Geo-specific ADS-B reviews wanted

[Ben R]

Hello all,

I'm a first time poster and new Mooney owner.

After receiving an Ipad mini for Christmas, I was considering selling my old Garmin 396 and putting that money towards an ADS-B receiver to run on either Foreflight or the Garmin Pilot app. I've had an XM subscription for a while and would like to get away from that if the coverage in my area and normal cross country routes are acceptable. I've seen the coverage map but I'm looking for real experiences.

My question: Has anyone had much experience with ADS-B in and around Alabama and Tennessee or the Southeast in general? If so, how is the coverage and how does the imagery compare?

Thanks

Ben

[Jerry 5TJ]

Have a look at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanchezpaulk/sets/72157630534182368/

This is a collection of images in which a Pilatus driver compared ADS-B with XM weather products taken on a trip last July in the Southeast. No text commentary, just images of the I-Pad ( ADS-B ) and GMX200 ( XM ) screens.

[Jeff_S]

I have the Stratus for ForeFlight and it works very well in places where there is ADS-B coverage. However, I just took a trip from Atlanta to Kansas City, and from western TN all the way through MO there was no ADS-B coverage at all, right up until you get close to Kansas City where there are some broadcast towers. So for at least half my flight, I was very glad to have my XM WX as primary.

 

ADS-B holds promise, but until they get coverage across the country it is still only a secondary system as far as I'm concerned.

[MARZ]

My trip from Houston to Oshkosh netted the same results - got a hole across most of Missouri - Houston to New Orleans held at least two stations all the way at 7500 and 8500 lower (2000) was spotty at the Tx - La border.  I definitely would wait to have it prove itself out before looking at it as a primary for anything.  I use it to augment my  VFR planning.