Garmin GNC 480 and MX 20

Hi,

Anyone out there got have a GNC 480 or MX 20 in thier aircraft? I'm
thinking of getting this combo, and was wondering if anyone here had any
experience with them.

I've read a few articles, and think I can get through the learning curve ok,
but was wondering if anyone had any positive or negative operational
experience.

Thanks,

Paul Missman

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 20:20:47 -0500, "Paul Missman"
wrote:


Hi,

Anyone out there got have a GNC 480 or MX 20 in thier aircraft? I'm
thinking of getting this combo, and was wondering if anyone here had any
experience with them.

I've read a few articles, and think I can get through the learning curve ok,
but was wondering if anyone had any positive or negative operational
experience.

Thanks,

Paul Missman


Are you refering to the GNS 480??? It was also called the CNX 80 but
the GNS 480 has a few more features. I have a CNX80/MX20 in a 421
that I'm flying now and I love it. I have been flying this bundle now
for over a year and have had no real complaints about it. I fly
another airplane with a GNS530 and think that the CNX80 is easier to
manuver around with its menu system. We also have on the MX20 the
Chart View susbscription from Jeppesen which makes flying approaches
easier. Though you still are required to have the paper version with
you which I strongly recommend having them out and looking at anyways
while flying the approach. There was a learning curve to setting
everything up and getting things to flow, but after several times at
doing this "VFR" it gets easy. I would not recommend going IFR with
it untill you are comfortable with the system. We also have the
GTX330 transponder so we receive TIS information of other aircraft in
our area with transponders, but the coverage sometimes is lacking.
Also what is great about the system is the terrain avoidance. Living
in Colorado, there are a lot of hard granite things that could sure
mess up ones days and it gets a little spooky when your flying at
night or in IFR conditions trying to shoot an appoach into some of the
airports around here. Another feature that we have it the weather
thru WSI. I have seen better weather radar data displays but it does
get the job done, and with the hit of two buttons, I can have the
destination airports metar pulled up, or with the hit of a few more
buttons, I can see metars, TAFS, Airmets of airports along my route.
Overall, I would say that I am 90% satisfied with that setup, the down
points is the TIS information being spotty and the weather radar not
being as powerfull as it could be.


Scott D

Paul Missman wrote:
Hi,

Anyone out there got have a GNC 480 or MX 20 in thier aircraft? I'm
thinking of getting this combo, and was wondering if anyone here had any
experience with them.

Hi Paul, hoping to have a GNS480 soon, but no personal experience yet. You might
want to check on the database cost. I think you need 2 separate Jepp
subscriptions for the GNS480 and MX20, plus a third subscription for Chart View,
if you want that.

Dave

Guys,

Thanks for all the feedback!

I've ordered the units, and should have them installed by year's end.
Backup will be Michel MX170 NAV/COM. Haven't checked on the database
subscription price as yet.

Seems like it will be a great package.

Paul