Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems

[Seth]

José-

 

I've was waiting for you to chime in about the ATD-300.  You've been a supporter of this equipment for a while but now that I know it can be tied into a Garmin 430 for additional display - I may have to seriously conisder this as my TCAS system option.  For the price point, is there anything better?  That as well as a link to the IPAD with some sort of portable and you've got a very nice complementary set up.

 

-Seth

[Piloto]

Seth

 

One of the reasons I opted for the ATD-300 is because it works in the Caribbean and it is inexpensive. Neither ADS-B or WX are available along the island chain. I use my Samsung S3 for WX which works pretty well. The NOAA website provides good weather pictures and data for the Caribbean area. I no longer subscribe to WX\XM even though it provided me with good data. MyRadar apps works pretty well in the US while in-flight and on the ground but there is no radar coverage outside the US. I do not have an Ipad (never used one) so I can not advice you on products for it. But if you only fly in US there are more options available.

 

José  

[aviatoreb]

Seth

 

One of the reasons I opted for the ATD-300 is because it works in the Caribbean and it is inexpensive. Neither ADS-B or WX are available along the island chain. I use my Samsung S3 for WX which works pretty well. The NOAA website provides good weather pictures and data for the Caribbean area. I no longer subscribe to WX\XM even though it provided me with good data. MyRadar apps works pretty well in the US while in-flight and on the ground but there is no radar coverage outside the US. I do not have an Ipad (never used one) so I can not advice you on products for it. But if you only fly in US there are more options available.

 

José  

 

I'm amazed that a reasonable TCAS like that can be had for $1k + install. A half a day at an avionics shop....what 300-400$?  I wonder if it is hard to convince an avionics shop to install this equipment?  This is quickly rising to the top of my to do list....esp with all the tower politics floating about.

[N601RX]

Its STC'd for the Mooneys, so it would be easy.

[takair]

I too have been a fan of the ATD since the early units. I really like it for the money. It is STCd for the Mooney, so installation should not be an issue. I notice the term TCAS being used. Not to take away from this system, but one difference is that this is a passive unit. That is how it remains so compact and inexpensive. That means it does not interrogate the other aircraft. It relies on gnd radar or mode S equipped aircraft to do this. That said, it is rarely an issue in most areas. Monroy has a good description on the web.

[Seth]

Correct - it is not TCAS. Good technicality.

But I'm seriously considering it.

[N601RX]

I'm interested also.  The best price I have saw online is $549 for the traffic watch + and $347 for the antenna.  I had e-mailed Monroy with some questions.  Would anyone else be interested in a group buy if they will discount this price more?

[Seth]

Yes - Interested in the group buy.

[DaV8or]

I'm amazed that a reasonable TCAS like that can be had for $1k + install. A half a day at an avionics shop....what 300-400$?  I wonder if it is hard to convince an avionics shop to install this equipment?  This is quickly rising to the top of my to do list....esp with all the tower politics floating about.

 

As long as you understand it's limitations. It's not true TCAS. It's just a receiver and cannot interrogate other transponders. It is dependent on another aircraft in the area to have a real TCAS system operating. Typically works great wherever there are airliners operating. In the boondocks, probably not so much.

 

>edit< Oops. I should have read down to Rob's post. He already said it.

[Oscar Avalle]

I have a ZAON wired to my 795. It works well.

[flyboy0681]

It's not true TCAS. It's just a receiver and cannot interrogate other transponders. It is dependent on another aircraft in the area to have a real TCAS system operating. Typically works great wherever there are airliners operating. In the boondocks, probably not so much.

 

The ATD picks up transponder signals from aircraft in the area. If the other aircraft is Mode C, the unit will display the height above or below you (using pressure altitude) in addition to general direction of that aircraft. If the other aircraft is not broadcasting Mode C, all you get is an warning that that there's a target in your area. 

[DaV8or]

The ATD picks up transponder signals from aircraft in the area. If the other aircraft is Mode C, the unit will display the height above or below you (using pressure altitude) in addition to general direction of that aircraft. If the other aircraft is not broadcasting Mode C, all you get is an warning that that there's a target in your area. 

 

This is true, but just keep in mind that those Mode C and Mode A transponders are only broadcasting that info when interrogated by someone with TCAS, or similar, or the pilot pushes the Ident button.

[jabodine]

Thanks for all the info.

I have been doing some research and have decided on having an Avidyne TAS 605 installed to interface with a Garmin 430W. It is a pretty capable unit from what I can determine, with a free upgrade for ADS-B compatibility in the future. Apparently Avidyne is running a Sun & Fun show special pricing the TAS 605 very competitively vis a vis the TAS 600 which is less capable.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jonathan Bodine

[Bob_Belville]

Our trip back from SnF this afternoon was a pretty good chance to check out the traffic display on the 750 from the GDL88. Pleanty of traffic and good info with relative altitude and direction of flight tags. Also, I still have XM weather on the 696 so we had the free weather on the 750 side by side with XM. Very close. I think I will cancel XM. (We had small cells and buildup all around SAV. Some were strong enough to display on Stormscope.