GNS480 Vs GNS430

[Groundpounder]

We're in the process of figuring out an avionics upgrade for the Citation 2. We were either going to do a pair of 430's or a pair of GNS480's. The 480's will give us WAAS and we can run the transponders through them, but we've heard they are 'hard to use'. Are they actually harder to use, or just different than most other panel mounted GPS's? Are they worth the extra money?

I've used the 430 before, but I have not had a chance to put my hands on a 480, so any advice would be great.

 

[siegelaviation]

Go with the twin 480's. They can do so much more. I think that is the reason people in the piston GA fleet go for the 430/530. They are easier to learn and their functionality is limited. The 480 is an FMS with the ability to enter airways. To that in the 430/530 you pretty much have to enter EVERY fix and/or bend in the airway. Trust me, that takes a long time. The 480 takes a little longer to learn, but if you download the 480 simulator for garmin, you should have no problems. I have been saving up for a 480 in my Seneca II for a while now. I can't wait to install it and be able to take advantage of WAAS.

 

[HawkerF/O]

Groundpounder,
Here ya go. Use them both and decide for yourself which you would prefer. These are both fully operational and will be more than helpful in what you trying to determine.

480, 430, and 530 Simulators. Good luck. http://www.garmin.com/include/SimulatorPopup.html

We're in the process of figuring out an avionics upgrade for the Citation 2. We were either going to do a pair of 430's or a pair of GNS480's. The 480's will give us WAAS and we can run the transponders through them, but we've heard they are 'hard to use'. Are they actually harder to use, or just different than most other panel mounted GPS's? Are they worth the extra money?

I've used the 430 before, but I have not had a chance to put my hands on a 480, so any advice would be great.

 

[Diesel]

Get the 480. I'm about this close to taking my 430, 530 set up throwing it out the window and then stomping on it. If you want to know every lake, river, stream and road then the 430 by far is your best bet.

If you want to actually be able to use a piece of equipment like an fms and have some use to you go with the 480.

Rant over. Sorry I really hate the thing though.

 

[Groundpounder]

Groundpounder,
Here ya go. Use them both and decide for yourself which you would prefer. These are both fully operational and will be more than helpful in what you trying to determine.

480, 430, and 530 Simulators. Good luck. http://www.garmin.com/include/SimulatorPopup.html

Beat ya to it, downloaded the 480 last night. Thank you anyway.

 

[Groundpounder]

Does anyone know if you can have the xm weather datalink with the 480, like you can with the 430? The Garmin website doesn't say.

 

[mzaharis]

I think that a lot of people use the 480 with the MX20 MFD, so Garmin may assume that you'd display XM data on the MX20.

Here's a review of the 430/530, with about a paragraph about the 480/MX20 combination. He's not as much of a pilot as he is a software engineer (rather well-known one at that - he bailed on the industry when he got a sweetheart buyout on his Internet Startup, then became a CFI), so he really focuses on useability issues. According to his website, he was still working on his IFR cert at the time he wrote this, so take it for what it's worth (although he now has about 1400 hours, CFII, CFI-H, and stands by his earlier comments).

http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/garmin-gps

 

[Diesel]

480-xmwx (bought from UPS technology so they don't have to abide by wsi contract)
430-wsi wx (they are stuck under contract with wsi)

 

[THE Flying Ace]

We have a 530 setup in our C550. Works very nice, but I do hate having to enter every bend in a Jetway. Garmin is going to release an update sometime 3rd or 4th quarter '06 for the 430/530 so they can be waas compliant. But that date seems to keep on slipping back, so who knows if they will actually get it out then. As far as the lakes and rivers thing, you can change the map setup so you can declutter the map. Also, if you go with the 430/530, get the 430A/530A. They have more powerful radios. We used to have the straight 530 and always got remarks that our radio was very weak.

As far as the annunciator panel, we have serial#159 and we moved the panel so the garmin and MFD are below the engine guages and the the annunciator panel is below the garmin and MFD. Saved money by not having to buy the new glare shield STC just to move the annunciator panel up to the glare shield. Annunciators are clearly visible and works good.

 

[Stealthh21]

Sorry , it is not an FMS.

 

[Geronimo4497]

No doubt that the 480 is not a true FMS, but it sure beats a 430/530 into the ground over functionality, IMO.

 

[Diesel]

obviously stealth the 430/530 is not an fms. But the 480 is by far a superior product in an FMS sort of way as the 430. Flying a 172 in vfr conditions to your buddys house the 430 will get you there. Flying ifr the 430 sucks. Cleared direct to a point that you didn't enter into from fltplan.com crap now you have to get the map out to find the point and see where it lies on the route.

Yeah yeah yeah we should have the maps in our laps. Lucky me its on my efb so i don't need to dig hard but the 430 is built for the VFR pilot out cruising with his friends.

 

[Groundpounder]

I was messing around with the 480 sim this morning and it is very cool. Its not that hard to use, just different from the 430/530 family. Me and the other guy were talking over dinner, and we are going to get a quote for a dual install with the transponders and traffic and weather and XM radio. Well, maybe not the radio.......

 

[Groundpounder]

480-xmwx (bought from UPS technology so they don't have to abide by wsi contract)
430-wsi wx (they are stuck under contract with wsi)

Garmin says the 480 won't do datalink weather. Damn it..........

 

[JimNtexas]

Garmin says the 480 won't do datalink weather. dang it..........

Can the MX-20 display wx weather?

There is a good Garmin 480 users egroup on yahoo, gns480-users, there is a lot of good information there.

 

[mzaharis]

Garmin's website claims that a GDL-69 can feed XM weather data to an MX-20.

http://www.garmin.com/products/gdl69/

 

[Groundpounder]

Can the MX-20 display wx weather?

There is a good Garmin 480 users egroup on yahoo, gns480-users, there is a lot of good information there.

Yes, but the MX-20 and the radar we have won't talk to each other,and by the time we spend money on a new radar, MFD, GPS's, it will be way more than we want to spend at the moment.

What about hard wiring a Garmin 396 in there? Is it possible to do it without it looking too mickey mouse?

 

[BushwickBill]

Yes, but the MX-20 and the radar we have won't talk to each other,and by the time we spend money on a new radar, MFD, GPS's, it will be way more than we want to spend at the moment.

What about hard wiring a Garmin 396 in there? Is it possible to do it without it looking too mickey mouse?

Don't you and everone else who wants to save money on avionics wish....

I would love the look of that: "Oh and yes right next to our collins 21 pro line display is our trusty 396. Don't mind the suction cup marks on the windows. After we use it here we put it in our Piper Cub corporate trainer and practice GPS approaches."

 

[Groundpounder]

Don't you and everone else who wants to save money on avionics wish....

I would love the look of that: "Oh and yes right next to our collins 21 pro line display is our trusty 396. Don't mind the suction cup marks on the windows. After we use it here we put it in our Piper Cub corporate trainer and practice GPS approaches."

Yeah well thats what we want to avoid. I wish our avionics guy was more helpful.

 

[eggman76]

Garmin says the 480 won't do datalink weather. dang it..........

If you're gonna get the 480, you should definately get the mx-20. Weather, traffic, and chartview make it worthwhile.