Radio Replacement

In article ,
"Dan Luke" wrote:

"Jonathan Goodish" wrote:

#4 -- Have Garmin 430W installed, also with new indicator. Estimated
cost $12,000.

Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.

While I think this is crazy, I don't doubt it. It seems that the 430 is
just about the only radio that brings any extra value to a light single.
My question is, how long will that last? Until the next great model is
released?

That all being said, I'm not planning to sell any time soon, so the
panel sans a 430 isn't a huge concern at this point.



JKG

Jonathan Goodish wrote:
I have (2) KX170B radios which I'm very happy with, except that one of
them has been diagnosed with a bad MHz crystal on the comm side. The new
crystals are apparently no longer available from Bendix/King. The
avionics shop apparently scavenged a replacement from a used radio they
had in the shop, but they were not able to align the radio to factory
specs with this "used" crystal. They are recommending that I replace the
radio which, of course, is of the most benefit to them.

I have thought of the following options:

#1 -- Send the radio to the KX170B.com guy (Gary Glassmeyer). I've
spoken to him and he claims that he has a source for the crystals. I
estimate that this would cost me $500-$600 (including shipping),
assuming that he doesn't find anything else wrong.

#2 -- Local avionics shop is offering to install a used KX155 for $2500,
including the radio.

#3 -- Have Garmin SL30 installed. I have been told that this would
probably require an indicator replacement as well. Estimated cost $6000.

#4 -- Have Garmin 430W installed, also with new indicator. Estimated
cost $12,000.

Keep in mind that I have zero desire for the flip-flop or any of the
other nice but not compelling gizmos on newer radios. I can live without
the IFR GPS right now, though the 430W might be a nice complement to the
396 that I have on the yoke and provide me with capabilities that I do
not presently have in the panel. Not sure that the SL30 is worth it.
Keeping the KX170B (even a successfully repaired one) is probably
delaying the inevitable, but my money makes more money in the bank than
in the panel.

Any thoughts?


Thanks,
JKG


I have a 170B and a 155 in my plane. I like them both. I think you can
get slide in replacements for the 170. sl30 is a bit spendy. Looks
like a nice unit though and slim and light compared to the other two you
mention. A direct replacement might be your best bet.

Gotta be cheap used 170s out there though. I would keep looking.

Dan Luke wrote:
"Jonathan Goodish" wrote:


#4 -- Have Garmin 430W installed, also with new indicator. Estimated
cost $12,000.


Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.


A red herring to anyone not thinking of selling any time soon. Besides,
even the 430 installation won't get anywhere near the money back as what
was spent on it.

Although an interesting anecdote, absolutely useless I think for
considering what radio to put in the plane in question.

"Tim" wrote:

Dan Luke wrote:
"Jonathan Goodish" wrote:


#4 -- Have Garmin 430W installed, also with new indicator. Estimated
cost $12,000.


Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.


A red herring to anyone not thinking of selling any time soon. Besides,
even the 430 installation won't get anywhere near the money back as what was
spent on it.

Although an interesting anecdote, absolutely useless I think for considering
what radio to put in the plane in question.

The point was not about getting anywhere near the money back as what was
spent on it (sic).

The point is that an older airplane without a 430 is more difficult to sell
than one so equipped; hardly a useless consideration when considering a
NAV/COM upgrade.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Dan Luke wrote:
"Tim" wrote:


Dan Luke wrote:

"Jonathan Goodish" wrote:



#4 -- Have Garmin 430W installed, also with new indicator. Estimated
cost $12,000.


Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.


A red herring to anyone not thinking of selling any time soon. Besides,
even the 430 installation won't get anywhere near the money back as what was
spent on it.

Although an interesting anecdote, absolutely useless I think for considering
what radio to put in the plane in question.


The point was not about getting anywhere near the money back as what was
spent on it (sic).

The point is that an older airplane without a 430 is more difficult to sell
than one so equipped; hardly a useless consideration when considering a
NAV/COM upgrade.


Um, I don't see how it is a good thing to throw money away just so that
the plane sells... If, at some time the owner wants to sell, he/she can
always put it in the panel or reduce the price.

Spending 12k on a 430 and then getting maybe 1k more on the sale over
what was in the panel originally is not really worth it - you are doing
yourself no favors.

Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.

A red herring to anyone not thinking of selling any time soon. Besides,
even the 430 installation won't get anywhere near the money back as what
was spent on it. Although an interesting anecdote, absolutely useless I
think for considering what radio to put in the plane in question.

Maybe, maybe not. I can tell you that when I was looking for an airplane
just over a year ago, I would not even look at one that didn't have a
Garmin 430 as a minimum. There are buyers that think that way and there
are enough airplanes out there with G430 or better that a buyer will
find one if it is important to him.

--
Ken Reed
M20M, N9124X

Then you've answered your own question. You are happy with what you've got
and it is the least expensive option. The 170 series is the most
bulletproof radio yet to hit the market, and I include the venerable old
MK-12 (radios that glow in the dark).

Jan Crystal (Ft. Myers FL, google on them for a phone number) keeps an
incredible file of crystal specifications and I'd give it a 95% probability
that they have that crystal spec on file. Last time I bought a 0.003%
crystal from them it cost me about $20 plus postage, so for $50 you've got
your crystal.

Installing a crystal is about as difficult as changing your oil. Uncowling
the ******* is the hardest part, both with radios and engines. Once opened
up, finding the correct crystal to change is the hard part, but since your
radio shop just changed the crystal, I'd bet on the one that is has the
shiniest solder joints.

I've got the service manual ... WAIT JUST A FRIGGIN MINNIT ... the 170 is a
SYNTHESIZED radio; all the channels are derived from ONE MASTER
CRYSTAL...either ALL the channels work or none work, with the exception of a
dirty switch or a broken switch. Is it possible ... do ya think ... that
your radio shop is BULL****TING YOU???

You've got two crystals on the com side of the radio. One is the kHz.
crystal and one is the MHz. crystal. All the switches do is control a
digital divider that splits the single crystal into discrete channels.

Now, given that information, where do you think we should go?

Jim




"Jonathan Goodish" wrote in message
...


I have (2) KX170B radios which I'm very happy with

In article ,
Ken Reed wrote:

Maybe, maybe not. I can tell you that when I was looking for an airplane
just over a year ago, I would not even look at one that didn't have a
Garmin 430 as a minimum. There are buyers that think that way and there
are enough airplanes out there with G430 or better that a buyer will
find one if it is important to him.

Wouldn't that depend on the airplane make/model? For example, someone
looking at a Mooney or Cessna RG might expect or demand some sort of GPS,
but why would someone looking for a cessna 150 or small cherokee?

--
Bob Noel
(gave up lookingn for a particular sig the lawyer will)

Now, given that information, where do you think we should go?

Ooo! Ooo! Me! Me! Jim! I know -- I know!

"To a different avionics shop?"

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding! We've got a winnah!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Ken Reed wrote:
Data point: A prospective buyer just told me he had decided not to buy my
airplane solely on the basis of its not having a 430 installed.


A red herring to anyone not thinking of selling any time soon. Besides,
even the 430 installation won't get anywhere near the money back as what
was spent on it. Although an interesting anecdote, absolutely useless I
think for considering what radio to put in the plane in question.


Maybe, maybe not. I can tell you that when I was looking for an airplane
just over a year ago, I would not even look at one that didn't have a
Garmin 430 as a minimum. There are buyers that think that way and there
are enough airplanes out there with G430 or better that a buyer will
find one if it is important to him.


I understand that buyers want one in the plane, however, buyers RARELY
will pay for the actual cost of putting one in. That was my point. I
was not arguing that it does not make the plane desirable - just that it
is not worth the money just so that it can sell.