I guess nobody pays any attention to poor old Bendix-King any more...

Prior to the advent of XM, Bendix-King offered their own version of inflight
weather using ground-based stations.

From:
https://www3.bendixking.com/wingman/...a=sso.fis.page

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General Aviation's first high-speed broadcast weather network makes flying
safer, easier and more enjoyable.
The nationwide system uses a network of Honeywell ground stations to uplink
a broad range of free and fee-based aeronautical data. As part of an FAA
program called Flight Information Services (FIS), Honeywell has been granted
use of two frequencies to broadcast weather throughout the United States.
Utilizing a newly designed, wholly-owned network of 150-plus ground
stations, pilots are able to receive high-resolution graphical weather
products that are updated automatically with no impact on pilot workload.

Weather is one of the leading factors cited in aviation accidents. National
aviation forums have repeatedly identified improved weather information in
the cockpit, especially in graphical form, as a key strategy for reducing
weather-related accidents.With Honeywell's Data Link Weather, General
Aviation pilots can experience a new level of situational awareness and
flight safety

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It has only been in the last year or so that Bendix-King introduced their
KDR 610 XM reveiver....



"601XL Builder" wrDOTgiacona@suddenlinkDOTnet wrote in message
...
Blueskies wrote:
"Peter R." wrote in message
...
: On 2/22/2007 7:35:02 PM, "Blueskies" wrote:
:
: I just wonder why there is not some other source of datalinked
information available. I mean, why does this
: have to come
: in from satellites?
:
: This type of signal offers 100% coverage within the satellite's
broadcast
: "footprint." What alternative did you have in mind?
:
: --
: Peter

Like the SAS on the TV for instance, but it would be limited to the TV
range. Maybe a sideband on the VOR or upload from
the radar...





Cost of 2 sats Cost of hundreds of ground based transmitters