CNX-80 -> GNS-480 upgrade: no longer resets to 1200?

[Roy Smith]

My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
software. We've noticed that when hooked up to a slaved xponder, the
squawk code is no longer reset to 1200 when you power down the unit.
The way we noticed this is having a few people "reminded" by the tower
that they should be squawking 1200 on VFR departures :-)

The units used to power-up squawking 1200. Now they come up
remembering the last code entered on the previous flight. This
doesn't seem very useful. Is this a deliberate design decision by
Garmin? Something imposed by the FAA? Or is it just a configuration
setting that can be changed by the user?

By-the-way, the vertical guidance on non-precision LNAV/GNAV
approaches is pretty neat. Constant descent profile, instead of dive
and drive. Less workload, easier on the engine, just all around
better in every way.

[Scott D.]

On 31 Jan 2005 10:29:41 -0500, (Roy Smith) wrote:

>My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
>software.

Just kind of curious, but how much did the upgrade cost?

Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher

[Roy Smith]

In article >, Scott D. <> wrote:
>On 31 Jan 2005 10:29:41 -0500, (Roy Smith) wrote:
>
>>My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
>>software.
>
>Just kind of curious, but how much did the upgrade cost?

I'm not actually sure; I don't see the bills :-)

[Juan Jimenez]

It would seem to me that this is a good thing. If you loose power in the
airplane, and then somehow get it to come up again, and you're still in the
air, it would be preferable to have the transponder stick to the last code.

If you're on the ground, this can be easily resolved with a club-wide
checklist item update.

"Roy Smith" > wrote in message
...
> My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
> software. We've noticed that when hooked up to a slaved xponder, the
> squawk code is no longer reset to 1200 when you power down the unit.
> The way we noticed this is having a few people "reminded" by the tower
> that they should be squawking 1200 on VFR departures :-)
>
> The units used to power-up squawking 1200. Now they come up
> remembering the last code entered on the previous flight. This
> doesn't seem very useful. Is this a deliberate design decision by
> Garmin? Something imposed by the FAA? Or is it just a configuration
> setting that can be changed by the user?
>
> By-the-way, the vertical guidance on non-precision LNAV/GNAV
> approaches is pretty neat. Constant descent profile, instead of dive
> and drive. Less workload, easier on the engine, just all around
> better in every way.

[Dude]

Most Garmin units that I have used do not recycle to 1200. I have used 327,
330, and G1000. They do all have a VFR button though. I am unaware of any
way to reset this.



"Roy Smith" > wrote in message
...
> My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
> software. We've noticed that when hooked up to a slaved xponder, the
> squawk code is no longer reset to 1200 when you power down the unit.
> The way we noticed this is having a few people "reminded" by the tower
> that they should be squawking 1200 on VFR departures :-)
>
> The units used to power-up squawking 1200. Now they come up
> remembering the last code entered on the previous flight. This
> doesn't seem very useful. Is this a deliberate design decision by
> Garmin? Something imposed by the FAA? Or is it just a configuration
> setting that can be changed by the user?
>
> By-the-way, the vertical guidance on non-precision LNAV/GNAV
> approaches is pretty neat. Constant descent profile, instead of dive
> and drive. Less workload, easier on the engine, just all around
> better in every way.

[Doug Vetter]

Roy Smith wrote:
> My club is upgrading our collection of CNX-80's to the new GNS-480
> software. We've noticed that when hooked up to a slaved xponder, the
> squawk code is no longer reset to 1200 when you power down the unit.
> The way we noticed this is having a few people "reminded" by the tower
> that they should be squawking 1200 on VFR departures :-)
<snip>

This is intentional, and highly desired in the event of a momentary
interruption in power while in flight. The Garmin GTX330 functions in
the same way, and based on 6+ months flying with it, I'd never have it
any other way. Check out my review of the 330 for more:

Aviation -> Articles -> Maintenance -> Avionics 2004

As far as taking off with the transponder set incorrectly, it sounds
like someone needs to teach your pilots how to use checklists, and I'm
not talking about just reading the list. Do the FLOW first, then backup
with the checklist, and stuff like this won't happen.

And, by the way, if the existing checklist doesn't have "Transponder:
CODE SET" in the Pre-Taxi or maybe Before Takeoff section...(as opposed
to Transponder: ON, which is a separate checklist item that belongs in
the In Position section), it's time to build a new checklist. You may
find some suitable raw materials on my site:

Aviation -> Services -> Checklists -> Samples (Free)

Safe flying,

-Doug

--
--------------------
Doug Vetter, CFIMEIA

http://www.dvcfi.com
--------------------

[[email protected]]

Ok, you 480 aces. Here's one I'd like to know the answer to.

You are out on an instrument proficiency ride. You fail the 480
by pulling its circuit breaker to see if the guy can still work the old
stuff.

Does this affect what the remote transponder is squaking?

Seems like it should reply to serial requests to change, but I don't
know.

Bill Hale BPPP

[Roy Smith]

In article >, Dude > wrote:
>Most Garmin units that I have used do not recycle to 1200. I have used 327,
>330, and G1000. They do all have a VFR button though. I am unaware of any
>way to reset this.

We got an answer from Garmin today:

> Actually we did change it to do that. That's because of people not
> realizing that the SL70 reset to 1200 and they got burned by ATC for
> squitting 1200 in the D.C. ADIZ.
>
> No, it's not user selectable. Sorry.
>
> Regards,
> John Hendrickson
> Technical Support
> Garmin AT Inc

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 10:32:22 -0700, Scott D. <> wrote:

>Just kind of curious, but how much did the upgrade cost?

There was no charge either from Garmin or from my shop for the upgrade --
done about 11 months after purchase.

I do not believe Garmin is charging any current owners for the upgrade.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Scott D.]

On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 12:42:40 -0500, Ron Rosenfeld
> wrote:

>On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 10:32:22 -0700, Scott D. <> wrote:
>
>>Just kind of curious, but how much did the upgrade cost?
>
>There was no charge either from Garmin or from my shop for the upgrade --
>done about 11 months after purchase.
>
>I do not believe Garmin is charging any current owners for the upgrade.
>
>
>Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)


Thanks for the Info. I haven't really checked into the differences
between the two softwares. Is it really a must or is it something
that I can be without?


Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 23:31:04 -0700, Scott D. <> wrote:

>Thanks for the Info. I haven't really checked into the differences
>between the two softwares. Is it really a must or is it something
>that I can be without?

The upgrade does a number of things. There's a Garmin newsletter regarding
all the changes.

The biggest thing for me is that it enables the CNX80 to output vertical
guidance signals. This will occur not only for LPV and LNAV/VNAV
approaches, but also for LNAV approaches with published advisory vertical
guidance.

In addition, if you use the set outside of reliable WAAS coverage, there is
the facility for disabling WAAS. This would be useful in Europe, according
to Garmin.

There is an additional NAV page which gives an HSI like display.

There is an interface with TIS if you have the appropriate transponder.

Also, there was a SB published a few months ago regarding a potential
problem with overheating and messing with the display. When your box goes
to Garmin for the software upgrade, the appropriate parts will be replaced
to comply with that SB.

There have probably been some other changes, too.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)