GPSS Steering with KAP-100

[tonyholland00]

Hello our club just purchased a 87 M20J LM and am loving it so far.

The only "wish" was for it to have GPSS steering.

It has 2 Auto Pilots. 1 old KAP-100 AP and a STEC-30 Alt Hold system.

We would love to have GPSS to help with flying approches and intercepting radials.

We also have a Garmin 530W.

Am I correct in assuming that I can get a GPSS steering module and it will "just work" with the older King AP?

I am going to be taking it up with our local avionics shop, just thought I would ask here before I talked with them.

Thanks,

Tony

[Guillaume]

I also own a 201 LM with a KAP100 + S-TEC PSS60 and the Aspen GPSS / GNS530 (non-WAAS) combo works beautifully with the KAP100.

Just a question while we are dealing with the KAP100, does yours make a "beep-beep" sound when it disconnects ? Mine does not.

[Bennett]

I had my avionics shop add an Icarus SAM GPSS module to work between my Garmin GTN750 and KAP150 autopilot. Great setup, and well worth the cost.

[CAMooneyPilot]

A friend of mine installed the Icarus SAM GPSS in his Dakota and loved it. I bought one at the same time he did, but ended up installing a G500 which has GPSS built in. It works very well on my Century 41 autopilot in my M20K. I still have the Icarus in the box. Send me a message if you might be interested in it.

[tonyholland00]

I also own a 201 LM with a KAP100 + S-TEC PSS60 and the Aspen GPSS / GNS530 (non-WAAS) combo works beautifully with the KAP100.

Just a question while we are dealing with the KAP100, does yours make a "beep-beep" sound when it disconnects ? Mine does not.

yes i belive our does. Of course only with the KAP-100 not the STEC.

[Jsavage3]

Will GPSS work with my KAP-100 autopilot and my directional gyro (I do not have an HSI)?

 

Anyone have any experience with the DAC GPSS?

[Marauder]

Will GPSS work with my KAP-100 autopilot and my directional gyro (I do not have an HSI)? Anyone have any experience with the DAC GPSS?

The way GPSS works is that it takes the GPS digital signal from the navigator (ex. 430/530/650/750) and converts it into roll control steering commands for the AP. I don't know how the other GPSS functionalities described above work, but in the case of the Aspen GPSS, when I hit the GPSS button on the Aspen and HDG on the AP, the AP follows what ever flight plan is on my 650 -- including holding patterns. If I hit the HDG button on the AP without GPSS engaged, my heading bug on the Aspen comes alive and the AP follows it just it would on your DG (provided you have a heading bug).

[larryb]

I also own a 201 LM with a KAP100 + S-TEC PSS60 and the Aspen GPSS / GNS530 (non-WAAS) combo works beautifully with the KAP100. Just a question while we are dealing with the KAP100, does yours make a "beep-beep" sound when it disconnects ? Mine does not.

Yes. Your sonalert is likely bad. http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70186814 If you want to replace all of them, stall warn and autopilot are sc628 and gear warning is sc628p. They do age and get intermittent.

[Piloto]

I didn't get the Obama stimulus check for GPSS so I updated my brain for roll steering. Works pretty well.

 

José

[fantom]

I didn't get the Obama stimulus check for GPSS so I updated my brain for roll steering. Works pretty well.

 

José

 

+1

 

For anyone with a coupled A/P and an HSI, I really don't get the excitement with GPSS, and yes I've flown with it. I guess that's why some need multiple GPS's with moving maps and topography....think 650/750. I doubt it helps with situational awareness, but it may assist entering the once a year hold since some can't remember the procedure, but how do they stay awake?  

 

[carusoam]

Gary,

I think the advantage for GPSS is the plane will follow the flight plan. Without it, the transitions at waypoints are manually entered.

Since memory, distraction and attention are at a premium, this will keep a Mooney pilot from missing a turn...

Adding GPSS through Aspen, it seems that the Mooney pilot can have a computer push the ALT button as well at the desired altitude.

Sounds expensive though....

I have neither...

Best regards,

-a-

[Bennett]

GPSS steering: Not needed, but it does a great job of following flight plans programed into the GTN 750 (or 650)., and the way that changes in course at waypoints, even extreme angular differences, is amazing to watch. In the case of the GTN 750 /Icarus SAM combination, you see visual readouts, and aural notifications that the aircraft will be turn in XX seconds, and the new course will be YYY. Sure you could fly to a waypoint, and maybe overshoot it, or turn too quickly. but I doubt if I could fly the perfect turn the way the GPSS handles it.  It reduces workload, and also gives you an opportunity to check to see that the next leg is what you really want to fly. And, of course, holds and procedure turns are smooth.  Hand flying is fun, but on a long trip in less than perfect weather, it can be fatiguing.  Nice to have great tools available for the times you want to use them. Expensive? Absolutely, but just about everything in flying is expensive, and I would rather fly than participate in other money sucking activities. 

[Marauder]

Jeepers Gary, War and Peace is a huge novel, how do you expect me to finish it when I need to look up every so often to change headings? As Bennett pointed out, the decision making is what makes is awesome. It is speed dependent and will lead a turn accordingly. Can you fly without it, yep. Just like you can fly without an autopilot or a GPS.

[Piloto]

I have a Century 31 AP coupled to a G530W with no GPSS and even if I forget about the turn the AP will restablish on the next DTK in less than a minute. The most wpts I have on a 5 hour trip is five. That would imply a turn of a few degrees every hour. How can I be so busy that I cannot do the turns myself. 

 

BTW I adjusted the max roll angle on the C31 to 20 deg. This keeps from overshooting the ground track at the next wpt turn.

 

José