G3X vs Xi

[PT20J]

Which system to buy is a recurring question. Wayne McGhee, Garmin NW Regional Sales Manager, just did a nice webinar on this on Jan 9. The recording is still available (as of today) on the Garmin training site by clicking the Register Here link https://www.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/webinars/americas/

A few interesting things I picked up. 

1. The G3X/G5/GFC 500 (originally experimental only) were able to be certified because of a change in the part 23 rules in 2017 that allowed the certification of avionics based on performance rather than adherence to TSO. This happened right as the Txi was being finished. 

2. The approximately 2X greater cost for the TXi is primarily due to additional development and testing effort required to comply with the TSO. They have to recoup that up front cost by charging more for the units. 

3. The G3X and the TXi are more similar than different. A few differences: The TXi has a slightly higher resolution and brighter screen. The G3X allows remote control of Nav/Comms and Transponder. TXi has more interface options for legacy avionics especially autopilots. The G3X will drive the GFC 500 whereas the TXi needs a G5 or GI 275. The G3X is only available for single engine piston airplanes.

So which should you buy?

The G3X, G5, GFC 500 were designed to work together and installing that combination gets you as close to a "system" design as you can get short of a G1000.

The TXi is a better choice if you plan to keep a legacy autopilot because it will operate with a wide variety of autopilots whereas the G3X really only works with a GFC 500 (This is because most of the GFC software is actually part of the G3X itself).

The TXi is the only choice if you have a twin or a turboprop.

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[toto]

Very nice write up, thank you. 

Strange that they said the resolution is different between the G3X and the Txi. On the Garmin spec sheet for each unit, the resolution is identical. 

[PT20J]

16 minutes ago, toto said:

Very nice write up, thank you. 

Strange that they said the resolution is different between the G3X and the Txi. On the Garmin spec sheet for each unit, the resolution is identical. 

Actually, I think the word he used was sharper. They do look a little different side by side. It may just be that the TXi screens are a newer design.

I forgot to mention that synthetic vision comes with the G3X but must be purchased as an enablement for the TXi. Also, the G3X has VFR and IFR charts in addition to the map and approach plates whereas the TXi does not. Software enhancements will come (and have been coming) faster to the G3X because the TXi is limited by the TSO.

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[toto]

15 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Actually, I think the word he used was sharper. They do look a little different side by side. It may just be that the TXi screens are a newer design.

 

That would make sense. 

[Schllc]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

The TXi is a better choice if you plan to keep a legacy autopilot because it will operate with a wide variety of autopilots

I installed two txi’s in my Aerostar with the stec 3100, and while there is some communication between the two, you cannot control much of the legacy AP through the txi, or the garmin AP head, It will inform the AP of your instructions but outside of the IAF, you have to confirm all inputs on the AP, after entering in the garmin, and it is far from seamless. 
pretty much the only automated input it takes are heading changes and waypoints,amend vnav within the IAF. All vnav other ops or altitude changes have to be manually accepted.  
I would never install any garmin pfd again without a garmin autopilot. 
to be fair, I have a heavy bias as 90% of my hours are with a gfc700. 
I have come to really appreciate the power of that AP, now that I am not flying behind it all the time. 
I will be installing the GFC600 as soon as it is certified. 

[Schllc]

39 minutes ago, PT20J said:

I forgot to mention that synthetic vision comes with the G3X but must be purchased as an enablement for the TXi.

While this is true, it isn’t the eye watering punch in the nads like it is for the g1000. The g1000 is like 14k. The Svt for both of my txi, was one charge of $1,995 for the two txi and the 275.  

[201Mooniac]

59 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Also, the G3X has VFR and IFR charts in addition to the map and approach plates whereas the TXi does not.

While I think this is true, on my TXi I have had no problem configuring different MFD map views such that they look like VFR and IFR charts.  The data labels don't look like the paper charts did but the data content can mostly be made to look similar.

[PT20J]

1 minute ago, 201Mooniac said:

While I think this is true, on my TXi I have had no problem configuring different MFD map views such that they look like VFR and IFR charts.  The data labels don't look like the paper charts did but the data content can mostly be made to look similar.

I never use the charts on my G3X. I use the G3X map and I have an iPad mini on the yoke that I keep either a sectional or approach plate displayed on. 

The map on the G3X can be either track up or north up. The VFR and IFR charts are only north up. I display the sectional on ForeFlight on the iPad track up, but can easily change to north up and pan and zoom it when I want to. 

[201Mooniac]

58 minutes ago, PT20J said:

I never use the charts on my G3X. I use the G3X map and I have an iPad mini on the yoke that I keep either a sectional or approach plate displayed on. 

The map on the G3X can be either track up or north up. The VFR and IFR charts are only north up. I display the sectional on ForeFlight on the iPad track up, but can easily change to north up and pan and zoom it when I want to. 

Same, the TXi is a map but I was just saying it can be configured to look more like charts if desired.  I have different map views for VFR and IFR but use the charts on GP on my iPad.

[Mooney in Oz]

13 hours ago, PT20J said:

I never use the charts on my G3X. I use the G3X map and I have an iPad mini on the yoke that I keep either a sectional or approach plate displayed on. 

On my G3X, when conducting a RNP (RNAV) approach, I have the chart displayed on the MFD side with particular expanded focus on the lower part of the plate that displays the side profile to check advisory altitudes against distances.

This display right alongside of all the information on the PFD I find to be very useful for situational awareness.

it is a great combination on the one large screen.

[Pinecone]

That sounds like a great way to do it.  Put up the profile view on the MFD, and the approach plate on an iPad, and be able to easily see everything.

[Ragsf15e]

3 hours ago, Mooney in Oz said:

On my G3X, when conducting a RNP (RNAV) approach, I have the chart displayed on the MFD side with particular expanded focus on the lower part of the plate that displays the side profile to check advisory altitudes against distances.

This display right alongside of all the information on the PFD I find to be very useful for situational awareness.

it is a great combination on the one large screen.

Sounds good!  It would be really awesome to see your aircraft superimposed on the bottom portion of the chart georectified in position and altitude.  

[Mooney in Oz]

8 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Sounds good!  It would be really awesome to see your aircraft superimposed on the bottom portion of the chart georectified in position and altitude.  

I agree. It would make a great combination even better.