Avidyne 540/440

[FlyDave]

Can't other companies just parse the string coming out of the Garmin unit and re-write their code to accommodate any changes? I know it would be easier if Garmin published and notified partnering vendors of changes but in lieu of that, reverse engineering their strings should work. Or maybe there are FAA and or legal issues with that.

[flyboy0681]

Do we have to re-visit this topic again guys?

[PTK]

Can't other companies just parse the string coming out of the Garmin unit and re-write their code to accommodate any changes? I know it would be easier if Garmin published and notified partnering vendors of changes but in lieu of that, reverse engineering their strings should work. Or maybe there are FAA and or legal issues with that.

They're NOT partnering vendors and G has no obligation to notify them of anything. The only obligation G has, or anyone else for that matter, is to their own STC's. Not somebody else's.

I'm sure they have enough FAA legalities dealing with their own STC's let alone worry about others'!

Do we have to re-visit this topic again guys?

Apparently some think we do!

[mike_elliott]

Huh? Why all this preoccupation with what Garmin does?

It's not Garmin's responsibility to be concerned with other vendors' products!

Nor is it the consumer's responsibility to fight these vendors' battles!

So Aspen, Avidyne, BK, and everyone else who has an ax to grind with Garmin, please fight your own battles!

Peter, I don't recall saying it was Garmins' responsibility to be concerned with other vendor's products. Perhaps you are thinking of someone else. I was addressing Don's comment

 " I specifically went with all the Garmin equipment that I could BECAUSE of the lack of interface issues with other vendor's products.  They also seem to be able to get things certified when other companies cannot. "  It seems there is a reference Don made that Garmin now can interface with others, and lacks issues in doing so. IF that is now the case, we pilots win! Stuff works, bills are reduced as avionics shops' job's are simplified.

If Garmin chooses to be proprietary, that is there marketing decision. Mr. Market will decide what they want without yours or my input.

[PTK]

I agree Mike.

Only thing I would add is that the market has already decided!

[Marauder]

Peter, I don't recall saying it was Garmins' responsibility to be concerned with other vendor's products. Perhaps you are thinking of someone else. I was addressing Don's comment " I specifically went with all the Garmin equipment that I could BECAUSE of the lack of interface issues with other vendor's products. They also seem to be able to get things certified when other companies cannot. " It seems there is a reference Don made that Garmin now can interface with others, and lacks issues in doing so. IF that is now the case, we pilots win! Stuff works, bills are reduced as avionics shops' job's are simplified. If Garmin chooses to be proprietary, that is there marketing decision. Mr. Market will decide what they want without yours or my input.

I think Don's first point was that by buying all Garmin he doesn't have to contend with the interfacing issues. Fine if you have the funds to drop that much on a stack. I personally want options and more importantly, I want competitively priced solutions. It wasn't too long ago that BK was the true King of Nav/Coms. Only to be dethroned by the new kid on the block. History does repeat itself.

[jetdriven]

When Garmin releases a software update to kill compatibility with competitors products, its not the market deciding. Its Garmin.

[ChrisH]

Let me ask the 650/750 guys, I've played with the 540 simulator and the one feature I really like is the integrated vertical planning, every way-point now has an altitude restriction option (auto-populated for approaches). Does the 650/750 have this? I can see it really useful for approaches and STARS. 

[flyboy0681]

Let me ask the 650/750 guys, I've played with the 540 simulator and the one feature I really like is the integrated vertical planning, every way-point now has an altitude restriction option (auto-populated for approaches). Does the 650/750 have this? I can see it really useful for approaches and STARS. 

 

 

It's there, at least on the 750

[jetdriven]

It's there, at least on the 750

Does it still reset the values you entered when you turn it on?

[PTK]

When Garmin releases a software update to kill compatibility with competitors products, its not the market deciding. Its Garmin.

Byron, is it really that easy to kill compatibility with competitors' products? Is it really that easy?

Because if it is what's stopping those competitors from killing compatibility with G?

To put it another way: why do those competitors NEED compatibility with G?

Precisely because Garmin DRIVES THE ENTIRE PANEL FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

I've said before. Innovate boxes of your own and drive the panel. Become true competition for G and break free from the dependency!

[Marauder]

Byron, is it really that easy to kill compatibility with competitors' products? Is it really that easy? Because if it is what's stopping those competitors from killing compatibility with G? To put it another way: why do those competitors NEED compatibility with G? Precisely because Garmin DRIVES THE ENTIRE PANEL FROM THE BOTTOM UP. I've said before. Innovate boxes of your own and drive the panel. Become true competition for G and break free from the dependency!

Peter - think of this a little differently. What if your cell phone could only get text messages from people who use the same carrier as you? Would you be happy? How about you pay $1 for every text message to you that is not on your carrier. Still happy? Using propriety codes to exclude integration has been going on for years. Nothing new there. Garmin has enjoyed being the avionics market leader not because of their innovation (I personally think the Apollo products were a better solution), but because they had an economic advantage to invest in the aviation market. Their diversified consumer products, namely portable GPS units for vehicles gave them funding to branch out in a number of GPS markets -- the car GPS business which by the way is under attack by cell phones using Google Map type products and other competitors like Tom-Tom who have taken Garmin market share. Don't get me wrong Peter, I like Garmin products, I just don't like the fact they don't play nice in the sandbox.

[flyboy0681]

Does it still reset the values you entered when you turn it on?

 

Yup

[Piloto]

As long as you deal with propietary interface formats there will always be interface incompatability issues. Manufacturers are simply not obligated to share specs. Not only because of competition but because of liability issues like on the GDL-88. When most GPS WAAS planes are equipped with the G430/530 or GTN-650/750 what ADS-B other than the GDL-88 they are going to get? This would force the Aspen owners to get a second ADS-B compatible with their MFD. To insure compatability between different brands you would need GAMA or RTCA to be involved on developing a public interface standard for these products.

 

José 

[PTK]

Peter - think of this a little differently. What if your cell phone could only get text messages from people who use the same carrier as you? Would you be happy? How about you pay $1 for every text message to you that is not on your carrier. Still happy? ... I just don't like the fact they don't play nice in the sandbox.

I don't think that's a valid analogy Chris and for many reasons including regulatory considerations.

 

But assuming it was G plays the way and with whom they want because they own this proverbial sandbox!

[DaV8or]

Wouldn't it be awesome if your TV didn't talk to your DVR and your DVR didn't talk to your cable box and your stereo couldn't receive signals from your TV and blue ray player had compatibility issues with Roku box and Apple TV caused your Xbox to shut down? Then the only solution would be to have to buy all these devices from the same manufacturer, that would be sweet. And to make sure we're all super up to date, the manufacturer would make sure new components don't work with old ones so that if you want to get a new bigger TV, you'll have to get all the other stuff too. This really would be best for the consumer.

[DaV8or]

Only thing I would add is that the market has already decided!

 

Seriously, the market never had a choice. Well, there was Apollo... oh wait. What happened there again?

[Marauder]

I don't think that's a valid analogy Chris and for many reasons including regulatory considerations.

But assuming it was G plays the way and with whom they want because they own this proverbial sandbox!

The regulatory considerations are minor. Other industries with more regulatory controls (FDA) have dealt with it through a standardization of protocols. Other industries, like electronics, have standardized on common protocols and formats. There is a reason why your USB thumb drive will work on a Mac and a Windows PC.

As for Garmin, they own the sandbox today Peter, just like BK owned the Nav/Com business from the late 70s through the early 90s. It's clear Garmin is protecting their turf and you can't blame them for trying to protect it. I would.

The other manufacturers are playing catchup in an industry where the top dog got a head start. I like the fact that the others are trying. Otherwise, you would be left with no competition and you, as the consumer, would pay dearly for it. BTW -- when are you going to install that G500? Too expensive?

Sent using Tapatalk

[PTK]

Chris, two reasons: i don't need it really as my King equipment is working great. And I'm waiting. I'll consider it when G rolls out either a single display PFD i.e. half of a G500, or a touchscreen G500, (GTN500?)

The present G500 is due for an upgrade to match the resolution of the 750! Hopefully soon.

[donkaye, MCFI]

Chris, two reasons: i don't need it really as my King equipment is working great. And I'm waiting. I'll consider it when G rolls out either a single display PFD i.e. half of a G500, or a touchscreen G500, (GTN500?)

The present G500 is due for an upgrade to match the resolution of the 750! Hopefully soon.

 

A couple of things---

 

1.  I got all Garmin so I wouldn't be faced with interface problems with other vendors like those discussed above.

2.  I upgraded because my B/K EFIS 40 went on the blink and Bendix/King rediculously wanted more than the cost of a G500 to repair that ancient technology.

3.  The Garmin displays are much more pleasing to my eyes than the competition.

4.  There is not vertical nav on the 750 like the Avidyne 540 will have, BUT I am told it will be in the next update to the GTN 750 later this year.

 

Having said those nice things about Garmin, paying $2,350 for the unlock Chartview card for the G500 plus another $1,950 for the Chartview card for the 750 is just too greedy for me to even consider it.

[Marauder]

A couple of things---

Having said those nice things about Garmin, paying $2,350 for the unlock Chartview card for the G500 plus another $1,950 for the Chartview card for the 750 is just too greedy for me to even consider it.

I never understood why they charged so much for the ChartView, especially since it will be a subscription service also. The Aspen MFD came with a free 3 month Seattle Avionics chart subscription and no activation fee. You can use a plain microSD card to load the updates and the sub prices are reasonable. They offer deals periodically. I think I paid $199 to extend my sub for 2 years (savings of $199).

[tony]

http://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=90279

[Tony Armour]

My 540 has been in about a week. So far so good, it replaced a 530 no W. It has some really slick features.

[Marauder]

My 540 has been in about a week. So far so good, it replaced a 530 no W. It has some really slick features.

Make some videos, I would love to see this bad boy in action.

[Tony Armour]

Make some videos, I would love to see this bad boy in action.

There are some good tutorial's on YouTube. I did make one but I wasn't changing anything on the box.....I was pissed that it wasn't doing something. Come to find out Garmin does the same thing :-) I'm not good at change haha. I'll look at mine again and if it's worth watching I will upload it somewhere.