DME recommendations

Keep in mind that a DME is a transmitter.
At some point in time, the transmitter final stage power transistors
are going to die and need replaced. When they need replaced depends on
how often you have it turned on.

(PS... A new stack, eh? So does this mean the Navion will be at OSH this
year? :-)) )

jsmith wrote:
Don't waste your money on a DME. Too much maintenance.
Purchase a good used IFR GPS.

Ron Natalie wrote:
Maintenance? I've had a KN64 in my panel for over a decade.
I haven't had any maintenance done to it. Now the rest of the
King SC stack is a different story. The GS crumped and occasionally
the displays on the KX155's fail. The transponder needs regular
attention and the stupid ADF I am never certain if it is ever working.
I'm in the middle of switching over to a Garmin stack, the only
thing I'm keeping is the KN64.
On the other hand, I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to install one
if I didn't already have one. Back when I put it in, I knew it was
likely to be the first casualty of the GPS era.

jsmith wrote:
Keep in mind that a DME is a transmitter.

It is...but irrelevent.

At some point in time, the transmitter final stage power transistors
are going to die and need replaced. When they need replaced depends on
how often you have it turned on.

At some point ANY electronic component may die and require replacement.
Transistor finals will last the lifetime of the airframe unless abused.

On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 17:19:22 GMT, jsmith wrote:
Don't waste your money on a DME. Too much maintenance.
Purchase a good used IFR GPS.


I beg to differ. My Cheap ******* IFR Upgrade circa-1980 KNS80
VOR/GS/DME unit has required ZERO maintenance in the 2 1/2 years
since I had it installed. If it had been an IFR GPS, I would be
poorer by about $1200 (i.e. $400/yr) for GPS database updates.
So my KNS80 has essentially paid for itself ;-)

The KNS80's are great units, and can be had for about half the cost
the cheapest used IFR GPS units. Cheaper to install too.


Ross Oliver
Cheap ******* Aviator