approach certified gps

[GravityHater]

Which ones are best value?
Which ones are going to be easy to go with waas, when it comes?
Which has the best deal on database updates?
Which will be supported longest?

Don't really need nav/com so G430/530 is not in the running.

 

[seethru]

I've had the opportunity to spend time flying with the big 3 of the GPS world, at least for GA (Garmin, UPS, and Bendix/King). By far, the easiest and most intuitive GPS I have used has been the Garmin 430/530.

You mention that you don't need the communications side, so I would recomend the Garmin GPS 400 or GPS 500, which does not have the comms included.
Greg

 

[Lead Sled]

For questions like this I recommend that you go to www.aviationconsumer.com. Sure, they charge a little to access their product reports, but the information is worth the cost.

Lead Sled

 

[simbo]

The 430 (well 400 for you I guess) in my opnion is the easest to use and has many capabilities and add-ons (TIS, WX uplink, etc). The resale value on a 430 would be more on an airplane then say a KLN94. Also the 94's are nice but hard to come by and still fairly expensive. Updates for 430/530's are cheap if you go with the skybound (jepp) deal. You get an adapter for a laptop and whenever you need to update your database just plug it in and the program updates the card thru jepp on the internet. It's a nice feature and must less expensive then having them send you cards every month. With the popularity of the 430's around I'm sure they will be supported for a long time unlike say a GX55,60,65 KLN 90,94. The CNX80 is the only Box i'm aware of now that is waas ready. I'm guessing there will be a software update for the 430/530 in the future to support waas.

 

[sky37d]

Don't really need nav/com so G430/530 is not in the running.

However, if you get approach certified, with WAAS, (the GNS480 is the only one), it can drive the HSI. Something to consider. Currently, the GNS480 (formerly the CNX80) is the only one with approach built in. The rest can do non-precision, but you are far better off, for the future, with the GNS480. It is mid range in price between the 430 and 530, as you might expect.

 

[seethru]

The nice thing about the 430/530 is that they contain ALL of the approaches, even the ones that are not GPS (i.e. ILS, NDB, etc).

What happens is that you will load your approach, let's say an ILS. The unit will automatically load the localizer frequency into standby. Then, as you get near the FAF, the unit will automatically switch from GPS navigation to raw data (ILS).

The unit will still monitor your progress, which is displayed on the screen. If you have to go missed, just go back into GPS mode and it will guide you to your holding fix, and even tell you what type of holding pattern entry should be performed and time your outbound/inbound legs (again all automatically).

 

[jergar999]

I just read in a magazine somewhere that Garmin has produced and is working on approval for a 500 series GPS with WAAS capability.

I have two flying jobs, one aircraft has two 430s, and the other a KLN-94. Both have almost identical capabilities, but in my opinion the Garmin is easier to use, especially for flying GPS approaches. Just take a quick look at the stepdown altitiudes and the Garmin will tell you when to turn, and what heading to turn to.