New Garmin GNC 205 COM or Used Apollo SL 40?

[Nukemzzz]

I'm about to embark on a big big project.  I'm about to inherit my father's Cherokee 6 and I plan on going big on refurb as I transition to it from my VFR only 1966 M20E (N3434X).  I'm going to gut the panel and the interior.

I'm going to try for a G3X system... buying all the stuff and harness from Approach Fast Stack and installing it together with my shop here.  But I'm still choking on the price of this upgrade. I'm looking at 55K just for the parts.  Avionics shops are quoting 120-140 installed.

Anyway... I'm looking to save a little money on Radios.  I plan on one Nav/Com and one Com.  My question is if the SL 30 Nav/Com and SL 40 are good used radios?  They are pretty cheap on Ebay used....vs brand new 215 and 205 models.  34X has only ever had radio troubles (KX155 is a terrible radio in my experience)...so I know radios can be a PIA.

[Ragsf15e]

2 hours ago, Nukemzzz said:

I'm about to embark on a big big project.  I'm about to inherit my father's Cherokee 6 and I plan on going big on refurb as I transition to it from my VFR only 1966 M20E (N3434X).  I'm going to gut the panel and the interior.

I'm going to try for a G3X system... buying all the stuff and harness from Approach Fast Stack and installing it together with my shop here.  But I'm still choking on the price of this upgrade. I'm looking at 55K just for the parts.  Avionics shops are quoting 120-140 installed.

Anyway... I'm looking to save a little money on Radios.  I plan on one Nav/Com and one Com.  My question is if the SL 30 Nav/Com and SL 40 are good used radios?  They are pretty cheap on Ebay used....vs brand new 215 and 205 models.  34X has only ever had radio troubles (KX155 is a terrible radio in my experience)...so I know radios can be a PIA.

I had an sl30 and it was great.  Counts as digital for garmin connections too.  It’s orange display won’t match other stuff though…

[jetdriven]

Its in vogue right now to only have a backup COM radio, but I'd strongly advise having a secondary NAV/COM radio.  Lots of planes with 90K worth of radios, you pull one circuit breaker and you have no nav capability. The GI275 and the G500Txi manual has you wire up the HSDB through the 500Txi first, then the GI275.  But if the Txi screen goes dark, you have no NAV on the GI275, it doesnt pass through.  Trek Lawler said the STC says "find the nearest VFR".   Unless your backup plan is to always have some 1000/3 within 30-60 minutes away at all times, you need some sort of backup standalone NAV

[Ragsf15e]

42 minutes ago, jetdriven said:

Its in vogue right now to only have a backup COM radio, but I'd strongly advise having a secondary NAV/COM radio.  Lots of planes with 90K worth of radios, you pull one circuit breaker and you have no nav capability. The GI275 and the G500Txi manual has you wire up the HSDB through the 500Txi first, then the GI275.  But if the Txi screen goes dark, you have no NAV on the GI275, it doesnt pass through.  Trek Lawler said the STC says "find the nearest VFR".   Unless your backup plan is to always have some 1000/3 within 30-60 minutes away at all times, you need some sort of backup standalone NAV

I prefer the option of a backup nav/com too, but I wouldn’t mind the primary being only a gps/com (gnc355).  

[DXB]

17 hours ago, Nukemzzz said:

.  I plan on one Nav/Com and one Com.  My question is if the SL 30 Nav/Com and SL 40 are good used radios? 

They are terrific radios.

[Van Lanier]

I have a GNC 355 for GPS and #1 Com, plus a KX 155 w/GS for ground based Nav and Com #2...along with DME because it still works.  Serves me well and is vey reliable.  

[jetdriven]

If you want a good SL30 we have one that came out of our plane for a GNC215. 

[LANCECASPER]

On 1/11/2025 at 6:46 PM, Nukemzzz said:

I'm about to embark on a big big project.  I'm about to inherit my father's Cherokee 6 and I plan on going big on refurb as I transition to it from my VFR only 1966 M20E (N3434X).  I'm going to gut the panel and the interior.

I'm going to try for a G3X system... buying all the stuff and harness from Approach Fast Stack and installing it together with my shop here.  But I'm still choking on the price of this upgrade. I'm looking at 55K just for the parts.  Avionics shops are quoting 120-140 installed.

Anyway... I'm looking to save a little money on Radios.  I plan on one Nav/Com and one Com.  My question is if the SL 30 Nav/Com and SL 40 are good used radios?  They are pretty cheap on Ebay used....vs brand new 215 and 205 models.  34X has only ever had radio troubles (KX155 is a terrible radio in my experience)...so I know radios can be a PIA.

The newest SL40 or SL30 is roughly 20 years old. The labor is going to be the same to install new or used. Rather than having to think about later replacing or repairting a used radio I would spend the extra upfront and put in a GNC215.