On Friday, August 5, 2016 at 10:32:13 PM UTC-7, Mike Schumann wrote:
[snip]

The TRIG guys assured me that the new TN72 GPS source would be 2020 compliant and have all the necessary approvals required for use in certified aircraft.

Unfortunately it seems you were not being told accurate information or there was a miscommunication about exactly what was being said. It is always critical to ask exactly what TSO vendors mean. I just checked with Trig executives and the TN72 will be TSO-C199 (i.e. TABS) Class B (i.e. the GPS part of TABS) approved. It will not be TSO-C145c approved (and the price point there just seemed totally wrong for a TSO-C145 GPS). Trig is hoping to use it in experimental aircraft with a "meets requirements of...". There is always that long term possibility of STC but non-TSO type use, but it is speculation today/if anybody will pull that off with ADS-B Out. My take on all this is this is the TN72 won't be relevant for use in certified gliders when it ships/certainly not end of this year timeframe.

I have high regard for Trig, they don't hype stuff, have pretty clear marketing, build well engineered products that work well in gliders, and generally bent-over backwards to provide technical help or advice etc. It's unfortunate here something went wrong with communicating information.

So my take on three separate things here when thinking about the TN72.... (when folks see/hear more about the TN72 keep there three separate things in mind and match up the exact specs you see to regulations and what you can actually do with the device).

1. The geek in me thinks it will be great to see the TN72 available with TSO-C199 Class B approval, that helps validate and promote TSO-C199 and the approval process. The more TSO-C199 (TABS) devices actually shipping the more it helps push along TABS install/use regulation, even if not installable under them today (since there are no TABS regulations). If for example gliders got suitable TABS install/use regulations and an alternate means of providing ADS-B Out then this device would hopefully be usable in certified and experimental gliders. But we have to see what that all that regulation looks like, it might be nice, it might be a horrible mess, it might be tied in with gliders effectively losing transponder/ADS-B carriage exemptions or it might not. Who knows. This potential regulatory stuff is where the SSA should be involved today, with the FAA and manufacturers.

2. It will be great to see it with "meets requirements of .. " TSO-C145c type language so it can be used in experimental aircraft, including experimental gliders for "2020 complaint" ADS-B Out installs. Great news for folks with a Trig TT-22 in an experimental glider who want ADS-B Out.

3. It would be great to eventually see AML STC/non-TSO approved if Trig (and partners) can pull this off so this can be installed in certified aircraft. But that's more my speculation/not guaranteed/don't expect this soon, etc.

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Dan -- if you want an ADS-B Out install with your TT-22 in your Stemme around the end of this year timeframe it's likely the TN70 is the GPS box for you. If you really want this you might as sign up for the $500 FAA rebate (motorgliders should qualify, non-powered gliders won't). Not much of a cost offset, but still...