lsearcy Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 My KNS 80 in my '80J is not working (screen flashes intermittently and can't tune a station without the readout) so I am looking for a replacement as a secondary NAV TO MY 530. 1. Does anyone have one to sell in working order? 2. I am going to Ft. Worth Alliance Sunday (KAFW) for a meeting. They do not have an avionics shop on the field but apparently 52 F (Northwest regional) has a few. Anyone have experience with shops at 52F? Quote
N601RX Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 I have one that was working when I removed it about a year ago. The buttons look a little rough, I can get you a picture when I get home tonight. Quote
carusoam Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 BK sells the front panel parts. You can generally over pay for new lights if you are unable to get one used... Something to consider, -a- Quote
jlunseth Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 Most any avionics shop can replace the "lens" on a KNS80, that is the readout. Or you can sometimes trade the old unit in as a "core" on a reconditioned unit. The main advantage is that if you put a KNS 80 in for another KNS 80, of course it is just a slide in fit, no install cost. The KNS80 is very useful. I would not replace mine with another VOR unit, I have had thoughts of putting in a second GPS and then taking the KNS80 out. Quote
Mooneymite Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 After my debacle with the Garmin antenna locking all GPS signals out, I have decided that having a KNS80 would be a really good back up! http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11114-garmin-430w-gps-antenna-problem/?hl=antenna If I had one, I would definitely NOT remove it. Quote
Bob_Belville Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 I sold one on Ebay a while ago for $460 which was much less than I had spent keeping it running in the few months I owned it. State of the art... in another century. Bennett gets 1 AMU for them, that would represent full on retail. Quote
jlunseth Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 After my debacle with the Garmin antenna locking all GPS signals out, I have decided that having a KNS80 would be a really good back up! http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11114-garmin-430w-gps-antenna-problem/?hl=antenna If I had one, I would definitely NOT remove it. Well, even if you lose all GPS, your Garmins still have NAV radios, mine does anyway. Its a 430AW. So you still have VOR backup. If you were to go to two GPS's, you would have two GPS transceivers and two NAV radios to back up the GPS. That would work for me. All the same, the KNS80 has its uses. I rely almost entirely on my 430 for navigation, the KNS80 I use mostly to listen to weather at airports where it is broadcast over the VOR, or if I am bored I might dial in a VOR a good distance ahead just to have a nav. backup. On occasion I also will use it to backup the Localizer receiver in the 430 when on an ILS, I did have the 430 fail to get a glideslope signal once, or maybe to dial in an intersecting radial for an approach, again as a back up to the GPS which already has the fix in its database. However, the 430 has been so reliable that I can't think of any time in the last five or six years when I needed to use the KNS80 for backup, even when I had it set up as a backup for a particular procedure. Quote
Bob_Belville Posted August 13, 2014 Report Posted August 13, 2014 And it's heavy and takes up a lot of space. Much larger than a KX155 and does not even have a com. Quote
FlyWalt Posted August 16, 2014 Report Posted August 16, 2014 One thing I love about my KNS 80 is that it takes a few more processes in my brain to create a direct to point and impliment it. I like that challenge versus the direct to button on a GPS. Quote
dlmorris Posted August 16, 2014 Report Posted August 16, 2014 I have a KNS80 with a new lens and was working great when removed for my total panel redo. Give me a ring if you are still looking for a slide in replacement. 210 535 5402 Dave Quote
M016576 Posted August 16, 2014 Report Posted August 16, 2014 After my debacle with the Garmin antenna locking all GPS signals out, I have decided that having a KNS80 would be a really good back up! http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11114-garmin-430w-gps-antenna-problem/?hl=antenna If I had one, I would definitely NOT remove it. I had that same problem with my garmin 430 antenna! Was thankful to have my KNS80.. Because I was IMC on an arc when I lost the GPS. Quote
pinerunner Posted August 24, 2014 Report Posted August 24, 2014 I'm happy with my KNS80. It came with my plane and since I had laid off flying for a couple decades it seemed like I was getting an upgrade. I'm thinking about getting GPS of course but will probably skip getting a non-WAAS GPS which can be had cheap and hold out for a full WAAS capable GPS. I get access to my IRA in a year. The KNS80 that came with my plane died after a little over a year and I was able to replace it fairly cheap but I'm sure their days are numbered. I got my second one from Craig avionics in Concord, New Hampshire and they lived up to the glowing recommendation that I had got for them. A bit far for you to go from Texas. As a bit of a joke there's still Loran in my M20E. Quote
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