XM vs UAT

[Piloto]

Last Sunday I was approaching FXE under isolated thunderstom activity. I descended below 2000 to be clear of the massive cloud formations above. At 1500ft I circunavigated around heavy thunderstorm activity depicted by XM/WX (red squares). Glad I did it because it had golf ball size hail. As I am on final to rwy 26 another traffic turn in front of me 1nm ahead as indicated by the Monroy ATD-300. Aparently he misidentified the traffic to follow. I inmediately slowed down to increase distance. Tower never mention it. I finally got a view of it crossing the threshold.

Had I had ADS-B/UAT instead of XM & ATD-300 I would not have seen the hail tunderstom actitivity neither the traffic because UAT does not cover below 2000ft as per FAA coverage map when fully implemented. Is the XM $50/month subscription worth it, you bet it is, better than the $50K it would have cost to repair the in-flight hail damage. Not to mention that I may have collided with the C172 ahead and below if I didn't have the ATD-300.

I am still trying to figure out what are the improved benefits of the UAT over what is there now. For what the UAT equipment cost is you are better off with the XM service that is more reliable than the UAT.

José      

[Cruiser]

I believe my Mark V eyeballs would have detected and helped me avoid both of these potential conflicts without the $50/month fee.

I still endorse looking out the window occasionally.

[FlyDave]

I get ADS-B coverage on the ground at my airport. I haven't tested that at other airports yet but I will and report back when I do.

[jetdriven]

Quote: Piloto

 

Had I had ADS-B/UAT instead of XM & ATD-300 I would not have seen the hail tunderstom actitivity neither the traffic because UAT does not cover below 2000ft as per FAA coverage map when fully implemented. Is the XM $50/month subscription worth it, you bet it is, better than the $50K it would have cost to repair the in-flight hail damage. Not to mention that I may have collided with the C172 ahead and below if I didn't have the ATD-300.

José      

[DaV8or]

OK, I'm slow on the uptake. I know what XM and ADS-B is, but what's UAT?

[danb35]

A UAT is a device that transmits and receives ADS-B data.

[danb35]

Quote: jetdriven

Dont get me wrong, I think it is an excellent tool.  So are GPS WAAS approaches.  But when the subscriptions for these things approach 3 grand a year, I'll pass.

[jetdriven]

well, XM is $600 a year.  The full logical bundle for the Garmins is $1503 a year.   Throw in a second garmin 430/GTN and its way over, or an Aera/496 (500$) thats about 3k. 

[jetdriven]

Quote: jetdriven

well, XM is $600 a year.  The full logical bundle for the Garmin GTN is $1503 a year.   Throw in a second garmin 430/GTN and its way over, or an Aera/496 (500$) thats about 3k. 

[danb35]

Quote: jetdriven

well, XM is $600 a year.  The full logical bundle for the Garmins is $1503 a year.   Throw in a second garmin 430/GTN and its way over, or an Aera/496 (500$) thats about 3k. 

[bd32322]

I am a cheap pilot - I like free -so ADS-B/UAT is great for me instead of having dedicated traffic devices and weather subscriptions.

I do not plan on relying on ADS-B at 2000 feet near thunderstroms and I do not plan on relying on XM for close-in avoidance like you might try with on-board radar. XM is for general area avoidance because of the delays in receiving data.

So really both have limitations with the kind of flight you - and one is free.

 

[jlunseth]

Quote: jetdriven

[Piloto]

Quote: DaV8or

OK, I'm slow on the uptake. I know what XM and ADS-B is, but what's UAT?

[thinwing]

Jose ,thanks for the concise explanation of extended squitter adsb....I am on the fence regarding "free weather"over ads b....looking at faa coverage maps....not to good where I go....nevada/oregon/idaho/montana...weather coverage not good outside of large cities so i will continue the wx subscription...a real life saver for me on long x-countries and even providing useful information northern mexico/southern canada and alaska.Jeppsons cost for second wass data base subscription (they are identical for 430w,530w)is about half..195 for second subscription...wx subscription for 2 aviator level recievers plus 2 additional autos music only is 129 per month for all 4 services...not cheap ,but how else can I get weather info after camping out in the bush on some BC lake and seeing weather closing in....kp couch

[Piloto]

Quote: Cruiser

I believe my Mark V eyeballs would have detected and helped me avoid both of these potential conflicts without the $50/month fee.

I still endorse looking out the window occasionally.

[jetdriven]

does the XM detect hail now? or just radar returns, which can't really distunguish.   

[jlunseth]