What next?

[Lood]

My Mooney is in for annual and among others, I've had the avionics shop remove both my old King radio's, KX155 and KY197 as well as the KMA 24 audio panel. My KY197 worked fine, but I've had endless troubles with the KX155 and just had enough.

Replacing them are a Garmin GMA340 audio panel and Garmin GTR 225 Comm radio - both, brand spanking new! Is there anyone here that can give a pirep on the new Garmin GTR series?

 

Next year, or whenever I've got enough extra cash, I'd like to add either a Nav/Comm, something like the GTR 255, or maybe a GPS/Comm like a GNS430, or the likes. I see,however, that the 430's are still very much in demand when I look at the prices for used units.

I doubt whether we'll ever get anything similar to the US's traffic and weather ability, here in SA, so anything with that capability, costing more, is not really worth it, in my opinion.

I only fly VFR and during the day, so I don't need anything more than a good GPS and a VOR. I would appreciate any advice on options for the GPS/Comm.

 

 

[1964-M20E]

If all you are flying is VFR day then I'd go with a portable GPS of your liking and save your $$. For my portable I have the I-fly 720 ($750USD) and is it very useful. I'm not sure how it would be in SA with SA charts but here in the US for less than $100 USD you can have all the current VFR sectionals and WACs at your fingertips on the 720.

 

I have mine set up with a blocking diode and an extra 12V battery since the 720 does not have its own onboard battery.  When the aircraft electrical system is functioning it is charging the small 7.5AH sealed lead acid battery.

 

 

If you are really looking for a panel mounted GPS and save some $ you might look at a Garmin 250XL or the 300XL very capable units and relatively cheap.  They are old but I had the 300XL in my former plane and liked if very much and for me it was IFR.

[N601RX]

The only reason I see to use a panel mounted GPS if your VFR only, is to drive a autopilot.  Otherwise a portable is a fraction of the cost and has better features

[jetdriven]

The only reason I see to use a panel mounted GPS if your VFR only, is to drive a autopilot.  Otherwise a portable is a fraction of the cost and has better features

Thats mostly what our KLN-89B I installed does, it steers the autopilot. Bearing, track, groundspeed, time, and distance are on the screen in big letters.  The Aera 500 has weather and far better maps, plus terrain, obstacles, Class B airspace, frequencies, etc.  Both are useful.

 

Used 430s for some crazy reason are selling high, and given the 3K cost of install, not really cheaper than a new GTN box.   Both are really expensive.

 

Some of those 430s are getting on 13 years old too.

[jetdriven]

Its "All in for 17 grand on up" or "all out".  We are out, for now. But a plane load of speed mods, new paint, and a 201 MPH speed at the coming fall air races replaces much of that emptiness...

[N601RX]

So true. When they turned the LORAN system off here in the U.S. a few years ago and my Flybuddy LORAN (which worked great, by the way) became a boat anchor, I debated sliding in a GX55 GPS replacement for that very reason. To drive my autopilot. They are available used for around $1500 and I figured that a new antenna and supervised DIY installation would be another $500. So $2,000 installed, which isn't too bad. Even at that price, though, since they are no longer supported, I decided that I'd be throwing good money after bad, so I upgraded my iPad and bought a SkyRadar UAT ADS-B receiver instead for about $500.

I personally can't imagine buying and installing a used 430 at the prices that they currently command. As far as the panel mounted stuff is concerned, at this point it would either be a new Garmin touch screen or nothing for me, I'm afraid.

Jim

If your still needing something to drive your autopilot with look at a used kln 89B. You can get them for under $500 on ebay.  A vfr install isn't much, just a power and ground wire, coax and a pair to the autopilot.

[jetdriven]

<- did just that.  About a grand laid in.  

[Lood]

I forgot to mention that an auto pilot as most certainly on my wishlist. At the moment, I'm using a G296, mounted on the center bar, below the compass, but I don't really like things that are all over the cockpit. I don't like power leads and other wires hanging around and I like everything in or on the panel. My 296 used to be on the yoke, but I found that to be a real PIA.

I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer save up for the touch screen. The picture is just much more interesting than that of the older 250/300XL or KLN's. Maybe an Aera in the panel is good idea for the time being. My 296 is not 100% reliable anymore and it sometimes just die on me.

[larryb]

Here is a pic of my panel including a docked 796.

 

[Lood]

Wow, Larry, that's a very nice panel! Just about what I have in mind.