Garmin 430W/530W first impressions

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

Rode back with my friend in his turbine Bonanza after the installation of a
530W/430W. We had a good chance to play with both boxes during the trip. As
before, they are very intuitive and relatively easy to operate.

The screen write rate is a lot faster than previously, and the plane
position updates more rapidly. The ability to channel the XM satellite radio
is also very nice for those long cross countries. METARS and TAFS are also
much more user friendly.

The resolution of the terrain on both units appears to be a lot higher than
previously.

One change is that Nexrad radar, traffic, and stormscope output do not
appear on the default nav page, even though this is the page most commonly
used. It was nice having the big picture view when all of this was displayed
at the same time on the standard 530.

The combination of both units is nice- the 530 for the main nav and comm
functions, with the 430 for secondary info like traffic, terrain, or
weather.

We did not do any approaches, but the King autopilot had roll steering and
automatically followed all course inputs in the flight plan.

This week we plan on doing some LNAV/VNAV approaches, as well as some holds
with the new boxes.

Again, the main thing missing is the lack of supplemental data on the main
nav page- why was this removed?

Will update after trying some approaches and holds. Overall impression- not
revolutionary, but definitely an improvement that clearly solidifies
Garmin's place as the leading avionics manufacturer.

[Karl]

I also have a 430W, but I DO get radar and traffic on the main nav
page. (The radar is off by default and must be turned on with the menu
option).

As for LNAV/VNAV and LPV approaches, I've done both and it's a real
treat to have the glideslop on those. I even get glideslop to airports
that only have LNAV minima, so I can at least follow it down to MDA.

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:13:59 -0600, "Viperdoc"
> wrote:

>Rode back with my friend in his turbine Bonanza after the installation of a
>530W/430W. We had a good chance to play with both boxes during the trip. As
>before, they are very intuitive and relatively easy to operate.
>
>The screen write rate is a lot faster than previously, and the plane
>position updates more rapidly. The ability to channel the XM satellite radio
>is also very nice for those long cross countries. METARS and TAFS are also
>much more user friendly.
>
>The resolution of the terrain on both units appears to be a lot higher than
>previously.
>
>One change is that Nexrad radar, traffic, and stormscope output do not
>appear on the default nav page, even though this is the page most commonly
>used. It was nice having the big picture view when all of this was displayed
>at the same time on the standard 530.
>
>The combination of both units is nice- the 530 for the main nav and comm
>functions, with the 430 for secondary info like traffic, terrain, or
>weather.
>
>We did not do any approaches, but the King autopilot had roll steering and
>automatically followed all course inputs in the flight plan.
>
>This week we plan on doing some LNAV/VNAV approaches, as well as some holds
>with the new boxes.
>
>Again, the main thing missing is the lack of supplemental data on the main
>nav page- why was this removed?
>
>Will update after trying some approaches and holds. Overall impression- not
>revolutionary, but definitely an improvement that clearly solidifies
>Garmin's place as the leading avionics manufacturer.
>
>

Karl - PP/ASEL/IA

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

Thanks for the info. We flew back on a CAVU day, so there wasn't any weather
or lightning around. Reading the book alone it looked like we needed to go
to the map page only or the weather page to see the other info (530W). Since
my buddy and I keep the display on the default nav page most of the time,
this is great to have it all simultaneously.

However, as I recall the main nav page on a 430 is the map page, while the
530 has a FMS type view, which is different, so perhaps the weather won't
show up on the 530W on the default main page. Have you seen the info on a
530W?

[Sam Spade]

Viperdoc wrote:
> Thanks for the info. We flew back on a CAVU day, so there wasn't any weather
> or lightning around. Reading the book alone it looked like we needed to go
> to the map page only or the weather page to see the other info (530W). Since
> my buddy and I keep the display on the default nav page most of the time,
> this is great to have it all simultaneously.
>
> However, as I recall the main nav page on a 430 is the map page, while the
> 530 has a FMS type view, which is different, so perhaps the weather won't
> show up on the 530W on the default main page. Have you seen the info on a
> 530W?
>
>
The 500W/530W has a three map pages instead of the two for the 500/530.
The third page is terrain, according to the trainer. Don't know about
the fitting of the weather. Seems like it would be on Map 1 or 2.

[[email protected]]

I'm thinking of getting the 430 -> 430W upgrade. Does the 430W use
the same Jepp database chip? (The Jepp website doesn't seem to
distinguish.) I'm wondering whether my spare chip will be good, my USB
Skybound will still be good and whether I'll need to switch to (a more
expensive) database.

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

The flash memory is larger (although physically the same size) compared to
the legacy models. The USB version of Skybound will work, but the PCM-CIA
version is not supported for the new cards.

You will need to upgrade your subscription with Jepp, and they will prorate
your existing one.


> wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm thinking of getting the 430 -> 430W upgrade. Does the 430W use
> the same Jepp database chip? (The Jepp website doesn't seem to
> distinguish.) I'm wondering whether my spare chip will be good, my USB
> Skybound will still be good and whether I'll need to switch to (a more
> expensive) database.
>
>
>
>

[karl gruber[_1_]]

The PCI version will work just fine, according to Jepp.

There is a new card, thus the huge number of old cards being dumped on eBay.

Karl


"Viperdoc" > wrote in message
...
> The flash memory is larger (although physically the same size) compared to
> the legacy models. The USB version of Skybound will work, but the PCM-CIA
> version is not supported for the new cards.
>
> You will need to upgrade your subscription with Jepp, and they will
> prorate your existing one.
>
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> I'm thinking of getting the 430 -> 430W upgrade. Does the 430W use
>> the same Jepp database chip? (The Jepp website doesn't seem to
>> distinguish.) I'm wondering whether my spare chip will be good, my USB
>> Skybound will still be good and whether I'll need to switch to (a more
>> expensive) database.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

I hope it does, but was told by Jepp that only the USB version would work
with the new cards.

[karl gruber[_1_]]

I guess we'll find out. Jeppesen told me it would work.

Oh well, it's not a perfect world.

OTOH, I flew my first LNAV+V approach two days ago. The 430W worked like a
charm. The glide path needle from the WAAS receiver was much more steady
than the ILS glideslope needle into that runway at KTIW RWY 17. On the ILS
the needle usually dips at the shoreline.

Karl


"Viperdoc" > wrote in message
...
>I hope it does, but was told by Jepp that only the USB version would work
>with the new cards.
>
>
>

[Sam Spade]

karl gruber wrote:
> I guess we'll find out. Jeppesen told me it would work.
>
> Oh well, it's not a perfect world.
>
> OTOH, I flew my first LNAV+V approach two days ago. The 430W worked like a
> charm. The glide path needle from the WAAS receiver was much more steady
> than the ILS glideslope needle into that runway at KTIW RWY 17. On the ILS
> the needle usually dips at the shoreline.

No dips with WAAS vertical guidance, whether LPV, VNAV, or LNAV with
vertical advisory.

TSO-C146 really delivers "the goods" for RNAV.
>