Avionics panel refresh thoughts and tribulations...

[n86121]

Pondering panel refresh
Thought I'd throw these considerations out there

FOR WEATHER
I prefer my stormscope showing JUST storms at 200 mile range
Zoom in close when needed
Much better than critical realtime data being buried in a single over-clutterred moving map.

I prefer XM weather over ADS-B:
I like to fly low (once a helicopter pilot…)
Often do not have line of site to ADS-B ground station, aka Outer Banks or just LOW.

XM also provides bigger picture, not just what is nearby - still true?

I usually use XM to avoid really bad weather strategically.
I rely on the Stormscope for realtime the exciting stuff.

FOR TRAFFIC
Only Ryan 9900BX detects ALL Mode C, UAT, and ES.
UAT and ES only see equipped aircraft…etc, OR if in range of ground station.
I prefer the AUDIO ALERT of traffic, with a graphic somewhere for more detail
Foreflight w Stratus does a pretty good job (for ADS-B out equipped aircraft)

FOR NAVIGATION
My Helm 650 and Truemap are elegant for their simplicity and LIMITED CLUTTER
Software often piles too much info onto one layer, which starts to get VERY cluttered

Software knobology and being user friendly I/O is critical

DISPLAY
Lots of clever IPAD (mini) apps.
Biggest problem is IPAD itself: Overheats and shuts down, Not sunlight readable (450 nits).
IOS apps EVOLVE quickly, where ‘certified’ are dinosaurs stuck in the mud at birth

AUDIO
With integrated units, is an audio panel w selections now really redundant?

======================

AIRPLANE AS CURRENTLY EQUIPPED
On images below, from the top down

CENTER AVIONICS STACK – 14-15 inches avail
1. Helm x650 (INC XM WEATHER)
2. KX155 ILS/NAV
3. KN62 DME
4. KY97 COM
5. AUDIO SELECTOR (original with huge blob in avionics bay)
6. GARMIN 330
7. IPAD MINI Running foreflight

LEFT
8. RYAN 9900BX Needs brain fixed flat rate $2,500 and maybe top antenna $500?)
9. WX950 STORMSCOPE

IN AVIONICS BAY
10. XM RECIEVER
11. L3 K2500 WAAS ADS In/OUT w WIFI
12. TRANSCAL ENCODER
13. AUDIO PANEL

WIRING
The TRANSCAL encoder feeds altimeter to the Garmin 330
The Garmin passes the TRANSCAL encoder altimeter to the 9900BX via ARINC 429
The original Cessna ‘audio’ panel occupies a lot of space in avionics bay. A very stale bowl of wiring spaghetti

PROBLEMS

1. The HELM X650 and its software end of life
May lose panel mounted map (hi vis and never shuts) and XM weather at any time

Foreflgiht et al OK, powered by CIG, but prefer panel mount

Would need GDL52 to received ADSB + XM? How to get Avidyne XM?

2. RYAN 9900 BX needs CPU repair (flat rate $2,300?) and possibly antenna
Still the only device captures it ALL and REALTIME, ANYWHERE

Does ADS-B make TCAD redundant? Just pull and remove antennas? Or fix?

3. The 9900BX reports ‘altimeter error’ periodically. Problem with Garmin 330 ARINC 429?

NOTE: I hardwired a DB9 input to 9900BX to give a fixed altimeter value (500ft)
and it no longer reported altimeter problem.
Suggests Garmin 330 ARINC 429 problem?

OBJECTIVE

I understand AVIDYNE user I/O to be much more user friendly than Garmin?
Avidyne displays CAN display a repaired RYAN 9900BX output too.

SO MAYBE…?

NAVIGATION
Avidyne
GPS only?
Or w NAV/COM. Trade in KY97 or KX155?

TRAFFIC
Fix 9900BX and feed to Avidyne above

WEATHER
How to get XM into avidyne?
Just use Forefligth /stratus?
Get GSL52 for ADSB and XM and port to …Foreflight? Avidyne?

AUDIO
Does integrated NAV/COMM unit make need for autio panel redundant?
PMA panel? Remove Cessna ‘audio panel’ and wiring?

….What IS a mother to do?

Did images come through?

What are your thought's gentlemen (and I DO use the term loosely).

[MD83driver]

After 2 some years getting 4FZ airworthy, I gave quite a bit of thought to avionics to come. My final decision was to buy the following:

Garmin 345 with Bluetooth.
Garmin GTN-750 used w/8130 from Garmin. Much more like an FMS like I am used to in the airlines for programing, not like a 530/430. Has all the airways. Avidyne Navigator will work well for that to, but did not find one at a fair price.
G5 DG/HSI w/GAD-29 /GMU-11/LPM to replace my DG.
These will be integrated with my Garmin 335 TXPR ADS-B out.

Will keep my ADF and DME. Cessna 485's will come out, looking for a SL30, at worst one of my KX175's will go in as a backup. Stormscope will stay for now. Will use an Ipad for ADS-B in and WX avoidance planning, not to stick my nose into it. Live Radar is the ONLY thing for that, but not in my future now.

And it is all about how you want to use your plane, not someone else.
Let the fun begin!