New Transponder for us

On Dec 9, 12:30*pm, "Tim Mara" wrote:
The only data available on the Sandia transponder is from their brouchure
(also on my website page in PDF)
but essentially says:
The STX 165 Sports a professional 1/2 3ATI Bezel that compliments any
aircraft panel. *Its bright OLED
display is readable in virtually all lighting conditions and automatically
dims for night time operations. *Check out just a few of the STX 165
features.

Built-in Encoder *Simplifies installations and lowers cost.
Three Timer Functions *Elapsed Flight Time, Up Timer, Down Timer
Pressure Altitude Display *See what altitude your transponder is reporting
to Center
Optional OAT Probe Input * Displays Outside Air Temp.,Density Altitude,
Icing Alert
Small and Light Weight *7.4" behind the panel depth, 1.3 lbs.
Low Current Requirements *Ideal for LSA - Glider - UAV Operations

I have had these on order for several months so will get the very first ones
once they are releases..looks very promissing though for glider use noting
that they do say *Low Current Requirements *Ideal for LSA - Glider - UAV
Operations
please stand by!

I think also the next this to keep in mind and likely coming available
sometime in the not too distant future is UTA systems that I think you'll
find capabilities for this from Sandia to compliment their transponder
developement...http://www.itt.com/adsb/adsb-explained.html

Merry Chritmas!
Tim

Tim, that is not all the data in the brochure. You left off the most
relevant actual numerical power consumption data, but included the
marketing fluff claims. The brochure states 500mA power consumption at
28VDC. Assuming perfect power supply behavior that translates to 1.1 A
current draw at 12VDC. That just seems an unusably high current draw
for use in gliders - can you check with Sandia on the correct 12 VDC
(or 14VDC) power consumption?

Sandia Aerospace has been active in UAT development and may well
beleive UATs are important for the USA market, but it is very
surprising they extrpolate this to justufy the development of a new
Mode C transponder. Sofar the lowest cost (non TSO) UAT transceivers
avalable would more than double the price again of this system to do
ADS-B data-out, and add even more power consumption (getting close to
2A?!) and that still gets you UAT only that will have significant
compatibility issues with the 1090ES link supported by PowerFLARM.

Besides all the other problems I'm just not sure I would want to buy a
product from a small company who thinks developing a Mode C
transponder in 2010 is a good idea. It gives me no confidence they
will be around to provide support in the future.

Darryl