Lost my GNS480 @ 7000 ft flying to KTYS

[McMooney]

welp, yesterday was my day of reckoning,  The GNS480 decided it was done while i was flying IFR @ 7000 ft from KJAN to KTYS.

Thankfully it was severe clear and the single smoothest flying day i've had all year.   Shot the ILS 05l Into ktys and pulled safely into signature.

Luckily, and i mean Lottery winning luck,  a very nice gentleman @Horizon Avionics agreed to install a new gnc355A  in the 3/4 days i'll be in Knoxville.  Have to say, i don't know if i should be Extremely Happy with the new radio or Horribly depressed due to extreme wallet damage

 

Edited August 6, 2024 by McMooney
wording

[Ragsf15e]

12 minutes ago, McMooney said:

welp, yesterday was my day of reckoning,  The GNS480 decided it was done while i was flying IFR @ 7000 ft from KJAN to KTYS.

Thankfully it was severe clear and the single smoothest flying day i've had all year.   Shot the ILS 05l Into ktys and pulled safely into signature.

Luckily, and i mean Lottery winning luck,  a very nice gentleman @Horizon Avionics agreed to install a new gnc355A  in the 3/4 days i'll be in Knoxville.  Have to say, i don't know if i should be Extremely Happy with the new radio or Horribly depressed due to extreme wallet damage

 

I think if you get that installed and working in 3 days, you should buy a lottery ticket to go with it!  That is if you can still afford one…

[EricJ]

Too bad he wasn't an Avidyne dealer!   Could have just slid in an Avidyne replacement and been on your way.

[KSMooniac]

7 minutes ago, EricJ said:

Too bad he wasn't an Avidyne dealer!   Could have just slid in an Avidyne replacement and been on your way.

Avidyne doesn't make a slide-in replacement for the 480

[EricJ]

14 minutes ago, KSMooniac said:

Avidyne doesn't make a slide-in replacement for the 480

D'oh...I read that as 430.

 

[Ryan ORL]

Those GNS480s still have a bit of a cult following (they were a great unit!), you may look into getting the GNS480 repaired and selling it, depending on what failed.  There is a guy (Chris Short) online who fixes these, since Garmin doesn't touch them anymore.  He went over mine and fixed a bunch of stuff before I sold it in early 2023, it was a few hundred bucks, but very worth it considering I was still able to sell the unit for close to $4000 on eBay.

[PeterRus]

Wouldn't an iPad w/ FF/GP be useful in this case?

 

Edited August 7, 2024 by PeterRus

[McMooney]

2 hours ago, PeterRus said:

Wouldn't an iPad w/ FF/GP be useful in this case?

 

per your cfii / dpe, use every available tool.  when it happened i used Garmin Pilot on my Samsung phone for situational awareness until i was able to join the ILS.

truthfully, it was severe clear so  would've been ok anwyay

[PeterRus]

I am looking into upgrading the GPS and questioning if a second GPS is needed (due to panel space issues). 

[KSMooniac]

1 hour ago, PeterRus said:

I am looking into upgrading the GPS and questioning if a second GPS is needed (due to panel space issues). 

Me too... I think two IFR-certified/installed GPS boxes are overkill for most of our GA flying.  My plane came with a 530/430 combo and I love it, but it is overkill IMO.  If I can only have 1, I'd say the big screen version is worth the premium, but these days if you have a G3X or Dynon big screen, then a small version is likely just fine.  My TBD panel makeover will very likely "downgrade" to a single installed GPS and a modern NAV/COM as we need two COM radios, and IMO a backup ground nav solution.  Many of us likely fly with iPad or other portable device that can also be an emergency navigational backup too, and that further reduces the perceived need to have two certified GPS navigators in the panel.  

[Pinecone]

20 hours ago, PeterRus said:

I am looking into upgrading the GPS and questioning if a second GPS is needed (due to panel space issues). 

Needed?  No.

Nice to have?  YES.

But one panel mount and a second as a portable would work.  I have flown a good bit with that configuration.  AERA 760 would be best, but FF or GP on a tablet is also good.

[Ragsf15e]

22 hours ago, McMooney said:

per your cfii / dpe, use every available tool.  when it happened i used Garmin Pilot on my Samsung phone for situational awareness until i was able to join the ILS.

truthfully, it was severe clear so  would've been ok anwyay

Honestly, I would just tell atc I lost my gps and would like vectors to the ils. Or vectors to a visual.  You’re supposed to tell them anyway (system failures), and clearly it’s not an emergency, but they will help get you down.  Should be a non issue.

I definitely think a single gps is fine for ifr. If it fails (or is jammed), tell atc, ask for vectors or use your secondary navigation source - that’s where I draw the line.  I would like radio 2 to be comm/nav so at least I have a secondary nav and approach capability.  Having a second gps is fine but I think overkill.

Edited August 8, 2024 by Ragsf15e

[McMooney]

3 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Honestly, I would just tell atc I lost my gps and would like vectors to the ils. Or vectors to a visual.  You’re supposed to tell them anyway (system failures), and clearly it’s not an emergency, but they will help get you down.  Should be a non issue.

I definitely think a single gps is fine for ifr. If it fails (or is jammed), tell atc, ask for vectors or use your secondary navigation source - that’s where I draw the line.  I would like radio 2 to be comm/nav so at least I have a secondary nav and approach capability.  Having a second gps is fine but I think overkill.

per rule, i reported the loss of gps to ATC. 

as for a nav/comm,  unfortunately, due to where i was when i went nogps, the nav was pretty much useless or at least very very inconvenient.

previous nogps event, when it failed while in clouds,  the nav did come in handy as i was near an airway, this time not so much.

[Ragsf15e]

28 minutes ago, McMooney said:

per rule, i reported the loss of gps to ATC. 

as for a nav/comm,  unfortunately, due to where i was when i went nogps, the nav was pretty much useless or at least very very inconvenient.

previous nogps event, when it failed while in clouds,  the nav did come in handy as i was near an airway, this time not so much.

Oh heck, with a system failure, even a little one, I wouldn’t worry about airways at all.  Either ask for direct to a Vor within range or just ask for a vector until you can pick up a vor close to your destination.  Or just get vectors the whole way.  I know there are places they alway give airways, but you can just file/fly vor to vor.  With a failure, I doubt anyone would complain.

For me the #2 nav/com is more about its ILS or LOC approach capabilities.  Id be pretty comfortable with using a vor or vectors to get somewhere, but getting on the ground is key at that point and ATC might not be able to get you to good enough weather to do a visual.

 

[McMooney]

3 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Oh heck, with a system failure, even a little one, I wouldn’t worry about airways at all.  Either ask for direct to a Vor within range or just ask for a vector until you can pick up a vor close to your destination.  Or just get vectors the whole way.  I know there are places they alway give airways, but you can just file/fly vor to vor.  With a failure, I doubt anyone would complain.

For me the #2 nav/com is more about its ILS or LOC approach capabilities.  Id be pretty comfortable with using a vor or vectors to get somewhere, but getting on the ground is key at that point and ATC might not be able to get you to good enough weather to do a visual.

 

Was really simple to just follow garmin pilot.   Actually the most annoyimg thing was flying with only a single comm

[McMooney]

On 8/6/2024 at 6:17 PM, McMooney said:

welp, yesterday was my day of reckoning,  The GNS480 decided it was done while i was flying IFR @ 7000 ft from KJAN to KTYS.

Thankfully it was severe clear and the single smoothest flying day i've had all year.   Shot the ILS 05l Into ktys and pulled safely into signature.

Luckily, and i mean Lottery winning luck,  a very nice gentleman @Horizon Avionics agreed to install a new gnc355A  in the 3/4 days i'll be in Knoxville.  Have to say, i don't know if i should be Extremely Happy with the new radio or Horribly depressed due to extreme wallet damage

 

Man I’m pretty happy right now alex@horizonavionics

was able to finish up birdy today, godwilling I’ll be flying in the am

Edited August 9, 2024 by McMooney

[Ragsf15e]

28 minutes ago, McMooney said:

Man I’m pretty happy right now alex@horizonavionics

was able to finish up birdy today, godwilling I’ll be flying in the am

She’s gonna climb like a homesick angel too, what with that lighter wallet!

[McMooney]

3 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

She’s gonna climb like a homesick angel too, what with that lighter wallet!

Yes I should becareful, might make leo

 

[McMooney]

On 8/7/2024 at 7:53 AM, Ryan ORL said:

Those GNS480s still have a bit of a cult following (they were a great unit!), you may look into getting the GNS480 repaired and selling it, depending on what failed.  There is a guy (Chris Short) online who fixes these, since Garmin doesn't touch them anymore.  He went over mine and fixed a bunch of stuff before I sold it in early 2023, it was a few hundred bucks, but very worth it considering I was still able to sell the unit for close to $4000 on eBay.

so after flying the new box, have to say i'm a bit underwhelmed.   it has maybe 1 or 2 features over the 480,  new 8.33 radio is nice however.

next year's plan is to  pull the  kx170b and replace with a gnc215

 

 

Edited August 10, 2024 by McMooney

[PeterRus]

23 hours ago, McMooney said:

new 8.33 radio is nice however.

Could you elaborate, please?

[McMooney]

30 minutes ago, PeterRus said:

Could you elaborate, please?

we installed the gnc355A model, which includes the ability to use 8.33khz channel spacing for the comm.   Eventually, i'm going to take her over the pond so the new channel spacing is required.  Now just need long range tanks, autopilot and new paint.

as to other differences, i think the only things notable might be, visual approaches, Radius to Fix and some vcalc functionality, none of which i've ever had a use for.   might try out visuals, eventually.

i'm thinking the 480 was just well ahead of it's time

 

Edited August 11, 2024 by McMooney

[IvanP]

On 8/8/2024 at 7:27 AM, Pinecone said:

Needed?  No.

Nice to have?  YES.

But one panel mount and a second as a portable would work.  I have flown a good bit with that configuration.  AERA 760 would be best, but FF or GP on a tablet is also good.

I second the idea of one panel mounted unit and one portable as a back-up. In the unlikely, but possible, event of total electrical failure in IMC, the second panel-installed unit will be just as useless as the first one while the battery powered portable unit can help you to navigate safely while you are getting out of clouds to a runway. Of course, if the govt jams GPS, then neither unit will be of much use, aside from confirming that it was not your unit that failed.

I have been using panel mount & portable combo in various configurations for about 15 years now and it served well. Fortunately, I have never had the need to rely on the back-up unit in an emergency, but it does provide some peace of mind and is relatively cost-effective when compared with installing second GPS nav/com in the panel.    

[toto]

On 8/7/2024 at 7:53 AM, Ryan ORL said:

Those GNS480s still have a bit of a cult following (they were a great unit!)

If I remember correctly, the UPS-AT navigator was superior to the GNS radios back in the day, in significant part because the UPS navigator had airway support and the Garmins didn’t. Garmin bought the UPS-AT business with no real intention of developing the product - they wanted to push customers to the 430/530, so the 480 was doomed the moment the sale went through. 

The 480 ended up being the first Garmin navigator with WAAS support, I guess because it wasn’t Garmin tech

 

[kortopates]

we installed the gnc355A model, which includes the ability to use 8.33khz channel spacing for the comm.   Eventually, i'm going to take her over the pond so the new channel spacing is required.  Now just need long range tanks, autopilot and new paint.
as to other differences, i think the only things notable might be, visual approaches, Radius to Fix and some vcalc functionality, none of which i've ever had a use for.   might try out visuals, eventually.
i'm thinking the 480 was just well ahead of it's time
 

Visual approaches are really handy going to unfamiliar VFR airports.
You should be able to use VNAV - i thought a software update replaced VCalc with VNAV. Vnav can be very helpful.
I forget if the 480 did holds, which you’ll have now too.
I had a 480 in the early days but never got over the discontinuities. it wasn’t a problem on long cross countries but a big pain doing multiple approaches back to back. I went back to a GNS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[McMooney]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

Visual approaches are really handy going to unfamiliar VFR airports.
You should be able to use VNAV - i thought a software update replaced VCalc with VNAV. Vnav can be very helpful.
I forget if the 480 did holds, which you’ll have now too.
I had a 480 in the early days but never got over the discontinuities. it wasn’t a problem on long cross countries but a big pain doing multiple approaches back to back. I went back to a GNS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yes, the 480 did holds, almost exactly like the 355 really.

discountinuities ?  you just needed to remove those from the flight plan or even ignore them it'd still cycle once you get within range of the leg

spent some hangar time with the 355 today, learned how to set volume and change radio frequencies via the knobs,  i'm all good now.   its pretty simple