GTN 750/650 Update to Garmin 6.11

[flyboy0681]

Just now, teejayevans said:

I've never gotten a unpublished hold, but now I'm almost hoping I get one.  Having the AP removes one of the most tedious tasks; flying in circles (ovals).

I think the usefulness comes in those cases where you are in actual conditions and need time for something - whether to get your head around an amendment that requires a change in an approach or a possible mechanical issue (no gear light perhaps). In those cases you can ask to be placed in a hold to sort things out while the A/P takes care of the flying. 

[Marauder]

Any of you who have done the update have an Aspen in your plane? One of the features is keeping of the previous track. Not sure how that will translate to an Aspen.

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[kellym]

On 3/11/2016 at 6:19 PM, donkaye said:

I've flown numerous approaches right after getting the update and had no issues---except, and this is only a software update for the GTN series, when flying VTF with the new system, all waypoints showed as expected on the GTN, but did not transfer over to the G500.  It still shows only the Final Approach Fix and no preceding fixes. :-(

Also, PTC doesn't work for me, but does for others.  Garmin says send the GMA 35 back for repair.  Another :-(

Somewhere between version 5 and 6 Garmin had to revise their ADS-B output to be fully 2020 compliant. They named the revision ADS-B+. Most ADS-B transponders require this revised data stream by name to work properly. I recently updated my unit to 6.11. The update is easy for anyone used to doing it on computers. The only time consuming task that requires a bit of saavy is to go into configuration mode and record each and every setting, so you can get back there if something goes wrong during update.  I'm not aware of Garmin having a direct portal for experimental builders to get update to do themselves. I obtained through back door channels and did the install myself. Had no problems, even though my previous version was over 3 yrs old.

[rmcguire007]

I did upgrade to release 6.11 on my GTN750 and have had two issues

Affected equipment is a shadin Miniflo and King KCS55A

1. Course Warning light will not extinguish when setting the course pointer to the correct heading

2. Shadin Miniflo no longer displays fuel to destination and fuel reserve. However the garmin shows it correctly on the fuel utilities screen.  I have heard from garmin that JPI fuel totalizers have the same issue.

[ArtVandelay]

FWIW I don't have #2 problem, GTN650&JPI830, I double checked logs, they're correct as well.

[Marauder]

I did upgrade to release 6.11 on my GTN750 and have had two issues

Affected equipment is a shadin Miniflo and King KCS55A

1. Course Warning light will not extinguish when setting the course pointer to the correct heading

2. Shadin Miniflo no longer displays fuel to destination and fuel reserve. However the garmin shows it correctly on the fuel utilities screen.  I have heard from garmin that JPI fuel totalizers have the same issue.

Thanks for reporting this.

[Brandontwalker]

What are the backdoor channels for v. 6.11? Is it anything that can be Dropbox'd?

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[TrekLawler]

On 4/13/2016 at 9:02 PM, Brandontwalker said:

What are the backdoor channels for v. 6.11? Is it anything that can be Dropbox'd?

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What exactly are you looking for? if this is a certified installation it has to be updated and signed off by your local Garmin dealer.

[Oscar Avalle]

6 hours ago, TrekLawler said:

What exactly are you looking for? if this is a certified installation it has to be updated and signed off by your local Garmin dealer.

Trek, welcome to the our forum!!! Now, we don't have to go to the other one to ask questions about our Garmins...!!!

[StevenL757]

On March 10, 2016 at 8:19 PM, donkaye said:

I've flown numerous approaches right after getting the update and had no issues---except, and this is only a software update for the GTN series, when flying VTF with the new system, all waypoints showed as expected on the GTN, but did not transfer over to the G500.  It still shows only the Final Approach Fix and no preceding fixes.

Don (or Trek), is there a way to actually show all the fixes and waypoints on a map page on the G500 MFD?  On other GTN/G500-installed airplanes I've flown, I like having the active flight plan page up on the 750, and the map/route on the MFD.

[donkaye]

All waypoints in the flight plan should be both on the flight plan page of the G500, and on the Map Page with the exception of VTF on an approach where only the final approach fix is still displayed on the G500, whereas all waypoints are displayed  in version 6.11 on the GTN 750.  I've questioned Trek about this, but haven't gotten an answer, yet.

 

[flyboy0681]

On 4/12/2016 at 10:54 AM, rmcguire007 said:

I did upgrade to release 6.11 on my GTN750 and have had two issues

Affected equipment is a shadin Miniflo and King KCS55A

1. Course Warning light will not extinguish when setting the course pointer to the correct heading

2. Shadin Miniflo no longer displays fuel to destination and fuel reserve. However the garmin shows it correctly on the fuel utilities screen.  I have heard from garmin that JPI fuel totalizers have the same issue.

I just flew 10 hours with the new software and the fuel calculation page worked just fine. It's fed through a JPI 700.

 

[Jerry 5TJ]

Just had Smart Avionics upgrade my 750/650 to 6.11.  Also got the latest G500 firmware version  7.0.  Plus new code for the GMA35 and GDL88. 

Q:  What is the purpose of the "blue banana" on the G500 screen,  and what is it called officially in the index?

 

 

[flyer7324]

If u have a 345 upgrade is mandatory and so far no issues.

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[donkaye]

5 hours ago, Jerry 5TJ said:

Just had Smart Avionics upgrade my 750/650 to 6.11.  Also got the latest G500 firmware version  7.0.  Plus new code for the GMA35 and GDL88. 

Q:  What is the purpose of the "blue banana" on the G500 screen,  and what is it called officially in the index?

It's called the "Range to Altitude Arc" and is one of the best new things in System 7.  From the Pilot's Guide:

Selected Altitude Range Arc 

The range to altitude arc may be selected for display on the MFD navigation map to predict where the ownship will be when it reaches the altitude selected on the altitude alerter on the PFD. The distance from the ownship to the arc is based on ground speed, baro altitude, selected altitude, and vertical speed. The arc is shown when the aircraft is moving toward the selected altitude at a vertical speed of at least 150 feet per minute.

For example, if you have an engine failure and know the ground elevation, pitch down until you have the greatest range on the Arc and that will be the best glide.  Takes into account winds with no computations.

5 hours ago, Jerry 5TJ said:

 

 

[Bob_Belville]

I have an appointment for next week to upgrade from 5.13 to 6.11. 

Anyone experience this? I was unable to update the 750 SD card - apparently with 5.13 it became necessary to manually delete certain old files. I may have to have new SD cards.

[flyboy0681]

9 minutes ago, Bob_Belville said:

I have an appointment for next week to upgrade from 5.13 to 6.11. 

Anyone experience this? I was unable to update the 750 SD card - apparently with 5.13 it became necessary to manually delete certain old files. I may have to have new SD cards.

I've had no issues using existing cards since the upgrade.

[Bob_Belville]

Just now, flyboy0681 said:

I've had no issues using existing cards since the upgrade.

Thanks, I upgraded to 5.13 in December. Updates worked okay every 28 days until this week. Are you deleting old files? Apparently there was a Garmin email I did not read thoroughly.

[Marauder]

Just now, flyboy0681 said: I've had no issues using existing cards since the upgrade.

Thanks, I upgraded to 5.13 in December. Updates worked okay every 28 days until this week. Are you deleting old files? Apparently there was a Garmin email I did not read thoroughly.

Bob - were you trying to install the May 26th update early? I noticed something different this past update. I took my second card and put the new version on it. When I tried to install it, it kept old cycle and never offered the new cycle.

Ironically after landing and fueling up, it asked if I wanted to update. Not sure if time had something to do with it because it 8:40 PM EDT which would make it a little after midnight GMT. Certainly was strange.

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[flyboy0681]

4 minutes ago, Bob_Belville said:

Thanks, I upgraded to 5.13 in December. Updates worked okay every 28 days until this week. Are you deleting old files? Apparently there was a Garmin email I did not read thoroughly.

I'm not physically deleting files. All I do is run the Jeppessen Distribution Manager program and it writes out the files to the card automatically.

[donkaye]

1 hour ago, Bob_Belville said:

I have an appointment for next week to upgrade from 5.13 to 6.11. 

Anyone experience this? I was unable to update the 750 SD card - apparently with 5.13 it became necessary to manually delete certain old files. I may have to have new SD cards.

With System 5.13 using Flight Charts, due to the way Garmin handled them, the old flight Charts files needed to be removed before the new ones could be downloaded.  I don't have the SB handy right now on this computer.  The issue was fixed with System 6.11 and contributed to my switching from Jeppesen downloads to Garmin because of the free Garmin Flight Charts with their PilotPak.  I'll know if I made a mistake on my first download next month.  If you time your purchase properly, you can get 14 downloads instead of 12.

 

[Bob_Belville]

6 hours ago, donkaye said:

With System 5.13 using Flight Charts, due to the way Garmin handled them, the old flight Charts files needed to be removed before the new ones could be downloaded.  I don't have the SB handy right now on this computer.  The issue was fixed with System 6.11 and contributed to my switching from Jeppesen downloads to Garmin because of the free Garmin Flight Charts with their PilotPak.  I'll know if I made a mistake on my first download next month.  If you time your purchase properly, you can get 14 downloads instead of 12.

 

Don, that's what I ran into. While I prefer Jepp charts from all the years I flew with their paper, I use the Garmin version on the 750 and 696 because of the cost difference. I still haven't found where Garmin documented the need to manually delete the old charts before loading the new ones. I was told that only terrain and charts data remain on the SD card and that I will have navdata while waiting to get upgraded to 6.11 and perhaps get new formatted SD cards.

[Bob_Belville]

9 hours ago, Marauder said:

Bob - were you trying to install the May 26th update early? I noticed something different this past update. I took my second card and put the new version on it. When I tried to install it, it kept old cycle and never offered the new cycle.

Ironically after landing and fueling up, it asked if I wanted to update. Not sure if time had something to do with it because it 8:40 PM EDT which would make it a little after midnight GMT. Certainly was strange.

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Yes, I was installing early but I've done that in the past without problems. I talked to Garmin after several hours of trying everything I could think of. That's when I learned of what I would call a bug in 5.13 that necessitated the manual delete of old files. I assume 6.11 fixes that glitch but I suspect I'll need new SD cards since the Garmin signature has apparently been lost or corrupted. (MS says the card needs to be formatted, Garmin download manager does not find a card.

I have had the 750 for over 3 years and I had a Garmin 155 TSO before that so I've been downloading date every 28 days for a long time. The process is not very intuitive relative to other web site but I made peace with it. (I just printed out all the Garmin notices I've received in the last 6 months and am reading them carefully to find the delete files instruction I apparently missed. Still looking. 

[Bob_Belville]

6 minutes ago, Bob_Belville said:

Yes, I was installing early but I've done that in the past without problems. I talked to Garmin after several hours of trying everything I could think of. That's when I learned of what I would call a bug in 5.13 that necessitated the manual delete of old files. I assume 6.11 fixes that glitch but I suspect I'll need new SD cards since the Garmin signature has apparently been lost or corrupted. (MS says the card needs to be formatted, Garmin download manager does not find a card.

I have had the 750 for over 3 years and I had a Garmin 155 TSO before that so I've been downloading date every 28 days for a long time. The process is not very intuitive relative to other web site but I made peace with it. (I just printed out all the Garmin notices I've received in the last 6 months and am reading them carefully to find the delete files instruction I apparently missed. Still looking. 

Here's what I had missed:

Service Advisory 1540: GTN 7XX Units with Main Software Version 5.11 or 5.13 and FliteCharts® Updates

10 June 2015  / Service Advisories /

 

AFFECTED PRODUCTS:
 GTN 725 and GTN 750 units using Main Software Version 5.11 or 5.13.

ISSUE:
 GTN Main Software Versions 5.11 and 5.13 changed the way that FliteCharts data are handled by GTN 7XX units.  In some cases a new FliteCharts data update may become corrupted, causing the GTN datacard to become unusable.  (GTN 6XX units do not use FliteCharts and are not affected.)

PILOT ACTION:
 Owners and operators of GTN 7XX units with v5.11 or v5.13 software should not update the FliteCharts database without first performing the steps outlined in this Service Advisory 1540.

http://garmin.blogs.com/files/1540a.pdf

[Jerry 5TJ]

When I upgraded the Garmin G500 to 7.0 and the GTN750/650 to 6.11 I had to contact Jeppesen to change my subscription as their files differ depending on FW revision level. 

Terrain map for G500 was too large in new version so I needed a larger capacity memory card.  No issue with GTN series files. 

As others have noted in 6.11 adding and loading an approach to the flight plan does alter your route flown.  Say the last leg of your plan was EMI to KMTN and you add the RNAV 15 approach with MEGAN transition.  In prior version the approach would be loaded after KMTN. Now the approach replaces KMTN entry and you go to MEGAN after EMI. Ok, unless that is not what you're cleared.

6.11 now offers LP+V approaches. Previously I was not getting vertical advisory information. Nice improvement.

The "blue banana" altitude crossing indicator on G500 is great.  ATC says "Cross SQUAT at 3000, cleared XYZ approach" you set altitude on g500 to 3000 and descend at rate to put the banana on your side of SQUAT.