GARMIN GNC 300XL TSO - Using the PC Interface

[KevinBlack]

Hi,

Club aircraft has a GARMIN GNC 300XL TSO which according to the spec, has a
PC interface. Is there any software out there that I can run from a PC to
enter routes, waypoints etc directly into the device? Having a PC interface
is one thing, being able to use it without resorting to the SDK is another.

Not sure whether the device came with the appropriate cable, but I assume
you can buy one from Garmin.

Any help/advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

[karl gruber[_1_]]

It does not have a PC interface, but you can pull it out of the panel and
hook it up to a 12 volt power supply......that Garmin will sell you or you
can buy at Radio Shack.

Then you can program all the user waypoints and routes while in "simulator"
mode. This is also a good way to learn exactly how to use the somewhat
outdated and unfriendly user interface.

Karl, IFR GPSs I've owned and learned.......

GPS 155 (really bad software)
GPS 155XL, 300XL (slightly better software)
GNS 430 (Vastly superior software, but far from great!)
CNX 80 (Great software, but steep learning curve for non-FMS trained pilots)


"Curator" N185KG

"KevinBlack" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Club aircraft has a GARMIN GNC 300XL TSO which according to the spec, has
> a PC interface. Is there any software out there that I can run from a PC
> to enter routes, waypoints etc directly into the device? Having a PC
> interface is one thing, being able to use it without resorting to the SDK
> is another.
>
> Not sure whether the device came with the appropriate cable, but I assume
> you can buy one from Garmin.
>
> Any help/advice appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
>

[KevinBlack]

Karl,

Thanks, we have it out of the panel with an appropriate power supply. I was
curious about the PC software to achieve this? Apologies for my relative
ignorance, but what software do we run on the PC to generate the
routes/waypoints to upload to the GPS - or am I missing something
fundamental?

Cheers,
Kevin

"karl gruber" > wrote in message
...
> It does not have a PC interface, but you can pull it out of the panel and
> hook it up to a 12 volt power supply......that Garmin will sell you or you
> can buy at Radio Shack.
>
> Then you can program all the user waypoints and routes while in
> "simulator" mode. This is also a good way to learn exactly how to use the
> somewhat outdated and unfriendly user interface.
>
> Karl, IFR GPSs I've owned and learned.......
>
> GPS 155 (really bad software)
> GPS 155XL, 300XL (slightly better software)
> GNS 430 (Vastly superior software, but far from great!)
> CNX 80 (Great software, but steep learning curve for non-FMS trained
> pilots)
>
>
> "Curator" N185KG
>
> "KevinBlack" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Club aircraft has a GARMIN GNC 300XL TSO which according to the spec, has
>> a PC interface. Is there any software out there that I can run from a PC
>> to enter routes, waypoints etc directly into the device? Having a PC
>> interface is one thing, being able to use it without resorting to the SDK
>> is another.
>>
>> Not sure whether the device came with the appropriate cable, but I assume
>> you can buy one from Garmin.
>>
>> Any help/advice appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin
>>
>
>

[Kyler Laird]

"karl gruber" > writes:

>It does not have a PC interface,

....and yet one of the optional accessories is "PC Software/Interface
Kit".
http://www.garmin.com/manuals/GNC300XLTSO_PilotsGuide.pdf
Why would Garmin say that if it does not have a PC interface?

--kyler

[Kyler Laird]

Scott Skylane > writes:

>It appears that the only options are for *outputting* to a PC, such as a
>moving map program, but not for input of routes, etc.

That sure is lame. So what's the software in the "PC
Software/Interface Kit"?

This is one of the reasons why I'm staying away from panel mounted GPS
for now.

--kyler

[karl gruber[_1_]]

What is TRULY lame is that one cannot build a flightplan on a 296 or 396 and
download it into a 155XL, or 430.

Best,
Karl
Waxer of N185KG



"Kyler Laird" > wrote in message
...
> Scott Skylane > writes:
>
>>It appears that the only options are for *outputting* to a PC, such as a
>>moving map program, but not for input of routes, etc.
>
> That sure is lame. So what's the software in the "PC
> Software/Interface Kit"?
>
> This is one of the reasons why I'm staying away from panel mounted GPS
> for now.
>
> --kyler

[john smith]

In article >,
"karl gruber" > wrote:

> What is TRULY lame is that one cannot build a flightplan on a 296 or 396 and
> download it into a 155XL, or 430.

Are they wired together?

[karl gruber[_1_]]

Yes!


"john smith" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "karl gruber" > wrote:
>
>> What is TRULY lame is that one cannot build a flightplan on a 296 or 396
>> and
>> download it into a 155XL, or 430.
>
> Are they wired together?

[john smith]

> >> What is TRULY lame is that one cannot build a flightplan on a 296 or 396
> >> and download it into a 155XL, or 430.

> > Are they wired together?

> Yes!

Do they transfer either way at all?
A friend had a 430 and 195 wired together in a C210 and he said the
flight plans would transfer, but I don't remember which way(s).

[karl gruber[_1_]]

The 430 will talk to the 396, I think! The 396 also accepts TIS data from
the 330 transponder.

Best,
Karl


"john smith" > wrote in message
...
>> >> What is TRULY lame is that one cannot build a flightplan on a 296 or
>> >> 396
>> >> and download it into a 155XL, or 430.
>
>> > Are they wired together?
>
>> Yes!
>
> Do they transfer either way at all?
> A friend had a 430 and 195 wired together in a C210 and he said the
> flight plans would transfer, but I don't remember which way(s).