XM vs ADSB

[dkkim73]

I have both. On my routes I sometimes won't get great FIS-B reception in places. 

The XM does seem to have better latency and resolution. I also paid for some more wx features as I'm leaning on it more heavily to start. Once you know what you find most useful you can tailor it. 

ADS-B data is amazing, when you consider it's close to free. 

And of course, brief like a fiend before you go...

Saving my upgrade pennies for a stormscope also. 

First one to post a picture of a radar pod on a Mooney wins my new Excess Prize. 

[Ryan ORL]

I have both but I keep my G3X default (and on my iPad in ForeFlight) to showing SXM always.  I almost never look at the ADS-B WX in my own airplane.  (But I use it often in aircraft that I instruct in)

SXM weather is just better.  More detail, further out, faster refresh, etc.  Now, maybe that isn't worth it for the type of flying you do, but it depends.

But, as a Central Florida pilot who is always contending with thunderstorms, one feature of SXM that I find absolutely crucial is the ability to look at both Composite and Base Reflectivity.  ADS-B does not offer Base Reflectivity, but that is the picture that shows you better where the really nasty stuff is.  I don't particularly care about precip falling up in the flight levels.  Particularly after the thunderstorms have begun to dissipate, the Base vs. Composite picture can tell two very different stories.

I also appreciate that SXM has the storm cell attributes, etc.  It has a few nice little features like that.

[jlunseth]

There are several reasons I have kept my XM, but the most important to me is the ability to look out a few hundred miles. I have used that many times for in-air flight planning in light of rapidly changing or unforecast conditions at a destination a long way away.

[NickG]

Love my SXM and the added functionality and the integration into my panel (G3X, 750 etc). I fly primarily XC trips (not too many hamburger runs) and find the extra situational awareness well worth the price. Plus the music is great on those long flights.

I won't be canceling anytime soon - at least not until Starlink mini antenna gets smaller (or fuselage mounted) and the subscription plan comes down to less than $120/mo. 

[Pinecone]

23 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Saving my upgrade pennies for a stormscope also. 

First one to post a picture of a radar pod on a Mooney wins my new Excess Prize. 

I have a WX500 that displays in my 750.  Love the added real time info.

Mooney used to offer a wing leading edge mounted radar. Not the best performance.  A pod would be better, but more drag.

 

 

[toto]

11 hours ago, Pinecone said:

I have a WX500 that displays in my 750.  Love the added real time info.

I’d love to have one of these. My WX-1000 was too old to interface with the GTN, and I didn’t have the panel space for the dedicated display when I did the upgrades. So now I have a giant 3M belly antenna that’s connected to nothing. 

[Pinecone]

@Aerodon sometimes has them.

I got mine through Bennet Avionics - https://www.bennettavionics.com/wx-500-stormscope/

Just noticed, they have gone up a bunch, this seems to be one of those buy now to save money deals.

[Aerodon]

I do have a system ready to go.  

I replaced a WX10A system in my 252, the factory did a really bad job of installing the antenna.  They cut the 3M doubler in half and installed both sides of the centre and then they cut the hole too close to the centre join.

My guy did a good job of the NY163 installation, left the one half of the old doubler in place.  Made a new doubler for the other side and riveted in place.  Not the neatest, but the best we could do with what we had to work with.

The M20K had the antenna installed beneath the KFC autopilot servo's.  The later model Mooneys have batteries over there, so the WX500 antenna is installed one bulkhead further back.

Lessons from Garmin magnetometer tests:  Run new grounds from tail light strobes and lights to 'in front' of the magnetometer.   I did this just to make sure my LED tail light does not create storm scope interference, but I have found them to be fairly insensitive to electrical noise inside the plane.

Aerodon