Garmin GNS 430/530 User Waypoints

Hello,
I am investigating about uploading from a PC and through the serial
interface some hundreds of User Waypoints, necessary for VFR flight into
a GNS 430.

It seems that it is not officially feasible due to certification
issues. That seems stupid, while manually entering waypoints may be
worst that through a PC and a verified database, anyway, that is what
garmin sais.

Anyway, the function "crossfill" is available when two similar
units are connected through the #3 serial port (RS232), just to send
[all] the waypoints between the units. This seems a beautiful way to
send them from a PC, simulating we are a GPS! In addition, on the user
guide, it is also mentioned that user waypoints can be sent by an EFIS
with Joystick, but once again, nothing more is reported about the
protocol used.

I could write the program, but I would like to know if someone else
before faced the problem and discovered more informations about the
protocol used.

Thanks.

Giuliano Rescaldani

Originally Posted by Resca

Hello,
I am investigating about uploading from a PC and through the serial
interface some hundreds of User Waypoints, necessary for VFR flight into
a GNS 430.

It seems that it is not officially feasible due to certification
issues. That seems stupid, while manually entering waypoints may be
worst that through a PC and a verified database, anyway, that is what
garmin sais.

Anyway, the function "crossfill" is available when two similar
units are connected through the #3 serial port (RS232), just to send
[all] the waypoints between the units. This seems a beautiful way to
send them from a PC, simulating we are a GPS! In addition, on the user
guide, it is also mentioned that user waypoints can be sent by an EFIS
with Joystick, but once again, nothing more is reported about the
protocol used.

I could write the program, but I would like to know if someone else
before faced the problem and discovered more informations about the
protocol used.

Thanks.

Giuliano Rescaldani

Hi
The communication between the 430 and the 296 is one way only, from the 430 (or 530) to the 296.

There exists no way to program a flight plan at home and then transfer it to the 430 (or 530).

So I´m told, see:

http://flyimc.mywowbb.com/view_topic...mp_to=392#p392

Hi,

The communication between the 430 and the 296 is one way only, from the
430 (or 530) to the 296.

That is true, but I never asked about that connection!
The connection I am talking about is the so called Crossfill and is used
to connect two similar units: 430-430, 430-530, 530-530 and it does
allow to send all the waypoints (as well as routes) between units.

There exists no way to program a flight plan at home and then transfer
it to the 430 (or 530).

That is the "official" Garmin position. But since Crossfill alows that,
it is posible to "sniff" a Crossfill between two units and reproduce it
on a PC. In that case the PC simulates to be a 430 that simply wants to
send waypoints to the real one.

That is for sure feasible, the only problem is that the protocol is not
documented yet (but remember the handheld protocol was not delivered by
Garmin until people cracked it... now it freely available on their site)
and I have currently not two units to be placed on a bank to look inside
the dialogue!

Giuliano