KX 165/ Garmin 420

[robert7467]

I have both, which one would you install? I like KX 165 for backup ILS, but Garmin for install simplicity. Since a lot of you are instrument rated, which one would you install? From what I am seeing (not instrument rated yet), a lot of approaches are step down.Which one would you install? The 420 has no wass and no ILS. I know both are not what I should have in the plane, but I have to work with what I have.

Edited May 13 by robert7467

[KSMooniac]

I think you know the answer is neither for a fresh install, but you have what you have.  If it were me, I'd try to sell both to someone that needs a spare or quick-fix for a failing unit and try to buy a more modern nav/com for a new install.  I'm not real familiar with a 420, but suspect it is losing support just like the 430, and if it doesn't have WAAS or ILS it is far less useful than a 430W and less worthy of installation effort/cost.  KX165 is similar and I believe the displays are the big issue these days, but some places (like Bevan Aviation) can still work on them.  You don't need the latest and greatest to learn instruments or be extra-safe, but I'd hate to see you put the effort into installing something that might not last and/or be harder to support down the road.  FWIW, my plane came with a 530/430 stack in 2007 and I sure felt spoiled.  I did the double WAAS upgrade later that year when Garmin offered the special, and I'm still happily using them today.  None of the newer boxes do anything that these cannot do in terms of approaches, although interfaces and screens have improved tremendously.  WAAS paired with GPSS and an autopilot that can follow is especially amazing, even today.

Do you have another modern-ish nav/com and/or GPS/com/nav box already and you're debating from these two?

[Paul Thomas]

Do you have  a photo of your panel? Can you install both?

I don't believe that you need WAAS for GPSS and GPSS is sweet.

[McMooney]

depends on what you already have and your goals.  the kx165 is a perfectly serviceable nav/comm and why bother paying for that functionality, the gnc215 doesn't do anything better.

 

as for the 420, no, i'd def upgrade that to something newer.  355/375/even 175.  I wouldn't bother with dual vors so no 650/750 either

[robert7467]

I have to go with what I have and the KX is almost perfect and has the digital display. It's almost new... Absolutely beautiful.... The 420 is much easier to install,  but the KX gives me an ILS in case the 430 fails...  I might have thought this out, but I'm a VFR pilot and don't know much. Just wanted others to chime in.. I have what I have and it's a big leap from the 170 where I had to tap on the vor or rub the harness underneath to get it to transmit..

[Pinecone]

If you have a 430 also, it changes the advice.

With the 430 I would put in the 165.

 

[robert7467]

On 5/13/2025 at 6:39 PM, Pinecone said:

If you have a 430 also, it changes the advice.

With the 430 I would put in the 165.

 

Yeah, that's the config I am going to go with... At least 2 have 2 vertical nav sources with that config.