On Jan 24, 12:31*pm, Martin Gregorie
wrote:
On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:08:16 +0000, Eric Greenwell wrote:
In the USA, the only thing with national coverage is transponders. ADS-B
is available in some parts of the country, but the only general aviation
"solution" is the GDL-90 from Garmin. It's the size of a shoebox, weighs
6 pounds, draws 1.75 amps on 12 volts, and costs $7000 (installation
extra). Makes a transponder seem like free candy.

Another oddity - it quotes the MX20 as its (only?) compatible panel
display/control unit, but look that up on the Garmin website and you'll
find its labeled Obsolete - Discontinued. What do9es that tell us about
the viability of the GDL-90?
[snip]

The GDL-90 UAT will display stuff on the GMX-200 (replacement of the
old MX-20), 400 and 500 series GPS units, the GPSNAV 396 and 496
portables etc. and I believe the G1000 etc. but. But as with
everything the devil is in the details of device firmware version, and
exactly display of what ADS-B data is supported (e.g. TIS, FIS etc.)
Now whether anybody would bother is another question. If I was
throwing down money for a new aircraft or glass panel upgrade now (and
it would primarily be Garmin glass) it would have a Mode-S
transponder, the GDL69A for XM Weather and maybe an Avidyne TAS600
traffic system. I'd also use the TIS traffic support in the SF Bay
Area since it effectively comes for free with the higher end Garmin
transponders even if TIS is on the way out. The GDL-90 UAT would be of
no interest. Garmin's most recent mention of ADS-B on their web site
is to talk about 1090ES upgrades for their Mode-S transponders not UAT
technology.

Darryl