Gdl39. I may be sold

[ryoder]

My instructor turned on the stratus today while we were resuming instrument training. He was calling out traffic below us and behind us on his fore flight. I got tech envy. Now I think I need the Garmin equivalent. Any last thoughts before I use my 200 dollar Aircraft Spruce gift cards?

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[Marauder]

My instructor turned on the stratus today while we were resuming instrument training. He was calling out traffic below us and behind us on his fore flight. I got tech envy. Now I think I need the Garmin equivalent. Any last thoughts before I use my 200 dollar Aircraft Spruce gift cards?

 

 

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I have owned the original GDL-39 for a couple of years now. Well worth it especially if you are doing instrument flying and trying to get current weather along your route. Traffic is so, so with any of these portables until you figure what you are going to do to drive the "out" piece.

[Andy95W]

GDL-39 for me.  No 3D, no battery.  Hard wired for power to the airplane.

The absolute coolest thing is wiring it to the Aera 500 so it displays traffic and weather on the portable GPS, on a screen that is bigger than a GNS-430!

[jetdriven]

Same here. 3 years and 400+ hours on the Aera 500 and the GDL-39. hardwired traffic and weather.  It just always works. No overheating.

[aviatoreb]

GDL-39 for me.  No 3D, no battery.  Hard wired for power to the airplane.

The absolute coolest thing is wiring it to the Aera 500 so it displays traffic and weather on the portable GPS, on a screen that is bigger than a GNS-430!

Question - I have my 430W hardwired to my aera 500 for cross fill - and also it get's ships power directly.  Can my gdl39-3d also be hardwired to my aera 500?

[Andy95W]

Question - I have my 430W hardwired to my aera 500 for cross fill - and also it get's ships power directly.  Can my gdl39-3d also be hardwired to my aera 500?

probably.  Would have to be configured as a "pass through" serial device, you may have to check with your avionics shop, unless you can find it in the GNS-430 install manual.  In this method, the GDL-39 becomes a conduit for the information to pass thru between the GNS and Aera.  Good luck.

Try taking a look at Appendix D in the most recent version of the Aera manual from the Garmin website.

[LANCECASPER]

I have the GDL39 3D and use the Bluetooth to connect very well to my Aera 796, iPad & IPhone 6+ (both with Garmin Pilot). It works great. I always update the firmware and software on the devices to the latest and have no problems connecting.

 

I have the cable that powers both the 796 and GDL39 and the battery backup for the GDL39. I like the idea of a back up Attitude Indicator and the Synthetic vision. This sits on my glareshield and has never overheated - I live in TX.