Panel upgrade

[MooneyTunes]

Well the old girl is finally in for her face lift. Dual G5s, GTN650, GTX335, and getting her ready for the GFC500. And best of all, no more vacuum! 

[LANCECASPER]

I know you're going to want to shoot me for saying this - but spend the extra $1000 and get the GTX-345 transponder. It will display traffic and weather on your GTN and who knows what else down the road . It's hard to justify $1000 now when spending the money, but you'll kick yourself later for not doing it.

[MooneyTunes]

Unfortunately I got a great deal on the GTX335 and had it installed a year ago. I use my ipad and Stratus 2 for wx and traffic. I know I know the bug will eventually bite and back to the shop she’ll go. But for now the 335 will work. I am exited about the GFC500. Hopefully the STC will be out soon. I’ve put a deposit on one and secured my spot on the cue. I am installing the Flighstream 210.

[Baker Avionics]

39 minutes ago, MooneyTunes said:

Unfortunately I got a great deal on the GTX335 and had it installed a year ago. I use my ipad and Stratus 2 for wx and traffic. I know I know the bug will eventually bite and back to the shop she’ll go. But for now the 335 will work. I am exited about the GFC500. Hopefully the STC will be out soon. I’ve put a deposit on one and secured my spot on the cue. I am installing the Flighstream 210.

And as an Avionics Shop Manager and Owner, have them take out your carpeting or at LEAST cover it!!!!!  That is a sin!!!! You could sell your 335 for a little less than what you got it for and you would be ahead.  Can't wait to see the finished product!!!!!

[Bryan]

TXi G500?

[Comet]

Well done! I’m getting ready for almost the same upgrade....waiting is the hardest part!

[ArtVandelay]

Well done! I’m getting ready for almost the same upgrade....waiting is the hardest part!

No, writing the check is the hardest part.

[MooneyTunes]

14 hours ago, The Avionics Specialists said:

And as an Avionics Shop Manager and Owner, have them take out your carpeting or at LEAST cover it!!!!!  That is a sin!!!! You could sell your 335 for a little less than what you got it for and you would be ahead.  Can't wait to see the finished product!!!!!

Normally I would be all over them about the carpets, however once the AC leaves avionics, its going in for a new interior. Those 35 year old brown shaggy floors need to go!!!!

currently negotiating a 345 swap with the shop. I’ll know more on Monday.

[Cooperd0g]

Are you planning a digital engine monitor as well?

[kortopates]

16 hours ago, MooneyTunes said:

Unfortunately I got a great deal on the GTX335 and had it installed a year ago. I use my ipad and Stratus 2 for wx and traffic. I know I know the bug will eventually bite and back to the shop she’ll go. But for now the 335 will work. I am exited about the GFC500. Hopefully the STC will be out soon. I’ve put a deposit on one and secured my spot on the cue. I am installing the Flighstream 210.

The FS 210 with the GTN series doesn't make any sense. Look into the FS 510,which is the right one for the GTN's, and about the same cost with no installation cost and does more!

[Bob_Belville]

@MooneyTunes, looking good! 

'66 M20E

FWIW, I went with the GTN 750 along with GDL 88 and Aspen 1000 Pro 6 years ago. Added the FS 510 when it came out. Highly recommend the combination. (A JPI EDM 930 went in with the 750.)

I plan to upgrade the Aspen to the Max and the STEC50 to a STEC 3100 when available.   

[MooneyTunes]

44 minutes ago, Cooperd0g said:

Are you planning a digital engine monitor as well?

Yes.JPI 830 most likely.

[MooneyTunes]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

The FS 210 with the GTN series doesn't make any sense. Look into the FS 510,which is the right one for the GTN's, and about the same cost with no installation cost and does more!

Thanks for the tip. However I currently use FF and not GP. The GTN data update feature offered by the 510 is somewhat slow and not compatible with FF. All the other 510 feautures such as SAT connection is not something I’ll ever use. I also like the backup AHRS feature offered by the 210. At $900 installed, for the 210 it was an easy choice.

[Reid]

15 minutes ago, MooneyTunes said:

Thanks for the tip. However I currently use FF and not GP. The GTN data update feature offered by the 510 is somewhat slow and not compatible with FF. All the other 510 feautures such as SAT connection is not something I’ll ever use. I also like the backup AHRS feature offered by the 210. At $900 installed, for the 210 it was an easy choice.

Wow, $900 installed, that is a good price.  I'm close to pulling the trigger on an upgrade (GTN750/NGT9000/PMA450B), the shops pricing has been decent thus far, but kinda shocked me when he quoted $1795 for a FS210 installed.  2 wires, ground and power shouldn't be ~8 hours of labor.

[Jim Peace]

2 hours ago, MooneyTunes said:

The GTN data update feature offered by the 510 is somewhat slow and not compatible with FF. 

I have the GTN with the 510 and it works great with FF and the data update is a non event.  Go with the 510.  It is just an SD card.  If you have the money for a new interior after this upgrade I suggest to hold off for a year and put that money into the JPI 900 at least.  not the 800 series.  Also be sure to flush mount your G5s....looks so much nicer.  Like the plane was designed with it instead of being an after thought.

You will need Garmin Pilot for the 510 and the updates.  Unfortunately Garmin pilot does not do geo referenced taxi diagrams, only the AMM chart.  FF does both.

[LANCECASPER]

6 hours ago, MooneyTunes said:

currently negotiating a 345 swap with the shop. I’ll know more on Monday.

I enjoy helping other people spend their money.

[MooneyTunes]

48 minutes ago, Jim Peace said:

I have the GTN with the 510 and it works great with FF and the data update is a non event.  Go with the 510.  It is just an SD card.  If you have the money for a new interior after this upgrade I suggest to hold off for a year and put that money into the JPI 900 at least.  not the 800 series.  Also be sure to flush mount your G5s....looks so much nicer.  Like the plane was designed with it instead of being an after thought.

You will need Garmin Pilot for the 510 and the updates.  Unfortunately Garmin pilot does not do geo referenced taxi diagrams, only the AMM chart.  FF does both.

Donations will be gladly accepted! Lol.Serious folks whats good for some might be over kill for others. 

[kortopates]

It the long run the FS 510 should save you $$ since you won’t need to pull the SD cards to reprogram with data every 28 days. All that removal and re-insertion leads to failure needing new cards and can occur in opportune times. I understand you only have one box to update compared to my 3, but if you think Bluetoothing the data across to your box is slow, just wait till you do them manually after you take them home or bring a laptop to the plane. It’s actually quite fast even with my 3 boxes. While you were doing all that card programming you could have been taxing to the run up area, copying clearance etc. while your iPad did it for you.
Also with your soon to be GTX-345 (rather than 330) you won’t want the clutter of your portable Stratus 2 anymore nor the need for the second iPad connection (FS + stratus) since your FS 510 will replace both with a more reliable system; so you can sell it and recoup a few $. That backup AHRS you were planning to get from the FS210 will still be available through the GTX-345. So you’ll still have all your bases covered. And when your done you’ll have higher resale value on your avionics with the 345.


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[Marauder]

It the long run the FS 510 should save you $$ since you won’t need to pull the SD cards to reprogram with data every 28 days. All that removal and re-insertion leads to failure needing new cards and can occur in opportune times. I understand you only have one box to update compared to my 3, but if you think Bluetoothing the data across to your box is slow, just wait till you do them manually after you take them home or bring a laptop to the plane. It’s actually quite fast even with my 3 boxes. While you were doing all that card programming you could have been taxing to the run up area, copying clearance etc. while your iPad did it for you.
Also with your soon to be GTX-345 (rather than 330) you won’t want the clutter of your portable Stratus 2 anymore nor the need for the second iPad connection (FS + stratus) since your FS 510 will replace both with a more reliable system; so you can sell it and recoup a few $. That backup AHRS you were planning to get from the FS210 will still be available through the GTX-345. So you’ll still have all your bases covered. And when your done you’ll have higher resale value on your avionics with the 345.


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Are you running ForeFlight Paul? That is what he is running and I thought FF didn’t support the database concierge, only on Garmin Pilot.

I also think the database concierge runs on the FS 510’s WiFi and the Bluetooth is used for the FIS-B and flight plan transfers.


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[kortopates]

Yes, all correct, and I am a GP user, but was following Jim’s post recommendation above to get GP to take advantage of this functionality and he just might become a convert. It’s really good stuff but I don’t know about FF support for the DB streaming support. Sorry I can’t recall if you use GP but for others it does use a fast WIFI connection to stream data and then drops that and Bluetooth’s for the normal iPad functionality (gps position, TISB and FISb). Once everything is set up it reconnects automatically on future flights.


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[Marauder]

Yes, all correct, and I am a GP user, but was following Jim’s post recommendation above to get GP to take advantage of this functionality and he just might become a convert. It’s really good stuff but I don’t know about FF support for the DB streaming support. Sorry I can’t recall if you use GP but for others it does use a fast WIFI connection to stream data and then drops that and Bluetooth’s for the normal iPad functionality (gps position, TISB and FISb). Once everything is set up it reconnects automatically on future flights.


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Ah ha! As I suspected, you’ve been drinking Garmin Kool-aid again! Or did Peter Garmin knock you out and hooked you up to a Garmin IV?

[gsxrpilot]

Nowhere does the "doing it right the first time" have as much financial benefit as in aviation.

[Jim Peace]

What ever you do hold off on the latest update from Garmin for the GTN.  And its a great idea to keep your stratus.  When your expensive GTN screen goes black you can still find your way with the stratus and iPad.

Garmin still has not notified their customers through official channels that the last update is a total cluster F.

FACT: If you are loading up your panel with Garmin stuff like I did you must become a member of Beechtalk if you want to find out any safety issues with your products.  Garmin will not put this information out on their website.  They only put it on beechtalk.  They have paid the FAA off to keep things like screens going blank as quiet as they can.  

[NJMac]

If you have the money for a new interior after this upgrade I suggest to hold off for a year and put that money into the JPI 900 at least.  not the 800 series.  

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[MooneyTunes]

All valid points gents. Thank you all for your input. I am a firm believer in redundancy. Having the ipad and Stratus is cheap insurance when Murphy shows his ugly head. Depending too much on gadgets errodes a pilot of his basic skills. Heck I still carry a paper map and a wiz wheel. I will take up the suggestion of upgrading to the 345. Swapping boxes shouldn’t be too expensive. All the other gadgets can wait. Besides in 6 months or so the 510 will become obsolete by a NEWER gadget. Avionics upgrade is a fast moving train.