Mode S to become requirement?

There has been talk of making Mode S a requirement sometime in the future.
Our transponder is giving trouble again. Does it make any sense to consider
putting in a Mode S transponder now, if we have to replace ours? We can get
a yellow-tagged Mode C transponder or even a new exchange from Narco
reasonably cheaply (for avionics, that is), but will it become a boat anchor
when (if?) Mode S becomes a requirement. Thoughts?

Thanks

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

Bob,

I'd buy the Garmin TPX 330, with the thought of TRAFFIC.

Next best thing to TCAS, and in at least one way, better. It shows a
direction of flight line that TCAS does not. Of course, you'll also need a
430 to go with for display.

Narco? How do they stay in business. Their radios aren't heavy enough to be
anchors!

Karl

"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
There has been talk of making Mode S a requirement sometime in the future.
Our transponder is giving trouble again. Does it make any sense to
consider
putting in a Mode S transponder now, if we have to replace ours? We can
get
a yellow-tagged Mode C transponder or even a new exchange from Narco
reasonably cheaply (for avionics, that is), but will it become a boat
anchor
when (if?) Mode S becomes a requirement. Thoughts?

Thanks

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

Jeeze,

I just checked on the prices of the Garmin GTX 330, and the King
equivalents, and either make is in the $5,000 range. We can get a
pin-for-pin compatable Narco that slides into our existing AT50 tray for
just over $1,000. On that basis alone, I doubt that a Mode S requirement is
coming anytime soon. Sorry I asked.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

"kage" wrote in message
...
Bob,

I'd buy the Garmin TPX 330, with the thought of TRAFFIC.

Next best thing to TCAS, and in at least one way, better. It shows a
direction of flight line that TCAS does not. Of course, you'll also need a
430 to go with for display.

Narco? How do they stay in business. Their radios aren't heavy enough to
be
anchors!

Karl

"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
There has been talk of making Mode S a requirement sometime in the
future.
Our transponder is giving trouble again. Does it make any sense to
consider
putting in a Mode S transponder now, if we have to replace ours? We can
get
a yellow-tagged Mode C transponder or even a new exchange from Narco
reasonably cheaply (for avionics, that is), but will it become a boat
anchor
when (if?) Mode S becomes a requirement. Thoughts?

Thanks

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

Well you CAN get a kt-70 mode S from JA Air for $500. Of course it'll be
missing its faceplate which you'll either have to have custom made by a
plastic millwork shop or you can pony up the eyeball exploding $1300 to have
king do it. Either way you're WELL below the $5,000 new units. Of course
you won't get traffic or weather but still....


-Brian
N33431


"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
Jeeze,

I just checked on the prices of the Garmin GTX 330, and the King
equivalents, and either make is in the $5,000 range. We can get a
pin-for-pin compatable Narco that slides into our existing AT50 tray for
just over $1,000. On that basis alone, I doubt that a Mode S requirement
is
coming anytime soon. Sorry I asked.

Where are these $500 transponders? I have a machine shop in my basement. I
could make a faceplate, although I doubt that the FAA would approve. Are
these things yellow tagged?

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

"Brian Sponcil" wrote in message
...

Well you CAN get a kt-70 mode S from JA Air for $500. Of course it'll be
missing its faceplate which you'll either have to have custom made by a
plastic millwork shop or you can pony up the eyeball exploding $1300 to
have
king do it. Either way you're WELL below the $5,000 new units. Of course
you won't get traffic or weather but still....


-Brian
N33431


"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
Jeeze,

I just checked on the prices of the Garmin GTX 330, and the King
equivalents, and either make is in the $5,000 range. We can get a
pin-for-pin compatable Narco that slides into our existing AT50 tray for
just over $1,000. On that basis alone, I doubt that a Mode S
requirement
is
coming anytime soon. Sorry I asked.

Bob Chilcoat wrote:
Where are these $500 transponders? I have a machine shop in my basement. I
could make a faceplate, although I doubt that the FAA would approve. Are
these things yellow tagged?

I doubt the FAA would even care about a faceplate. The electronics aren't
changing, and the basic structural mounting of the radio isn't changing.



--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

You can contact them via their webpage:

http://www.jaair.com/home.php

I got mine via JA Deals on eBay for $499. It comes with an aluminum
facepate that you have to "fix up" to make look nice. If you end up going
that route let me know and I'll tell you what I did with mine.

As mentioned previously the avionics shop and the FAA didn't seem to care a
lick about the lack of a decent faceplate. The 337 went through fine and
the transponder works great. Just looks ugly. BTW - I ended up paying more
for the install than the stupid transponder (new tray, antenna, labor, etc
ended up $800)


-Brian
N33431


"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
Where are these $500 transponders? I have a machine shop in my basement.
I
could make a faceplate, although I doubt that the FAA would approve. Are
these things yellow tagged?

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

"Brian Sponcil" wrote in message
...

Well you CAN get a kt-70 mode S from JA Air for $500. Of course it'll
be
missing its faceplate which you'll either have to have custom made by a
plastic millwork shop or you can pony up the eyeball exploding $1300 to
have
king do it. Either way you're WELL below the $5,000 new units. Of
course
you won't get traffic or weather but still....


-Brian
N33431


"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
Jeeze,

I just checked on the prices of the Garmin GTX 330, and the King
equivalents, and either make is in the $5,000 range. We can get a
pin-for-pin compatable Narco that slides into our existing AT50 tray
for
just over $1,000. On that basis alone, I doubt that a Mode S
requirement
is
coming anytime soon. Sorry I asked.