Cris Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Hi-I'm thinking about upgrading my panel which has a KLN 94 & GMX200 by swapping out the KLN 94 for an Garmin GNS 480. I realize that these are no longer produced & that there are newer options but I am trying to keep the cost to a minimum. Does anyone have one of these installed & what is your experience useing it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight2000 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Knowing what I know now, I'd look for a GNS 480 as well. They are much easier to program and make flight plan changes than the new 4/530 series. I know there were two up on eBay last week, but haven't checked lately to see if they ended. They are usually pretty hard to find because folk don't want to give them up. I'm proficient now with the 430W, so changes are not all that hard. You might be able to get good deals on the newer series once everyone starts dumping them for the new GTN series and I know more than a few that are already signed up for the "upgrades". Just a thought. Just curious, why are you giving up on the KLN-94? Are you looking for WAAS capability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 The KLN 94/GMX200 is a great combination but I will plan to sell this A/C in a few years & no one will want to purchase without WAAS IMHO. Therefore if I invest now I will get the use out of a system that a new purchaser will require or discount appropriately. In addition, the KLN 94 as well as the KX155 will never be worth more than right now so that means now makes the exchange the most cost effective. Of course I really do not need the capabilities but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 I have a 480 and love the unit. On a recent instrument training departure, I was given vectors and then told direct to a Victor airway, direct to a VOR. In only a second, the 480 helped me to see the full visual picture. The only way to appreciate it at the proper level is to read the manual, then re-read it again and again. There are a lot of features incorporated in the 480. Here is a clip from: http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/garmin-gps "the nearest alternative to the GNS 430/530 is the Garmin GNS 480, which offers advantages such as a soft key interface, IFR airways, monitoringof stanbdy COM or NAV channels (you can listen to ATIS and Center at the same time, even with only a single CNX80). Coupled with the MX20 multi-function display, the GNS 480 addresses nearly all of the shortcomings of the Garmins mentioned in this article. The GNS 480 has the same screen resolution as the 530 (320x240 pixels) but a much faster refresh rate." Here is a link to all the literature in PDF format. http://www.nhflying.com/garmin480.htm For many months, no 480's came up on Ebay, but a couple have over the last couple weeks. Here are a couple that sold. The first tells the true ceiling since it was a brand new unit. Brand new unit sold for $9700: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200587783595&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT 480 and GTX33 sold for $9500: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230595785454&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT One to watch: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180642888694&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Thanks Bob, the info provided is very helpful and reinforces my thought that the GNS480 coupled with my existing GMX 200 would be the best fit at this time. I assume that with the intro of the newest Garmin/King products more units may become available at more reasonable prices. If I need to spend $9500 for the 480 I suspect that I could get the new GTN small screen Garmin at discount for close to the same money. Ideally I'd like to be into this project for half the cost of the new GTN. We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 chris, Have you selected a shop in your area to do the install? Wondering if you have experience in this area already.... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Hi -a- It's been a few years since I have owned an A/C so I actually have not had recent experience with a local shop. In the past I relied on referrals. If I were to go go new I'd probably end up with a Garmin shop. Interestling I contacted Garmin to see what the cost would be for a minor repair on a GNS 480 on e-bay as suggested by Bob. this unit needs the spring to make the card "pop out". Garmin has a flat rate charge of $1000 for"any" GNS 480 repair but they do include any upgrades to the software. Make me cautious on any e-bay purchase vs new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyby201 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I have a GNS480 and I think if you get one and couple it to the GMX200, you will have most of the features of the just announced "Garmin Magic". The only major feature you would miss is the touchscreen technology. There is a GNS-480 user group on Yahoo which is very active and offer a lot of free expertise, but I doubt you'll find any for sale there. Everyone on that site are of the opinion that it is the only GPS worth having. See at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gns480-users/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Cris, I would save the $1000 for such a minor repair. A very simple fix would be to place a pull tab on the data card. For some reason, my MX20 card has on on it and the eject button does work. Very EZ to grab the tab and just pull the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Well the GNS 480 user group was a good suggestion from Flyby201. Turns out one of the members has a lead on a commercial operator that is changing out all of their 480's. He has put in a bid that will allow him to offer the units to others at $3000 a piece. He is still negotiating & won't know for a little bit but it is encouraging & he guarantees they are in working condition complete with racks & probably the antenna. That would solve my price/value issue. It also bodes well that more of these units will be coming onto the market presumably at reduced cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N9937c Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Sign me up for 3 of these!!! I have one in my mooney and just love it. Need one for a turbo Arrow I am finishing. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_S Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I think a second 480, coupled with a G500 set-up, would be the cat's meow for me! Wish I had an extra $20K lying around just asking to be spent to do all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyby201 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 The 480 group reported a GNS480 was listed today on BeechTalk. http://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54678 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight2000 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 And he can keep it at that price point. I know they are scarce and have a loyal following, but at $8K, I'd go with the newer GTN series box for a few dollars more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterLen Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 On 3/29/2011 at 2:02 AM, Bob said: I have a 480 and love the unit. On a recent instrument training departure, I was given vectors and then told direct to a Victor airway, direct to a VOR. In only a second, the 480 helped me to see the full visual picture. The only way to appreciate it at the proper level is to read the manual, then re-read it again and again. There are a lot of features incorporated in the 480. Here is a clip from: http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/garmin-gps "the nearest alternative to the GNS 430/530 is the Garmin GNS 480, which offers advantages such as a soft key interface, IFR airways, monitoringof stanbdy COM or NAV channels (you can listen to ATIS and Center at the same time, even with only a single CNX80). Coupled with the MX20 multi-function display, the GNS 480 addresses nearly all of the shortcomings of the Garmins mentioned in this article. The GNS 480 has the same screen resolution as the 530 (320x240 pixels) but a much faster refresh rate." Here is a link to all the literature in PDF format. http://www.nhflying.com/garmin480.htm For many months, no 480's came up on Ebay, but a couple have over the last couple weeks. Here are a couple that sold. The first tells the true ceiling since it was a brand new unit. Brand new unit sold for $9700: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200587783595&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT 480 and GTX33 sold for $9500: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230595785454&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT One to watch: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180642888694&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT Hi- I have an airplane with a Garmin GNS480 and havent found a card data programmer that works well with the GNS480. Wondering if you could email me the make and model and a photo if possible of the data card reader that you use to peterlenton@gmail.com? Thanks Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Welcome to the Forum Peter. I added an internal 3.5" multicard reader to my desktop and will send you the specifics tonight. It should work with any CF (compact Flash) reader, the older the better. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A64Pilot Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Unless I’m mistaken the Garmin 480 is actually the Apollo CNX-80? I don’t believe they are supported anymore? But it was the GPS I always wanted and never could afford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xavierde Posted May 5, 2021 Report Share Posted May 5, 2021 On 5/3/2021 at 5:14 PM, PeterLen said: Hi- I have an airplane with a Garmin GNS480 and havent found a card data programmer that works well with the GNS480. Wondering if you could email me the make and model and a photo if possible of the data card reader that you use to peterlenton@gmail.com? Thanks Peter I bought this one when I had my GNS480, it was working well. It can be useful to make a clone of the CF card in case anything happens to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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