I am planning the upgrade of a Piper Navajo panel. I wouldn't mind
spending the money for "cutting edge", but it is not clear what is
avialable and the infrastructure to support it. Could anyone provide
informed councel on EFIS or other certified options?
My questions are along the following:
1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
coast)?
2. Ditto on satellite weather?
3. Are any of the "economy" glass panels certified for retrofit?
I curently have a Garmin 530 and steam gauges.

Thanks,
Mark

> I am planning the upgrade of a Piper Navajo panel. I wouldn't mind
> spending the money for "cutting edge", but it is not clear what is
> avialable and the infrastructure to support it. Could anyone provide
> informed councel on EFIS or other certified options?
> My questions are along the following:
> 1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
> coast)?

Skywatch. Works everywhere, mode S does not.

> 2. Ditto on satellite weather?

Get the EX500 with datalink weather from Avidyne. It will show Skywatch
also.

> 3. Are any of the "economy" glass panels certified for retrofit?
> I curently have a Garmin 530 and steam gauges.

A couple are. Look at Chelton and Meggitt / STEC.

"Mark" wrote:
> 1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
> coast)?

I wouldn't be in a hurry for either one. Nice to have, I guess.

> 2. Ditto on satellite weather?

That's different: a "must have."

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Thanks. Good imput. Any thoughts on the Skywatch 497 (not HP) compared
to the Ryan 9900BX. Both are active interrogaters. Has anyone flown
both of them?
Mark

Dan Luke ) wrote:

>
> "Mark" wrote:
> > 1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
> > coast)?
>
> I wouldn't be in a hurry for either one. Nice to have, I guess.
>
> > 2. Ditto on satellite weather?
>
> That's different: a "must have."

Since the summer I have been flying with WSI's satellite weather
displayed on an MX-20 moving map. I strongly recommend it, if you are
considering it.

--
Peter

"ExecFly" > wrote in message
...
> > I am planning the upgrade of a Piper Navajo panel. I wouldn't mind
> > spending the money for "cutting edge", but it is not clear what is
> > avialable and the infrastructure to support it. Could anyone provide
> > informed councel on EFIS or other certified options?
> > My questions are along the following:
> > 1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
> > coast)?
>
> Skywatch. Works everywhere, mode S does not.
>
> > 2. Ditto on satellite weather?
>
> Get the EX500 with datalink weather from Avidyne. It will show Skywatch
> also.
>
> > 3. Are any of the "economy" glass panels certified for retrofit?
> > I curently have a Garmin 530 and steam gauges.
>
> A couple are. Look at Chelton and Meggitt / STEC.
>
Agree with all the above, but Meggitt is not yet or even planned for
certification for the Navajo. http://www.magic.aero/stc.html

The "soon to be released" Sandel SN3500.
http://www.avionicswest.com/archive/sn3500.htm looks extremely promising.

On 22 Jan 2005 14:57:48 -0800, "Mark" > wrote:

>I am planning the upgrade of a Piper Navajo panel. I wouldn't mind
>spending the money for "cutting edge", but it is not clear what is
>avialable and the infrastructure to support it. Could anyone provide
>informed councel on EFIS or other certified options?
>My questions are along the following:
>1. Should I install Skywatch/Mode S or wait for ADS-B (I fly east
>coast)?
>2. Ditto on satellite weather?
>3. Are any of the "economy" glass panels certified for retrofit?
>I curently have a Garmin 530 and steam gauges.

#1. Since you already have the 530, I would go for the GTX330. I
imagine the E. Coast probably has the best TIS coverage of any place
in the US.

#2. Sat weather is awesome. Although, I don't think you have any
good options right now with the 530. I would consider getting a
tablet PC + WxWorx. If you don't want to mess with cables, get an
Avidyne or other display that is capable of displaying XM weather.

#3. I don't think so.

-Nathan

Nathan Young ) wrote:

> #2. Sat weather is awesome. Although, I don't think you have any
> good options right now with the 530.

WSI can interface with the 530 in its current form, although there is
speculation that Garmin's WAAS upgrade might disable this interface.

http://www.wsi.com/fly/inflight/sitepromo530.asp

--
Peter

Peter

Thanks for the tip on Sat weather. I've looked at the options and
decided on XM weather using the GNS 530 display and the Garmin GDL-69
receiver. I'll also do the Ryan 9900B for traffic (also displayed on
the 530). The 9900B gives a litle better coverage than the Mode S
transponder, although it is still a compromise to the "interrogating"
9900BX. The additional $10-12K for the BX or Skywatch didn't seem
justified in my east coast flying.

Mark

"Mark" > wrote in message =
oups.com...
> Peter
>=20
> Thanks for the tip on Sat weather. I've looked at the options and
> decided on XM weather using the GNS 530 display and the Garmin GDL-69
> receiver. I'll also do the Ryan 9900B for traffic (also displayed on
> the 530). The 9900B gives a litle better coverage than the Mode S
> transponder, although it is still a compromise to the "interrogating"
> 9900BX. The additional $10-12K for the BX or Skywatch didn't seem
> justified in my east coast flying.
>=20
> Mark
>

I have a 9900BX, and though it is expensive, I like its more accurate
measurement of range, as opposed to the 'Indicated Range' of the 9900B.
My 9900BX is the third TCAD I've owned, and it's the best one yet.
Whichever you choose, the 9900B or the -BX, I'm sure you'll wonder
how you ever got along without it earlier.

Mark ) wrote:

> Thanks for the tip on Sat weather. I've looked at the options and
> decided on XM weather using the GNS 530 display and the Garmin GDL-69
> receiver.

Reads like you have an excellent setup there. :) You will really
appreciate having weather and traffic in the cockpit.

Is that the Garmin receiver that also receives XM's digital music
service?

--
Peter






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Peter,
This is the one for WX only, but Garmin offers it with a music option.
The "music box" is $800 (I think) more. Could be worth it, but the
monthly subscription is about double. I have XM music in the GMC
pickup and don't use it that much.
Mark

Mark ) wrote:

> This is the one for WX only, but Garmin offers it with a music option.
> The "music box" is $800 (I think) more. Could be worth it, but the
> monthly subscription is about double. I have XM music in the GMC
> pickup and don't use it that much.

$800 more plus a subscription? With my portable XM receiver taken from
my truck, I have XM music in my aircraft for the cost of an extra
antenna (US $35) and 14v power adapter from Radio Shack ($70). My
passengers and I really enjoy background music while at cruise.

--
Peter

Good idea. I'll pursue that!

Mark