Garmin GDL39 first impressions

[mjc]

If you want the short version, the GDL39 delivers on what it promises. Now the long version...

A couple of weeks ago, I received the Garmin GDL39 I ordered.

Compatibility. Before the order came, I had a Garmin 496 and XM Aviator Lite weather. The GDL does connect to the 496, but it will display only traffic and not weather. Since the goal was to drop XM like a bad habit, the 496 wasn't going to cut it. Fortunately, the Aera 510 costs $1100, and the 496 trade in value is $900. I did lose high resolution terrain (which I don't need), SafeTaxi (which I never once used), and the AOPA airport guide (which I used but found to be inaccurate and unreliable). The aera is so much better I would keep it even if I returned the GDL.

Cables. The GDL came with my choice of cable. I could have chosen a bare wire cable useful for hard-wiring, but I went with the one that connects it to the Aera instead. This cable supplies power from a lighter to the Aera and the GDL, and also has a connector for an XM antenna in case you want weather from both sources. Each additional cable is $60. Presumably, they are $15 cables with the 4x aviation multiplier. What's nice is that even though the GDL is connected to the data in/out wires of the portable GPS, the GDL has a pass-through serial data connection. So it is possible for the Aera to receive data from the GDL and send data to an autopilot or fuel totalizer. Doing that means getting the bare wire connectors for both the GPS and the GDL and wiring them together.

Weather. This is where the GDL has been great so far. The weather data appears on the Aera display within a couple of minutes of turning the GDL on, even on the ground under my shade shelter. Products include the TFRs, NEXRAD, Metars, and TAFs that I have with XM, plus a few I didn't have before, such as winds, Airmets, Sigmets, and Pireps. All of them are available very quickly, whereas Metars would often take 20-30 minutes with XM. One place XM is a bit better is that the winds display with ADS-B shows a wind barb only where winds are reported, leaving the interpolation to the user. I have read also that the resolution of ADS-B weather is not very good at long distances from the receiver.

Traffic. I don't have ADS-B out, so most of the time, it doesn't give me traffic. I figured I would get it in the Bay Area, what with all the airliners around, but the only time I really picked up traffic was near Stockton.

iPad. Mine doesn't have GPS built in, but the GDL sends it position information via Bluetooth.

Placement. The GDL has a rubber nonskid base and a low center of mass, so it has stayed where I put it. Right now it lives on the glare shield behind the compass, so it doesn't block any more of my view. I have also tried flying with it on each rear seat, and in each case reception was excellent. (There is an iPad app that reports reception, and a set of bars on the Aera.) I wouldn't be surprised if it worked if mounted on a bracket in the baggage area.

The GDL will pay for itself in two years. Less, if I count the value of the ipad GPS connection. Even better is that it seems like a real solution, where everything just connects and works together. This isn't beta stuff, where it drops connections or fails to receive or spontaneously reboots.

[jetdriven]

We have owned and flown with a GDL39 for 65 hours. It gets updates at 500 AGL in houston and so far, has never gone more than 5 mintues without an update. We have flown all over Texas, to Arizona, through NM, etc. No problem. Trafffic is a novelty, but nice to have. That GDL recieves weather from 100nm away even with the antenna folded flat.

[aviatoreb]

Thanks for the report MJC. I have been paralyzed in indecision on deciding which ADS-in device I might want even though I like the general idea. I like so much fore flight on my iPad and only stratus speaks to fore flight. Garmin pilot is okay I guess...

Right now I also have an Aera 510, and it is wired to the panel to receive cross fills from my GNS430W and also power. It is my source for nexrad right now, but through XM. I would be happy to ditch the XM. Do you know if it is possible with the bare cables version of the GDL-39 connectors to have it wired into the panel wired harness for the aera I already have?

[flyboy0681]

Thanks for the reports, it sounds to me that even at this early stage of rollout that it works as promised.

I hate to say it - but somebody has to - that there are a lot of naysayers out there that said ADS-B is the ultimate government failure, more sizzle than steak, will never materialize and will be a decade behind schedule. And this was as late as six months ago.

At this point it may not be perfect, but it's here, working and has a lot of coverage.

[wiguy]

I'll be there before to long. I suspended my xm coverage early in Sep, waiting a bit to go with the GDL-39. I'm waiting for the next Garmin discount or freebie with a purchase. I may have to wait until near years Airventure.

[jcgraff]

Thanks for the report MJC. I have been paralyzed in indecision on deciding which ADS-in device I might want even though I like the general idea. I like so much fore flight on my iPad and only stratus speaks to fore flight. Garmin pilot is okay I guess...

Right now I also have an Aera 510, and it is wired to the panel to receive cross fills from my GNS430W and also power. It is my source for nexrad right now, but through XM. I would be happy to ditch the XM. Do you know if it is possible with the bare cables version of the GDL-39 connectors to have it wired into the panel wired harness for the aera I already have?

MJC and aviatoreb, my situation is similar to yours and I appreciate any further comments you have or if others have answers to questions that were posed above.

I also have my Garmin handheld (496) wired to receive cross fills from a GNS430W and ship's power, mounted in the panel in an Air Gizmo dock, and an external GPS antenna. I've been happy with XM NEXRAD until the last 1-2 years when I began to notice loss of XM NEXRAD data, but only on days when there was a large part of the country covered with precipitation. Other XM data would update. I've talked with Garmin, XM, and Baron Services and no one knows exactly why nor has a solution. An avionics guru friend says there is a problem with with the 496 being overloaded, or an error occurs during the download that causes no radar to be painted. A letter in this month's Aviation Consumer reports the same problem with a 496 that I am having, he was able to get a refurb from Garmin, but it had the same issue, but less frequently. I don't know if this is a problem with other units besides the 496, the internet suggests it is more a problem with the 396 and 496. I've thoroughly troubleshot it; this is not a problem with the subscription nor signal strength. I cannot tolerate not having data, particularly on days when I'm using the NEXRAD for in-flight tactical weather decision making.

I've borrowed a Stratus, and the ADS-B weather to me is OK as a backup to XM if I lose it, but I really dislike not having radar-in-motion, which I find extremely useful to watch a line develop and predict where it will be when I arrive in the area. I also prefer the higher resolution NEXRAD of XM and the ability to ensure I am getting data before leaving the ground. Lastly, I fly in MS, MO, AR frequently where ADS-B is yet to be available. I know it will be available in the next 1-2 years, though.

So, I am strongly considering an Aera 510 or 560 IF these units are not susceptible to the XM outages on days with lots of radar returns to paint. I've read varied opinions about the Aera 560 by those that have upgraded from the 496. Some positive, some negative. Some said the display wasn't really larger than the 496 dspite not having fixed button because of the dedicated touch display buttons on the right of the Aera. Some said the Aera display wasn't as detailed/clear. Others say they like it better, like you. Could you detail what you like better about it vs. the 496?

If anyone has had XM NEXRAD download issues like mine with the 496 or Aera, l'd really like to hear about it.

Also, if anyone has seen what the higher resolution terrain data looks like on 560 vs. the lower res of the 510, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I'm a flat lander, and probably don't need to spend $500 for the higher res, and can get the safe taxi and AOPA data on iPad if needed.

I've been a ForeFlight user since the iPad 1 came out. Still have the iPad 1 but ForeFlight has become quite laggy on the iPad1, whereas Garmin Pilot app for iPad is snappy on the iPad 1. I've been strongly considering changing over to Garmin Pilot and purchasing a GDL 39 to give me a backup source of weather to display on the iPad.

Your posts above are the first mention that I've seen that one can connect both an XM antenna and hardwire the GDL 39 to the Aera 510/560. This is exciting to me because I could presumably display ADS-B traffic on the Aera (I realize not dependable at present, but will improve as more people install and when I get a mature ADS-B out solution), which I will have on all the time, unlike the iPad. Does anyone know if there is a mechanism in the Aera software that allows one to select XM vs. ADS-B weather on the Aera display?

Do you know if the Aera is wired for cross filling to a 430W and power, if one can still wire up both the XM antenna and GDL 39?

Does anyone have experience using both Stratus and the GDL 39, and if so were there any noticeable differences in reception, battery life (heard shorter with the Stratus), heat intolerance on the panel (heard to be an issue with Stratus), ease of pairing with the iPad app? I understand the GDL 39 is bluetooth and doesn't require pairing each time, unlike Stratus, though Stratus pairing is easy.

Thanks,

Justin Graff

[mjc]

To answer the questions that i can answer...

About the 496 vs. aera 510. If the screen is bigger on the area, it isn't bigger by enough that it matters. What makes the area better is: profile view on the terrain page, no more arrow buttons to enter waypoints, and of course, support for ADS-B weather. It really is a lot easier to use than the 496. It isn't all unicorns and rainbows, though... the 496 does have a brighter screen. In my airplane, it doesn't make much difference, but I imagine in an RV-6 or something with a lot more direct-sun angles, it might be a problem.

I don't know if you can wire together the area, the GDL 39, and the XM antenna, and hardwired to stuff like a fuel computer. If you use the cigarette-lighter cable, you get the area-GDL-XM-power connections, but no fuel computer. If you use bare wire cables, I'm not sure if there is a connector for the XM antenna.

I have never used the Stratus. The GDL 39 has no issues with heat.

[DaV8or]

Has anybody remote mounted their GDL-39? I am considering mounting options and schemeing on putting the main unit under the panel somewhere, maybe down in the footwell area and then putting the antenna up on the glareshield. Mine will be hardwired to my 696.

[Piloto]

Thanks for the reports, it sounds to me that even at this early stage of rollout that it works as promised.

I hate to say it - but somebody has to - that there are a lot of naysayers out there that said ADS-B is the ultimate government failure, more sizzle than steak, will never materialize and will be a decade behind schedule. And this was as late as six months ago.

At this point it may not be perfect, but it's here, working and has a lot of coverage.

The FAA could have done better and cheaper by going to a satellite based system rather than a ground based system like they did with GPS. One of the objectives of going with GPS is to get rid of the majority of the ground based navaids and its elaborate support. Can you imagine the cost for Sirius/XM for installing 400+ ground stations to provide the same service they do now with two satellites. Not only XM has a greater coverage but a much wider service with multiple music channels, try that with an ADBS/UAT ground station. I would not be surprised if the current UATs ground stations are superseded by a space based system, like GPS, Glonass, XM, DirecTV, Dish TV and others. There is already development in the cell phone industry to get rid of the cell phone towers by using high altitude airships and satellites like Iridium. If the FAA is budget tight for maintaining a ground based NAVAID (VOR/ILS/NDB/LORAN) infrastructure how they would substantiate a ground based UAT infrastructure that the general flying public (airlines) is not even equipping for it.

José

[mulro767]

Anybody consider the Dual GPS + ADS-B? It says that it works with several navigation apps but it doesn't specify which ones. I have the Aera 510 hard wired and panel mounted spending $35/month on XM. With the Garmin GDL 39 I can stay hard wired just switching from XM to ADS-B. But I don't plan to ditch ForeFlight for Garmin Pilot so I wouldn't have iPad weather. So my decision is between Stratus, GDL 39, and this Dual GPS/ADS-B that I'm waiting to hear more about. Somebody please buy one and test it out for me:)

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/dualxgps170.php

[DAVIDWH]

GDL 39 works well, but in Garmin fashion, not compatible with foreflight where I keep my charts.

 

Being tied to cables, also frustrating for me. Gave to my brother who used it twice and then sold it on e-bay.

 

Stratus users now. Just a personal choice, some men prefer "High maintenance women".

[scottfromiowa]

GDL 39 working awesome. Minimal wires with outlet in right corner of panel. Hidden on glare screen and down side. From lighter goes to 696 that has external antenna...ad I-pad on co-pilot yoke mount by blue-tooth and second device (I-phone). Weather works fantastic. Downloading charts is great. Already saving hundreds on XM subscription with superior results...and using I-pod for digital music so NOT missing the XM music either. 100% satisfied with Garmin Pilot AP and GDL-39. THANKS GARMIN!

[jetdriven]

We have flown a year with the GDL-39 and iPad/aera 500 combo. Its flat-out awesome. Everything you want, and weather from 500AGL on up for 200 hours.

[wishboneash]

I like the GDL-39 set up with the 696 and IPad. The only issue I have is the Bluetooth connection between the GDL-39 and the iPad. It's touch and go whether the app I am using on the iPad gets the GPS stream. I haven't found a reliable way to get the connection every time. The GDL-39 utility sees the GDL-39 properly, but non-Garmin apps say missing GPS! I guess the Garmin Pilot (which I don't currently have) works without issues. Any one else have Bluetooth connection issues? Any tricks on how they start up their iPad? 

 

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/34464-xavion-with-gdl-39/