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Old June 1st 06, 02:53 AM posted to rec.aviation.owning
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Default Has Anyone Used The "Approach Sport Hub Avionics Wiring Systems"?

I first saw this product at Sun 'n Fun, and thought it was a good idea.

Subsequently, I bought a 1979 T310R that was in the process of having its
panel re-done, and I asked that this system be used, with me paying any
extra amount to use the system.

It pretty much turned out to be a nightmare.

The problems we

1. An unusual panel -- It had a Garmin 530 and two KX155 radios, so it
required an additional hub.
2. An avionics shop (the previous owner picked 'em, and he still owned the
plane at the time the work was being done) that was, at best,
semi-competent.
3. The plane being in Pennsylvania, me being in Alabama.
4. The shop's lack of experience with this product.
5. Problems dealing with Approach systems to resolve problems.

It got done, and when it was done, it worked flawlessly. Getting it right
involved the avionics shop making modifications (jumper wires on the
connectors if I recall) to carry signals that weren't passed through by the
printed circuit board in the hub. By my way of thinking, this kind of
defeated the purpose of having a standard hub and cables.

Apparently (and I'm basing this on what the avionics shop said, and they
were not completely trustworthy), the Approach Systems cable for the Sandel
3308 HSI had the wrong type of termination at the Sandel end.

The problem requiring the jumper wires had to do with communication between
the Sandel and the autopilot (STEC 55X). Since these are both standard and
common boxes, I would have thought that Approach Systems could get it right,
although the problem might have something to do with having two hubs (see
1., above).

However, the cables that came with the system were of very high quality
construction, as were the hubs. The cables and connectors on the hubs were
nothing special, and any avionics shop should be able to fabricate a cable,
given the pinout. I think Approach Systems did provide pinout diagrams when
asked, but I've sold the plane, so I don't have a copy of that info any
more.

Approach Systems will provide cables in any length you need.

Would I do it again? Not on the 310, with its complex panel. If I were
doing a simpler panel, I would still consider it, as it makes a very neat
installation, and I'm still a believer in the concept. If I were building a
homebuilt, I would almost certainly do it, because I would have complete
control of the process.

I would not use Approach Systems if the job will require any custom cables.
There's too much opportunity for things to go wrong, and then have a lot of
back and forth between the shop and Approach Systems on whose fault it is.
If you can wire the whole thing with "off the shelf" cables, it should work
fine.

In my opinion, one very important factor would be to find an Avionics shop
that's done one of these before. Once you know how to do it, it's easier
than building a harness. If a shop has never done one before, they may want
to figure it out (ringing it out pin by pin) and spend as much time as if
they built the harness. If you don't want to use a shop that is experienced
with Approach Systems products, you should at least find one that is "on
board" with the concept.

-Mike

"three-eight-hotel" wrote in message
oups.com...
Aircraft Spruce has a product listing for the Approach Sport Hub
Avionics Wiring Systems

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo.../approach1.php

The Pro Hub for IFR is $600 and the cables aren't cheap, but it seems
like once this is installed, avionics additions/upgrades could be done
fairly easily???

Would someone considering an avionics stack upgrade be wise to consider
installing something like this as a hub for the entire stack?
Especially if there was a constraint to upgrade a little at a time?

Thanks!
Todd