GXM42 antenna for Garmin 796 still viable?

[Fritz1]

Powering on my XM weather receiver for the Garmin 796 handheld has slowed down to a crawl about 2 weeks ago, used the take less than one minute to get the first bar, now it takes 5-15 minutes, sometimes longer, cleaned all contacts, took antenna out and hooked up antenna to my desktop cradle in my backyard, view of the sky completely unobstructed, no change so I see two possibilities:

1. GXM42 antenna damaged probably by heat on glareshield

2. GXM42 antenna obsolete, something may have changed in XM transmission protocol and and GXM42 has to be replaced with GDL52 antenna

or what am I missing?

The GDL52 is much larger, needs to go on copilot glareshield and obstructs the copilot view, but will work with the successor unit of the 796 once that unit needs to be replaced, therefore questions:

1. Is the GXM42 still viable or is it obsolete?

2. Is the GDL52 better in any respect offering faster download speed or anything that the GXM42 does not have?

Have contacted Garmin support already last week without conclusive answer

 

 

[Aerodon]

Mine came up in about 30 seconds with 4 bars.  The GXM42's have a high failure rate and are not repairable.

When I use my GDL52, it has a different 3 bar SXM display, but comes up quickly.

I have not done a side by side comparison of the XM vs GDL, but the GDL has a battery and BT, so less wires.

Aerodon

 

 

 

[Fritz1]

yep, chances are the GXM42 is shot, lasted 4 or 5 years, the only thing I do not like about the GDL52 is its sheer size, copilot view blocked

[Fritz1]

think I answered my own question, only need XM, have ADSB through GTX345 transponder, there is a GDL51 receiver that can be outfitted with a small external antenna, receiver stays under glareshield, small antenna gets mounted on glareshield

[LANCECASPER]

3 hours ago, Fritz1 said:

Is the GDL52 better in any respect offering faster download speed or anything that the GXM42 does not have?

If all you want is XM and not ADS-B in you can get a GDL-51 used on Ebay for between $400 and $500. But you can also get a used GDL-52 there as well and save a few hundred dollars.

Other Benefits: The GDL-5X series adds AHRS so you will get synthetic vision on your Aera 796. It also offers the ability to bluetooth more than one device, such as a tablet or phone, which of course a GXM antenna didn't have. 

I have had my GDL-52 for a few years and I really like it. I also have an Aera 760. No regrets on either . The unit being on the glareshield is a non-issue. You can wire the Aera and the GDL 796 together power and data: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/aera795datapowercable.php?clickkey=20142

If you're really concerned about heat, I added one of these to my GDL-52 since I'm in Texas: https://www.ebay.com/itm/326232198845?_skw=garmin+GDL52+heat+shield&itmmeta=01K43AK1MQ410T7B0K2AK2KK16&hash=item4bf4f44ebd:g:~QIAAOSwjchmu4-3&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eyp3x8I%2Fs1Btxy0dFt6x6w2YyLHRpg5wt3wZui21zsCD1YVRVS1kpPHQ3NZUMDOz2sQeeCTELa%2Fp6Cl5kX2h8e1QWm5sv9ezOycs4IkaOIX8AAdfvSnFl2mSpeShl2uKIssPqtVj35Bkh8CDUbDR213xlWz5j3dTunrLHl%2BuW3MGYtpWyM27yUHtNteepfv1WIr4nMzazhzMCBJZw28cG6an30u%2BKMk1%2BpWI7KoLns9kN7%2BVv9I3gxPB058KRh8xyCt9WOYItLd2ezgke2toP%2FKVIftWjzdswcAghFM2hGsQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR76azOqgZg

[Fritz1]

Lance, thank you, good point, will get the GDL51 and the little external XM antenna, the GXM42 is limping, probably heat on glareshield killed it