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

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.

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

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 :-)

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)

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

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)

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.

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.

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

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