Which that, the WAAS or the XM download. I'll assume the latter given what
you've cited below, but please correct me if that's wrong.

I read about the XM download here in messages discussing events at Oshkosh.
However, nothing in the text you've cited disagrees with this. The GDL 69
integrates with the MX20 and CNX 80...but the 430? I don't see that
stated.

(Unless elsewhere it is stated that the 2.0.4 software for the 430/530 adds
that capability).

- Andrew


Andrew:
I'm not sure where you read that the Garmin GNS480 (or what used to be called
the CNX80) will interface with the GDL-69 for weather downloading. Perhaps you
misread this press release on www.aero-news.net.

It would be great to have the GNS480 as a navigator and MFD. Unfortunately at
the moment it looks like the GNS480 will accept input from the GTX330
transponder for TIS-B. I don't see any reference to FIS-B information. Could
you please quote your source on that?

http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav....af4-9826-4200-
b72f-bee74bc875f2&Dynamic=1

Garmin Announces XM Weather Interface
Tue, 27 Jul '04

WxWorx weather to be available thru XM Weather on G1000, MX20 with new
GDL-69/69A
Garmin today announced at AirVenture 2004 that they will provide a new weather
information service for their G1000 and MX20 units using the company's new
GDL-69/69A XM weather downlink units. TSO certification is expected by the end
of August.

The new service and hardware will provide real time weather, radar, lightning
coverage, TFR's and other information up linked by WxWorx to the XM service,
which will then retransmit the data to its subscriber's receivers. The G1000
and MX20 can then query the information that has been buffered and display a
wide range of information to the pilot.

The XM company currently has 2.1 million subscribers in the US, and have two
geostationary satellites covering CONUS. The "Rock" satellite provides coverage
focused on longitude 85W, and the "Roll" satellite focuses its coverage on
115W. Together, the two satellites cover the country on the S-band, which is
impervious to the type of disruptions commonly seen on services such as
DirecTV. The new XM weather boxes from Garmin are capable of receiving and
combining the signals from both satellites to provide total coverage. It is
expected that the range of the signal will increase some due to altitude
differences, but Rob MacKenzie of XM did not elaborate on the extent of the
additional coverage.

The service is expected to become available in September, and will consist of
two tiers of service, "Aviator Lite" and "Aviator." The former will be priced
at $29.95 per month and will provide basic weather information. The latter will
be priced at $49.95 and will provide the user with what Garmin describes as the
"deluxe" weather information package.

There were a number of other announcements from Garmin; the GDL-49 satellite
weather unit's software version 2.0.4 was released some two weeks ago and is
being provided to customers at no charge. The unit increases performance of the
unit by some 30 to 40 percent.

The CNX-80 product, which Garmin acquired when it purchased the UPS avionics
division, will be renamed to the GNS-480 in August, when it is expected that
enhanced capabilities will be certified. The GNS-480 will support Gamma-3 WAAS,
Traffic Information Service (TIS) data link from the GTX-33 remote transponder
or the GTX-330 panel-mount transponder. Software upgrades to the existing
CNX-80 user base will be provided at no charge.



Finally, ANN asked Garmin's Aviation Marketing Manager, Tim Casey, if there was
any truth to the rumor that Garmin had instituted a Minimum Retail Pricing
policy, and if dealers would be barred from doing business with Garmin if they
did not follow the policy. MRP policies establish that dealers cannot sell
product for less than what the manufacture establishes as the minimum price.
Mr. Casey confirmed that the company has indeed instituted an MRP policy, but
that there are no penalties in the program that would result in termination of
the dealer agreement.

FMI: www.garmin.com


Email This Article to a Friend
Link to this Article
Discuss This Topic


paul k. sanchez, cfii-mei
on eagles’ wings
2011 south perimeter road, suite g
fort lauderdale, florida 33309-7135
305-389-1742 wireless
954-776-0527 fax
954-345-4276 home/fax

www.iflyqpa.com/cas