Old tecnology and inertia - transponders

It is snowing outside and privately I have been corresponding about
the successful installation of a transponder in my SparrowHawk and
transponders in general and thought this might be some interest to
many of you .
Dave

Hi Jim
There are many systems that we would agree with few exceptions are
poor
and could be replaced with today's technology resulting in much better
accuracy, safety and cost. Sometimes the technology switchover is fast
and relatively painless. Lets consider the use of GPS for aircraft
applications. There are really 2 uses for GPS. The first is to know
your position, direction, height and speed and the second for all
other near aircraft and ATC to have that same information. The first
is
easy to solve since it is on an individual basis and does not affect
anyone else. The second is much more problematical in that the
communication and protocols have to be universal the whole world over.
So what has happened? Almost everyone uses a GPS in their flying
machines and the old techniques such as VORs are out. My new Jabiru
only has a GPS for navigation. The new technology is infinitely better
in all respects to the old technologies. Now lets look at transponder
technology which is 50 years old. It works and it actually works
better
than one would suspect since distance is based on signal strength
only and there is no one position on an aircraft for mounting the
antenna. If it is mounted on a metal aircraft in a prominent position
I am sure the efficiency is greater than say on my DG where the
antenna is mounted inside the cockpit above the instrument panel.
Regardless transponders work fairly well overall. So why change?
I think there are several reasons. Much more and more accurate
information can be communicated such as position to about 20
feet, altitude to 100 feet, heading, speed, climb or sink rate and
the ability of an inboard computer to suggest action in the case
of a potential collision. This would negate all the silly little add
ons
such as TCAS etc. So why hasn't it happened? Because it is
a huge project to get all the countries in the world to approve
a new system and to implement it.
Lets as engineers consider what the hardware could look like
My $300 Navman has a GPS and operates using Microsoft's
2003 PDA operating system. Without doubt a program could
be written simply and efficiently to achieve everything that I
have been discussing except for the transmitter but that is a
piece of cake! The total size would bt that of a Garmin 396
and the manufacturing costs no more (and I am being generous)
than $500. Sounds easy and so it is. When will it be available
and FAA approved? Your guess is as good as mine.
Dave