuff like
that. If you're going to update the Flight Max database every month, either
install the CDROM in the plane or make sure you can get at the back of the
flightmax easy.
Jim Caldwell
March 8th 04, 04:47 PM
OK...the GPS database is separate from the FlightMax database. But isn't
there a GPS unit that is an integral part of the FlightMax system? I mean,
you don't but a Garmin to use with FlightMax, do you?
If it is an integral Avidyne GPS interfaced to FLightMax, then what about
updating *it*? I suppose it also has a CD-ROM uploader (but a different
one?)...and does it update as fast?
"Henry" > wrote in message
...
> > How do you update the GPS database? Does it have a portable uploader
with
> a
> > CD-ROM? How long does it take? I have to keep a fleet of King Air
> arcraft
> > updated. They have an obsolete Interstate GPS system. The portable
> uploader
> > is floppy-disk based. You have to feed in a set of floppies, and the
> whole
> > update takes 40 minutes! But they are going to install Flightmax 850
> > avionics in them soon.
> >
>
> You update the nav database on the FlightMax separately from that on the
> GPS. The GPS feeds position and flight plan to the FlightMax and the GPS
> has its own database. The Flight max uses a CDROM and only takes a couple
> of minutes to update. It's up to you if you want to keep the FlightMax up
> to date or not because its secondary information only. You may want to do
> it like once a year or six months to save money. It's the GPS database
you
> want to make sure you keep current. When the Flight Max shows the
waypoints
> in the GPS flight plan, those come from the GPS. The flight max database
> has all the map information like airspace, nav aids, airports and stuff
like
> that. If you're going to update the Flight Max database every month,
either
> install the CDROM in the plane or make sure you can get at the back of the
> flightmax easy.
>
>
Henry
March 8th 04, 10:44 PM
> OK...the GPS database is separate from the FlightMax database. But isn't
> there a GPS unit that is an integral part of the FlightMax system? I mean,
> you don't but a Garmin to use with FlightMax, do you?
> If it is an integral Avidyne GPS interfaced to FLightMax, then what about
> updating *it*? I suppose it also has a CD-ROM uploader (but a different
> one?)...and does it update as fast?
>
There is not a GPS in teh flightmax. It uses a separate GPS, but works with
almost anything out there. Call Avi-Dyne, they'll help you, usually pretty
good about it when I called.
JerryK
March 9th 04, 06:08 PM
"Jim Caldwell" > wrote in message
...
> OK...the GPS database is separate from the FlightMax database. But isn't
> there a GPS unit that is an integral part of the FlightMax system? I mean,
> you don't but a Garmin to use with FlightMax, do you?
> If it is an integral Avidyne GPS interfaced to FLightMax, then what about
> updating *it*? I suppose it also has a CD-ROM uploader (but a different
> one?)...and does it update as fast?
>
Unless the 850 is quite a bit different than my 650, the 850 derives all of
its position information from an external source via ARINC 429 or RS232
interface. In my case the external source is a Garmin GNS 430. Without the
Garmin, the 650 is a nice radar display, but not a lot more.
As far as updates go, the 650 has it's own database and must be updated
separately from the GPS update. There is a separate subscription for the
Avidyne unit. The updates come in the form of a CD. To update you simply
load the CD in the reader and start the Avidyne. The 650 will detect the CD
and ask you to confirm the update. It takes anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes
to update the database and maps.
jerry
Jim Caldwell
March 11th 04, 04:59 AM
Jerry, as for updating the FLightmax avionics, is that "reader" or
uploader a portable device that you plug into an ARINC connector, or is it
an integral part of the avionics? I presume the Garmin also uses a similar
CDROM uploader? How long does updating the Garmin usually take?
"JerryK" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jim Caldwell" > wrote in message
> ...
> > OK...the GPS database is separate from the FlightMax database. But isn't
> > there a GPS unit that is an integral part of the FlightMax system? I
mean,
> > you don't but a Garmin to use with FlightMax, do you?
> > If it is an integral Avidyne GPS interfaced to FLightMax, then what
about
> > updating *it*? I suppose it also has a CD-ROM uploader (but a
different
> > one?)...and does it update as fast?
> >
>
> Unless the 850 is quite a bit different than my 650, the 850 derives all
of
> its position information from an external source via ARINC 429 or RS232
> interface. In my case the external source is a Garmin GNS 430. Without
the
> Garmin, the 650 is a nice radar display, but not a lot more.
>
> As far as updates go, the 650 has it's own database and must be updated
> separately from the GPS update. There is a separate subscription for the
> Avidyne unit. The updates come in the form of a CD. To update you simply
> load the CD in the reader and start the Avidyne. The 650 will detect the
CD
> and ask you to confirm the update. It takes anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes
> to update the database and maps.
>
> jerry
>
>
Mark Manes
March 12th 04, 05:10 AM
The Avidyne updater is a self powered ZipDrive. You get a CD from Jeppesen
and you load the update onto the ZipDrive, then take it to the aircraft and
plug it into a usb port in the front of the Avidyne (at least that's the way
it works on the Flightmax EX500)
Garmin uses a proprietary Data Card that you update from a PC Card slot on a
computer.
the Jepp update is downloaded via the internet using Jepps DataWriter
software and hardware. Then just take the data card to the aircraft and
plug it in.
--
Mark Manes
WC5I
T310Q N28409
"Jim Caldwell" > wrote in message
...
> Jerry, as for updating the FLightmax avionics, is that "reader" or
> uploader a portable device that you plug into an ARINC connector, or is it
> an integral part of the avionics? I presume the Garmin also uses a
similar
> CDROM uploader? How long does updating the Garmin usually take?
> "JerryK" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Jim Caldwell" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > OK...the GPS database is separate from the FlightMax database. But
isn't
> > > there a GPS unit that is an integral part of the FlightMax system? I
> mean,
> > > you don't but a Garmin to use with FlightMax, do you?
> > > If it is an integral Avidyne GPS interfaced to FLightMax, then what
> about
> > > updating *it*? I suppose it also has a CD-ROM uploader (but a
> different
> > > one?)...and does it update as fast?
> > >
> >
> > Unless the 850 is quite a bit different than my 650, the 850 derives all
> of
> > its position information from an external source via ARINC 429 or RS232
> > interface. In my case the external source is a Garmin GNS 430. Without
> the
> > Garmin, the 650 is a nice radar display, but not a lot more.
> >
> > As far as updates go, the 650 has it's own database and must be updated
> > separately from the GPS update. There is a separate subscription for
the
> > Avidyne unit. The updates come in the form of a CD. To update you
simply
> > load the CD in the reader and start the Avidyne. The 650 will detect
the
> CD
> > and ask you to confirm the update. It takes anywhere from 1 to 10
minutes
> > to update the database and maps.
> >
> > jerry
> >
> >
>
>
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