Aspen or GI 275 dual setup?

[David Lloyd]

Have the switch installed for the GPSS.  Even though the button is now at the top of the menu tree, a dedicated and visible switch will be a lot nicer.

[Ragsf15e]

3 hours ago, WaynePierce said:

Well, I bit the bullet this morning and decided on the dual GI275s. The shop had one ADAHARS unit on the shelf and I ordered the second one to go with it. I'm getting the AI with AP as well as the HSI unit. We'll see how long it takes to get the second unit in to the shop. Of course I'll also be getting a single GMU 11. I elected to not invest in the USB panel plug installed, we'll see if this was a good idea or not...

Thank you again for your time and  guidance on this big, to me, decision.

One thought on the usb panel plug… depending on your audio panel needs, the PMA450b has one on it which is a nice bonus to an already awesome audio panel.  And, in airplane dollars, the unit isn’t that expensive if you currently have one it can swap for easily.

[WaynePierce]

21 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

One thought on the usb panel plug… depending on your audio panel needs, the PMA450b has one on it which is a nice bonus to an already awesome audio panel.  And, in airplane dollars, the unit isn’t that expensive if you currently have one it can swap for easily.

I actually already have a dual usb port installed for charging and my IFD 550 has a single usb port that works as a slow charger. I contemplated getting the Garmin usb port with one usb 1 and the other a usb-c port for my iPad Mini6 but I just bought a cable that is USB-1 to -c and it works nicely. The panel mounted one would be more convenient for the iPad but when the kicked up the price 100.00 for the -C I decided I didn't need the convenience... Plus, when I updated my panel two years ago I replaced my audio panel with the Avidyne AMX 240...

Edited April 13, 2022 by WaynePierce
added content

[c1tice]

I did 2 GI275'ss and a GTN750 after a vacuum pump failure. I see no reason for a vacuum pump with 2 GI275's. One interesting thing I experienced was when I engaged the KFC200 I would get wild pitch changes and I finally realized, with the help of MS, that the GI275 command bars remembered the last setting so now I press the CWS button to realign the command bars to current flight attitude. The G5's while cheaper would not interface with my KFC200 according to the avionics shop. Good choice I say. I think you will be happy, I am. 

[WaynePierce]

12 minutes ago, c1tice said:

I did 2 GI275'ss and a GTN750 after a vacuum pump failure. I see no reason for a vacuum pump with 2 GI275's. One interesting thing I experienced was when I engaged the KFC200 I would get wild pitch changes and I finally realized, with the help of MS, that the GI275 command bars remembered the last setting so now I press the CWS button to realign the command bars to current flight attitude. The G5's while cheaper would not interface with my KFC200 according to the avionics shop. Good choice I say. I think you will be happy, I am. 

Nice panel… I’ve already discovered that the plate to cover the vacuum hole is 50.00. Plannning on it going away. Probably the only legacy I’ll keep is turn and bank. Are you based or GSO? That’s one of my main go to’s. Three grandkids at High Point. 

[KLRDMD]

On 4/11/2022 at 8:54 AM, WaynePierce said:

I'm especially interested in those that have made that decision and installed one or the other? I used to be in the Aspen frame of mind but as much as I dislike the Garmin Monopoly, I'm starting to lean towards the GI 275s.

I currently have an Avidyne 550, Lynx 9000, and KAP 150 in a 1985 J model.

I have had both dual 275s and an Aspen 2000MAX. The Aspen wins hands down with the bonus of not having to deal with Garmin.

[midlifeflyer]

12 hours ago, KLRDMD said:

I have had both dual 275s and an Aspen 2000MAX. The Aspen wins hands down with the bonus of not having to deal with Garmin.

That's pretty much what it comes down to. Which company gives you the most bang for the buck - cost, features, resale value, customer support, whatever else you might value.

[KLRDMD]

Here are two different airplanes I've owned recently. One with dual 275s and a Garmin 650. The other with dual Aspens and an Avidyne 540. Which do you prefer?

[philiplane]

I like the screen size and clarity of my Aspen Max, and it drives the autopilot through the EA100 adapter. This photo is in synthetic vision mode, with a traffic target on the upper left.

As an avionics tech, who can choose any of current glass, and install it myself, I chose the Aspen for overall ease of installation, product support, ability to interface with any other devices, and the autopilot integration. It's also a lower cost solution with more features than the others.

One concern I have with the latest Garmin equipment, like the G5, is their decision to use CANBUS communications. CANBUS puts all devices on a common network, and a network failure can cause the loss of function of all units on the network. Conventional avionics interfaces use single channels between components, so there is never a risk of total system failure. But, a single broken or chafed wire on the CANBUS network means nothing works. So you need to take extra care to build the network and protect it from stress, chafing, and electrical noise. I have extensive non-aviation experience with CANBUS networks on large off road equipment, and I wouldn't use it for an aircraft.

Edited April 14, 2022 by philiplane

[carusoam]

The large rectangular screens are very eye pleasing… 

The HD format of the Aspen Max packs a lot of detail…. In a readable way…

-a-

[tim417]

I am waiting for my dual GI275s to come in. Local avionics shop (G dealer) has scheduled me for a mid June install. Next upgrade after will be a GFC500 but that wont be for a while. The money thing is a drag…
 

 

[c1tice]

On 4/13/2022 at 6:50 PM, WaynePierce said:

Nice panel… I’ve already discovered that the plate to cover the vacuum hole is 50.00. Plannning on it going away. Probably the only legacy I’ll keep is turn and bank. Are you based or GSO? That’s one of my main go to’s. Three grandkids at High Point. 

I am based at KGSO, in the bulk hanger at Signature. I have an alarm company in High Point, Protection Systems Inc. Email me when you are in town if you like maybe get lunch. Chris@protectionsystemsinc.com. Good luck with the panel upgrade! My avionics shop said Garmin was 6 months out on GTN’s these days so I hope your new additions are available. 

[WaynePierce]

15 minutes ago, c1tice said:

I am based at KGSO, in the bulk hanger at Signature. I have an alarm company in High Point, Protection Systems Inc. Email me when you are in town if you like maybe get lunch. Chris@protectionsystemsinc.com. Good luck with the panel upgrade! My avionics shop said Garmin was 6 months out on GTN’s these days so I hope your new additions are available. 

I might. I used to use Signature when I came in but last time I used their competition. My Avionics shop said the same thing but evidently it’s a crapshoot on what you get and when you get it. 
 

[Ryan ORL]

On 4/11/2022 at 2:17 PM, elimansour said:

I got both!  Kind of... I have an Aspen ProMax PFD and use the GI275 backup.  The Aspen plays very well with the KFC 150 autopilot (using the EA100 interface) and with my GNS530W/430W units.  I think the Aspen display presentation is much closer to other PFDs and the extra screen real estate around the corners which is lost in having two separate round instruments is used by the Aspen to provide a true PFD presentation.  

I know he already made his purchase in this thread, but I wanted to chime in.  I love my Aspen in terms of functionality and user experience, but I can't say anything nice at all about their King autopilot interface.

I am now on my third failed EA100 unit (all so far replaced under warranty, which is now lapsed).  I'll have my fourth one installed soon, while I wait on my Garmin parts to come in later this year.

Based on my searches, my experience is not that unusual.  The EA100 seems to have some serious QC issues.

[Marauder]

I know he already made his purchase in this thread, but I wanted to chime in.  I love my Aspen in terms of functionality and user experience, but I can't say anything nice at all about their King autopilot interface.
I am now on my third failed EA100 unit (all so far replaced under warranty, which is now lapsed).  I'll have my fourth one installed soon, while I wait on my Garmin parts to come in later this year.
Based on my searches, my experience is not that unusual.  The EA100 seems to have some serious QC issues.

I wonder what is different about the EA-100 over the ACU that interfaces with my STEC. My autopilot interface has been rock solid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Ryan ORL]

1 hour ago, Marauder said:

I wonder what is different about the EA-100 over the ACU that interfaces with my STEC. My autopilot interface has been rock solid.


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The King autopilots require both the ACU and the EA100.  So I have both units.

As I understand it, the Aspen provides digital attitude outputs and digital GPSS outputs.  I believe your STEC can interpret whatever attitude signals the Aspen creates and the ACU is providing analog heading inputs only.

The EA100 is required for King autopilots if you want to eliminate the legacy vacuum-driven King attitude indicator.

The EA100 also apparently requires some magic ethernet cable to connect to the Aspen, and if you blow on it or forget to say a magic spell, the EA100 starts losing sync with the Aspen and your autopilot attitude data.  (I kid, but I have also been through a number of these fancy magic cables)

From a manual I found:

The ACU converts

multiple analog interfaces to the digital ARINC 429 buses supported by the E5.

Control parameters, such as desired heading, are also sent from the EFI to the ACU for

conversion to analog format for autopilot support. The ACU is required when any of

the following capabilities are required in a EFI installation:

• Interface to supported autopilots

• Interface to conventional VHF navigation radios

• Interface to legacy (non-ARINC 429) GPS navigators

If ARINC 429-based digital radios, such as the Garmin 400/500-series GPS/nav/comm

radios are installed in the aircraft and no other aircraft interfaces are desired, the ACU is

not required.