Ovation 2 GX vs DX

[aviatoreb]

I'm with Don on this too.  When I purchased this Mooney 4 years ago - I had a Diamond DA40 - steam gauge, and no autopilot.  I was very close to upgrading to a DA40 with G1000 and autopilot.  But then I learned about the practically impossible path to upgrade the G1000 to WAAS - same story - the airframe manufacturer has to make each STC rather than the avionics manufacturer. SO most of the no WAAS G1000 DA40s are still no WAAS even though eventually they made an upgrade path, for $25k.  And upgrade the software to SVT for $12k.  And you know the SVT is just a software code unlock since the SVT is hiding in every G1000 software anyway but not legal to release without proper programming, codes, which is not legal without the appropriate STC to release the code for each individual airframe.  So its $12k for a software code.

 

But the airframe manufacturer somehow jipped the DA42 earlier adopter's since there is one engine variety of the DA42 that you can still not get SVT or WAAS and likely never for those sad few DA42s.  And now the story repeats with the ADSB - the DA40's and DA42's, even the brand new ones are currently incapable of receiving ADSB upgrades.

 

So I got a load of that and decided forget G1000 entirely for me.  Heck for $25-30k you can get a complete g600 install and be in control of your own destiny.  And upgrade each new widget as separate boxes as they come along.  I think the whole G1000 avionics certified by each individual airframe manufacturer is a terrible model.  Will the part 23 rewrite fix this?

 

And I got the same SVT now on my iPad in Garmin pilot.

[Marauder]

I'm with Don on this too. When I purchased this Mooney 4 years ago - I had a Diamond DA40 - steam gauge, and no autopilot. I was very close to upgrading to a DA40 with G1000 and autopilot. But then I learned about the practically impossible path to upgrade the G1000 to WAAS - same story - the airframe manufacturer has to make each STC rather than the avionics manufacturer. SO most of the no WAAS G1000 DA40s are still no WAAS even though eventually they made an upgrade path, for $25k. And upgrade the software to SVT for $12k. And you know the SVT is just a software code unlock since the SVT is hiding in every G1000 software anyway but not legal to release without proper programming, codes, which is not legal without the appropriate STC to release the code for each individual airframe. So its $12k for a software code.

But the airframe manufacturer somehow jipped the DA42 earlier adopter's since there is one engine variety of the DA42 that you can still not get SVT or WAAS and likely never for those sad few DA42s. And now the story repeats with the ADSB - the DA40's and DA42's, even the brand new ones are currently incapable of receiving ADSB upgrades.

So I got a load of that and decided forget G1000 entirely for me. Heck for $25-30k you can get a complete g600 install and be in control of your own destiny. And upgrade each new widget as separate boxes as they come along. I think the whole G1000 avionics certified by each individual airframe manufacturer is a terrible model. Will the part 23 rewrite fix this?

And I got the same SVT now on my iPad in Garmin pilot.

I generally agree with you on this. The only difference is that the G1000 goes beyond the navigation functions and does integrate with the aircraft systems. I don't have a lot of time with them (a few rentals that had them). What I did notice was the integration of other aircraft functions in the system.

I think the intent was good but the cost and execution of it being tied to the airframe STC was not.

My personal pet peeve of the standalone products is the fact the manufacturers are allowed to block compatibility with each other. That is the reason Don went all Garmin. I want competition in the market so our pricing is reasonable and that people, like me, who are always looking for the next new technology can make the jump. As well, it will give people a choice on what they want in their planes.

[Ftlausa]

I read this thread with some interest because I have just gone through the same analysis and have decided to stay with my WASS upgraded and soon to be ABS-B upgraded J model instead of moving to a G1000 Ovation.  The WASS upgrade for the GFC equipped Ovations is $25k (going up in price in 2015).  As someone observed, you can install a G500 for that in a WASS equipped aircraft.  Its not exactly the same as a G1000, but pretty close. 

[kmyfm20s]

This was my solution the the non WAAS ovation issue, buying the entire Garmin catalog and putting in an EI MVP-50:) I actually like it more than the G1000, I have more information in a smaller scan.

[aviatoreb]

This was my solution the the non WAAS ovation issue, buying the entire Garmin catalog and putting in an EI MVP-50:) I actually like it more than the G1000, I have more information in a smaller scan.

image.jpg

 

Now that's a panel!

[VinoMooney]

This was my solution the the non WAAS ovation issue, buying the entire Garmin catalog and putting in an EI MVP-50:) I actually like it more than the G1000, I have more information in a smaller scan.

image.jpg

That sir, is badass! What does something like that cost? If you don't mind me asking.

[BigTex]

What you have there is is some serious aircraft porn... Just once, I'd like to fly behind something like that! 

[Marauder]

That sir, is badass! What does something like that cost? If you don't mind me asking.

At one time he had 3 children, he now has 2. Amazing what you can sell on eBay.

[Robert C.]

That sir, is badass! What does something like that cost? If you don't mind me asking.

I'll bet it's about the same as upgrading a non-WAAS G1000 to a GFC700/G1000W setup

All kidding aside, the price difference between a G1000W/GFC700 and a G1000/S-Tec55 last year was $70,000 which is what the factory quoted a few years ago. Money has indicated that a WAAS upgrade solution will become available the 1st quarter of this year. Of course nothing is certain until it is official and available but I'll reserve judgment until then on whether or not I lost my gamble (I bought a non-WAAS O3).

Robert

[kmyfm20s]

At one time he had 3 children, he now has 2. Amazing what you can sell on eBay.

Luckily that kid was a PIA:)

That sir, is badass! What does something like that cost? If you don't mind me asking.

I can not tell you how much the total panel would cost because some of it was in the plane when I bought it and after I bought it I did a significant panel reconfiguration and added more to it. That's the beauty of buying used, I'm into this plane a lot less than a G1000 Ovation plus have ADS-B out, WAAS, O3 power plant and a higher useful load. Hard to beat.

[M016576]

That sir, is badass! What does something like that cost? If you don't mind me asking.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it!!!