What to buy next????

Post by **bullojm1** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:19 pm

Since my RV is pretty much flying perfectly, I can't help but think what is the next upgrade for it? I might need the help of my fellow Rivetbangers to help me spend money in the best way possible. Here's what I'm thinking:

1) New COM Radio - my ICom A-210 radio sucks. I hate it. When the sun is behind me I can't see anything on the display. I'm thinking of upgrading to either a SL-40 or SL-30.

2) Better Electronic Charts - The GRT EFIS has a nice map. but it has a lot to be desired. The iPad is just too big for the cockpit. So I'm thinking a used 496 might be the right size and have the functionality I want. But I'm also open to waiting for some program similar to ForeFlight to come out on the Android platform. That way I can pick a tablet with a better screen for the RV as well as a better size format.

3) Traffic - Thinking of ADS-B (NavWorx Box). But also would consider one of the Zaon passive systems. Perhaps a Garmin 330 if I could find one cheap enough.

4) Weather in the cockpit. If I go with a Garmin handheld, I can get XM weather. However, ADS-B has it for free.

Any suggestions? There just doesn't seem to be a great solution for ADS-B Weather/traffic and maps on a nice Garmin 496 sized display!

pazmanyflyer · Post by **pazmanyflyer** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:21 pm

My opinion. Get the com FIRST. I had similar bad experiences with my com and flying just wasn't fun with all the hassles of trying to communicate with towers and other traffic in the pattern. Once we fixed the problem it was night and day. It became a pleasure flying again. Get the COM.

Carlos in AZ

On 1/31/2012 3:19 PM, RB Lists - The Hangar wrote:

Since my RV is pretty much flying perfectly, I can't help but think what is the next upgrade for it? I might need the help of my fellow Rivetbangers to help me spend money in the best way possible. Here's what I'm thinking:

1) New COM Radio - my ICom A-210 radio sucks. I hate it. When the sun is behind me I can't see anything on the display. I'm thinking of upgrading to either a SL-40 or SL-30.

2) Better Electronic Charts - The GRT EFIS has a nice map. but it has a lot to be desired. The iPad is just too big for the cockpit. So I'm thinking a used 496 might be the right size and have the functionality I want. But I'm also open to waiting for some program similar to ForeFlight to come out on the Android platform. That way I can pick a tablet with a better screen for the RV as well as a better size format.

3) Traffic - Thinking of ADS-B (NavWorx Box). But also would consider one of the Zaon passive systems. Perhaps a Garmin 330 if I could find one cheap enough.

4) Weather in the cockpit. If I go with a Garmin handheld, I can get XM weather. However, ADS-B has it for free.

Any suggestions? There just doesn't seem to be a great solution for ADS-B Weather/traffic and maps on a nice Garmin 496 sized display!

Mike Bullock
http://www.rvplane.com
RV-7 | Superior IO-360 | Whirlwind 200RV
Garmin 430W | GRT Dual Sport EFIS
Status: FLYING!

rivetbangers.com - Discussion topic http://www.rivetbangers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=38967#38967

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Vlad · Post by **Vlad** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 4:22 pm

I would do COMM first. Get the best you can.
Traffic in the cockpit the second one.
The rest is of lesser priority to me.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:20 am

Mike,

I would let the dust settle on ADS-B. Too much unknown right now. There apparently are a ton of others about to get into this market so the options will be better later.

The Zaon is nice as long as you understand the limitations. I think the thing is over priced and the software/hardware is quirky. I would have to struggle with the decision to spend money on that technology vs ADS-B. ADS-B is the future and the Zaon is not.

Have you played around with the brightness settings on the A210? I have never not been able to see mine even in direct sunlight but I keep it turned on 100% brightness in manual during the day.

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:35 am

Brian,

Thanks for chiming in on the A-210. I will check out the brightness setting it is on next time I am out at the hangar.

I agree with you 100% on the ADS-B front. Also to receive traffic, you must output your location, so bascially the FAA knows exactly where I fly. Not to say I do anything suspicious, but I like as much privacy as possible until 2020. I might troll around to see if I can't buy a Garmin 330 to get traffic. If I can pick one up at a reasonable price, I can sell my 327 and the net cost of the upgrade will be less than a Zaon.

As far as the moving map goes, the Garmin 496 or Aera 560 seem to be reasonably priced. I don't like the idea of $40/mo for XM when FIS-B is free, but I don't see the ROI panning out in my favor.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:50 am

The 330 is great if you have TIS coverage around you. It is my understanding that there is no new coverage being added and some coverage going away.

Keep in mind that a ton of the people doing static checks on Mode-S gear charge a premium for Mode-S. Some of the people do not do Mode-S because they need a different and more expensive test box.

If you go with the 330 it must have the ES option added to it for it to work as the ADS-B out device. Your 430W can serve as the position source. Eventually Garmin will offer a firmware update to allow the 430W be the precision position source that ADS-B requires.

The 330ES won't hurt when it comes time to add ADS-B since all you will need is a ADS-B in reciever and that will not have to be certified.

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:53 am

Brian,

Good call on TIS going away in the near future. I will probably wait to see what else comes out for ADS-B in the future before investing anything into traffic avoidance/awareness systems.

Post by **Spike** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:34 pm

If you can get satisfaction with the current comm I would highly recommend the 330, especially in this area. I had one on the Cessna for years around here and every time I flew I was glad to have it. It picked out some very close traffic that I would have not spotted on my own otherwise. I can think of a few cases in the vfr corridor of BWI especially.

The coverage around here is good enough that I would say go that direction.

Spike