Stec, Aspen, and G530W

[Huitt3106]

I'm probably going to be asking quite a rookie question here, but this is the first airplane I've owned with a real autopilot with that was at all functional (Not to mention a PFD and IFR GPS).  My M20C has the Stec 60-2 couple to the Garmin 530W and I think somehow it runs through the Aspen EFD 1000 Pro?  The instructor I used for transition training wasn't too familiar with the Aspen PFD.  I've figured out the easy operations of the Autopilot for altitude hold and nav/ heading tracking but my question is how do I get it to follow the GPS?  From some reading and superficially reading some of the manual on the Stec it looks like I need to have the autopilot in heading mode and then set something else on the Aspen to get it to follow the GPS (this is where I get lost)?  I've tried to look at some videos on YouTube on the Aspen operation but they mostly covered IFR operations and I"m not there yet.  Any help would be appreciated!

 

Matt  

[Huitt3106]

It may not be helpful but this is the panel.


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[MIm20c]

With the AP in heading mode you toggle this button. 

[Huitt3106]

3 minutes ago, MIm20c said:

With the AP in heading mode you toggle this button. 

Figures it would be something simple..  I'll try it again when I'm flying this week.  Thanks!

[gsxrpilot]

The button on the right as noted by @Mlm20c is the GPSS toggle. With GPSS on, the autopilot should be in Heading mode. But in addition the bottom center of the screen should say GPS and if not, the bottom center button can toggle it to GPS. 

If you turn off the GPSS, and leave the autopilot in Heading mode, it should follow the heading bug on the Aspen.

With the autopilot in Nav mode, it should follow the GPS regardless of the GPSS setting on the Aspen.

[J0nathan225]

So from what y'all are saying, can/should we just leave the STEC (30 in my case) on HDG mode and adjust the signal GPS vs HDG solely via the aspen? 

[gsxrpilot]

19 minutes ago, J0nathan225 said:

So from what y'all are saying, can/should we just leave the STEC (30 in my case) on HDG mode and adjust the signal GPS vs HDG solely via the aspen? 

Yes, that's correct.

[Cruiser]

22 minutes ago, J0nathan225 said:

So from what y'all are saying, can/should we just leave the STEC (30 in my case) on HDG mode and adjust the signal GPS vs HDG solely via the aspen? 

is there another way?

 

[Bob Weber]

2 hours ago, Huitt3106 said:

I'm probably going to be asking quite a rookie question here, but this is the first airplane I've owned with a real autopilot with that was at all functional (Not to mention a PFD and IFR GPS).  My M20C has the Stec 60-2 couple to the Garmin 530W and I think somehow it runs through the Aspen EFD 1000 Pro?  The instructor I used for transition training wasn't too familiar with the Aspen PFD.  I've figured out the easy operations of the Autopilot for altitude hold and nav/ heading tracking but my question is how do I get it to follow the GPS?  From some reading and superficially reading some of the manual on the Stec it looks like I need to have the autopilot in heading mode and then set something else on the Aspen to get it to follow the GPS (this is where I get lost)?  I've tried to look at some videos on YouTube on the Aspen operation but they mostly covered IFR operations and I"m not there yet.  Any help would be appreciated!

 

Matt  

Matt I would be happy to give a quick rundown on operation, I talk faster than I type. Give a call 616 822 1999 8am-8pm eastern.

Bob Weber

Autopilot Consultant

WebairConsulting.com

[Huitt3106]

The button on the right as noted by @Mlm20c is the GPSS toggle. With GPSS on, the autopilot should be in Heading mode. But in addition the bottom center of the screen should say GPS and if not, the bottom center button can toggle it to GPS. 
If you turn off the GPSS, and leave the autopilot in Heading mode, it should follow the heading bug on the Aspen.
With the autopilot in Nav mode, it should follow the GPS regardless of the GPSS setting on the Aspen.

Awesome, next time I get to fly I’ll try this out! Thanks!


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[Marauder]

Awesome, next time I get to fly I’ll try this out! Thanks!


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This might help. I have an Aspen with an STEC 60-2 and a GTN.

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[Huitt3106]

34 minutes ago, Marauder said:

 

This might help. I have an Aspen with an STEC 60-2 and a GTN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That was very helpful!  When the weather improves I plan on going up to see if I can get it to work as shown.  We're looking to fly to Sam's Flying Scoops this weekend so I may have an hour or so to play with it then as well!  Thanks!

[PT20J]

Early GPS navigators had analog outputs like VORs and there would be a switch to select either GPS or VOR to feed the NAV mode on the analog autopilot. Then with the Garmin GNS navigators, the world went digital and the GPS could output digital steering commands that allowed digital autopilots to fly DME arcs, holding patterns, anticipate turns, etc. S-TEC figured out how to convert the digital signals to analog so analog autopilots could do the same thing. They called it GPSS (GPS Steering). GPSS interfaces to the autopilot HDG mode - when GPSS is enabled, the autopilot follows the GPS track instead of the heading bug.  Aspen built GPSS capability into the PFD. 

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