Although they have still not releasesd pricing, there is at least 1 company who has achieved a TSO'd GPS receiver which would plug into the standard 9-pin DSUB NMEA connection to the garmin or avidyne mode s transponders:

http://www.accord-technology.com/nexnav_mini.html

There are non TSO varaints of the same thing in the $200 range from Dynon for the skyview system (small combined waas-enabled gps receiver and antenna that will wire in to the transponder through std nmea ports). It is still unclear (at least to me) if that would be acceptable for an EAB - it seems clear that you would not be able to shoot precision gps approaches without TSO - but general ADSB?

I hope we will not *have* to buy a full GNS430 or 530 TSO GPS to comply w/ the ADS-B out mandate. But I guess we will see in the coming years how much this truly will cost us.

'Greg

I thought Garmin has finished production of the old 430 and 530 and they are no longer available. I'm about to buy a new transponder, so if ADSB is mandated (not just Alaska/Capstone?), should I be considering only a Mode S?

Karmutzen wrote:I thought Garmin has finished production of the old 430 and 530 and they are no longer available. I'm about to buy a new transponder, so if ADSB is mandated (not just Alaska/Capstone?), should I be considering only a Mode S?

My original understanding was a mode S transponder would be required to handle the ADS-B signal. However, the more I read about it the less I understand. It appears the "out" mandate might be handled by a stand alone GPS derived position re-transmitter, so to speak. In it's wisdom the FAA is saying carrying a transponder is still going to be required in some airspace even with ADS-B out. But we have until 2020 to figure it out.

more "useful" reading:

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=m ... 234b6bc28f

http://www.trig-avionics.com/adsb.html

and the ever popular FAA FAQ's;

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/hea ... -B_FAQ.pdf

The FAA will be slow to implement ADS-B, due to budget issues. If you have to consider a new transponder, you may wat to go for the mode S. Homeland security is quietly pushing for every aircraft to have one to uniquely I'd each aircraft. So get the mode S so you don't have to it again real soon.