ForeFlight -> G3X Touch -> GTN flight plan question

[PT20J]

The G3X Connext will Bluetooth connect to an IPad and upload a flight plan from ForeFlight to the GTN 650 Xi. I know the G3X won’t pass a flight plan containing SIDs, STARs, or IAPs, but I don’t know if it will pass a flight plan containing airways. Had anyone tried it?

Skip

[Brian E.]

Skip - I don't have a 650 but I do have a GNX 375 & G3X.  However, I expect that you'd have the same same results.  Ultimately I send the flight plan from Foreflight to the 375 and the 375 feeds the G3X.  With that, whatever is loaded in the GNX is displayed on the G3X.  Admittedly I don't use to many STARs but I do use airways and SIDs frequently.  I don't know if that helped you or not...

Cheers,

 

[Davidv]

Since the G3X is only a VFR navigator I don’t use it to load any waypoints.  Given SIDS and STARS I’d rather just enter flight plans directly into my 375. Rather than upload from ForeFlight.  It’s very quick and I haven’t found ForeFlight I be departure and arrival procedure friendly.

[ArtVandelay]

Skip - I don't have a 650 but I do have a GNX 375 & G3X.  However, I expect that you'd have the same same results.  Ultimately I send the flight plan from Foreflight to the 375 and the 375 feeds the G3X.  With that, whatever is loaded in the GNX is displayed on the G3X.  Admittedly I don't use to many STARs but I do use airways and SIDs frequently.  I don't know if that helped you or not...
Cheers,
 

The GTN doesn’t have BT, so unless you have a Flightstream, only way is to transfer g3x to gtn.

[ArtVandelay]

Since the G3X is only a VFR navigator I don’t use it to load any waypoints.  Given SIDS and STARS I’d rather just enter flight plans directly into my 375. Rather than upload from ForeFlight.  It’s very quick and I haven’t found ForeFlight I be departure and arrival procedure friendly.

Are you saying G3X is not an IFR capable display?

[Davidv]

5 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Are you saying G3X is not an IFR capable display?

It’s IFR capable display but it’s built in GPS is a VFR navigator.  This means that when you use the G3X as the navigation source you can select airports, ect…but not IFR approaches.  This is only relevant because it means you can’t just use the G3X display to plug in a new route if your navigation source is your IFR navigator (you change the route on the GTN and if updates on the G3X).  However, you can change radio frequencies and transponder codes directly on the display and it will change them on your other Garmin equipment.

The G3X is also a backup GPS but again, only VFR.

[ArtVandelay]

It’s IFR capable display but it’s built in GPS is a VFR navigator.  This means that when you use the G3X as the navigation source you can select airports, ect…but not IFR approaches.  This is only relevant because it means you can’t just use the G3X display to plug in a new route if your navigation source is your IFR navigator (you change the route on the GTN and if updates on the G3X).

I’ve seen a workaround for this, there’s a setting (GPS source?) to external and it will do it.

[PT20J]

The G3X Touch flight plan source can be set to “external” in which case the G3X becomes a display for the IFR GPS (GTN 650 Xi in my case). The G3X has a Bluetooth Connext capability to pair with a iOS device running ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot and can transfer a flight plan from the iPad to the IFR GPS navigator. However, the G3X does not understand SIDs, STARS, or IAPs and will not pass those through to the external GPS navigator. One of Garmin’s G3X videos also says it will not pass flight plans with airways, but the manuals don’t say and the video is really for the experimental version. So, I’m asking if anyone has successfully uploaded a flight plan with airways to a GTN using G3X Connext.

[Davidv]

I think the reason why I’ve never been concerned with this feature is because I stopped using an iPad in flight once I got my G3X installed.  I has everything that’s on my iPad (approach charts, weather, frequencies, ect) plus more.  For a backup I still have my phone or iPad in the plane but I’ve almost never used it. 

[PeteMc]

15 hours ago, PT20J said:

The G3X Connext will Bluetooth connect to an IPad and upload a flight plan from ForeFlight to the GTN 650 Xi. I know the G3X won’t pass a flight plan containing SIDs, STARs, or IAPs, but I don’t know if it will pass a flight plan containing airways. Had anyone tried it?

Skip

I don't have a G3X, but had looked into one.  As you and others have said, there are some limitations with the internal VFR navigation.  Everything I've *read* (again, no actual experience) says it's best to push all IFR flight plans to the GTN and just let it Cross-Fill to the G3X (in External mode).  So you'd need to connect your iPad to the GTN with a FS510 or FS210.  This way you go to the GTN that can interpret all the SID, STAR, Airway waypoints which are then Cross Filled to the G3X. 

Couple of comments I also ran across that I would probably follow if I had a G3X were:

1) Always run your FPs through the GTN even if VFR.  This just solidifies familiarity with the process and mussel memory with the button pushing.

2) Forget the G3X has a Direct To button, ALWAYS use the GTN's Direct To button.  If you do a D-> on the G3X, it does not create a START waypoint to send to the GTN.  So the GTN ignores the FP change.  If you do it on the GTN, it creates a Current Position waypoint, so it will Cross Fill to the G3X.

3) (Again) Send all FF or GPilot changes through the GTN so that it can interpret waypoints the G3X may not have in its internal DB. 

[Ulysse]

On 9/23/2021 at 3:47 AM, PT20J said:

The G3X Connext will Bluetooth connect to an IPad and upload a flight plan from ForeFlight to the GTN 650 Xi.

I cannot do that on my g3x + gtn750xi setup. I can only transfer fplan from foreflight to g3x if it is set on internal nav. I soon as I switch to external the flight plan on the g3x is wiped out. However a flight plan entered on the GTN will immediately appear on the g3x.
I see the following error message on the gtn: "GDU disconnected. external flightplan crossfill inoperative". 

Any idea? a physical connection missing or an incorrect setting on the gtn or g3x?

[Unit74]

With all that drama, could you not just put a Flightstream 210 on the 650 with the G3X?  Then it would push all the FIS B TIS B data and since it has ADHRS, also feed the map stuff to the iPad. 
 

Anyone have a Flightstream installed WITH a G3X? 

[PT20J]

4 hours ago, Ulysse said:

I cannot do that on my g3x + gtn750xi setup. I can only transfer fplan from foreflight to g3x if it is set on internal nav. I soon as I switch to external the flight plan on the g3x is wiped out. However a flight plan entered on the GTN will immediately appear on the g3x.
I see the following error message on the gtn: "GDU disconnected. external flightplan crossfill inoperative". 

Any idea? a physical connection missing or an incorrect setting on the gtn or g3x?

There is some sort of communication issue between the G3X and GTN. Not sure if it’s a wiring or configuration problem. I’d take it back to whoever installed it and have them fix it.

[ArtVandelay]

With all that drama, could you not just put a Flightstream 210 on the 650 with the G3X?  Then it would push all the FIS B TIS B data and since it has ADHRS, also feed the map stuff to the iPad. 
 
Anyone have a Flightstream installed WITH a G3X? 

If you have the G3X, you’ll need 52R if you want ADSB on it.
If you want ADSB on the GTN you’ll need one of the certified solutions (88,84..).
The experimental division is like a completely different company when it comes supporting the certified division.
Experimental side:
So you need G3X, 52R connected by RS232. And if you have an Area, that as well.
Certified side:
The GTN, FS, and ADSB box.
I would connect iPad to FS and just let the GTN drive updates to G3X. If doing all above I would reconsider the G500 Txi and skip the experimental side, but you’ll still need a G5 to drive the GFC 500 if you want it.

[PT20J]

I’m getting ADS-B in from my GTX 345.

The Connext function in the G3X supplies some but not all the functionality of Flight Stream. It doesn’t support Database Concierge (which some find flaky) and it doesn’t support Garmin’s subscription messaging service.

The G3X Connext flight plan transfer has a known limitation that it won’t upload SIDs, STARs, and IAPs but I don’t care about that anyway. I’m still trying to find out if it will upload airways. So far no one here or at Garmin seems to know.

Skip

[PT20J]

Garmin got back to me and said that it is possible to upload a flight plan containing airways to the GTN via the G3X.