Now ADS-B Out is starting to get interesting and affordable. I wonder what else we will see in the next few years.

https://www.uavionix.com/products/skybeacon/

Navworx was interesting and affordable, and we just saw where that got them.
Hopefully these uavionix outfit will stay the course.
This product is innovative, but a stand-alone ADS-B unit would appeal to me more.

That's interesting, but at $1,499, it's not cheap. The same company offers a tiny little internal box for $999 for folks that already have Navlights and are just looking for inexpensive ADS-B compliance.

http://www.uavionix.com/products/echo-uat/

Flyhound wrote:That's interesting, but at $1,499, it's not cheap. The same company offers a tiny little internal box for $999 for folks that already have Navlights and are just looking for inexpensive ADS-B compliance.

http://www.uavionix.com/products/echo-uat/

With the Echo you need a GPS source, Garmin 430, 650 etc. The Skybeacon has an internal gps receiver.

whee wrote:

Flyhound wrote:That's interesting, but at $1,499, it's not cheap. The same company offers a tiny little internal box for $999 for folks that already have Navlights and are just looking for inexpensive ADS-B compliance.

http://www.uavionix.com/products/echo-uat/

With the Echo you need a GPS source, Garmin 430, 650 etc. The Skybeacon has an internal gps receiver.

They also have a gps box to couple to the echo. Those two combined and the sky beacon come out to around the same price.

The key phrase in their advertising: "Mounts in minutes". Which is going to save a LOT of $$$ over any internally installed equipment.

I've said all along I wouldn't get in too much of a rush installing this stuff, because innovation is going to improve and diversify the options. here's one example.

MTV

mtv wrote:I've said all along I wouldn't get in too much of a rush installing this stuff, because innovation is going to improve and diversify the options. here's one example.

Yep. I was starting to feel impulsive since I needed to replace a transponder anyway, and had this rebate deadline burning a hole in my inbox. However my engine issues have put ADS-B out on the backburner. I also had time to do a lot of research, and have discovered some interesting things about how these various devices interact (or don't) with whatever else is in your panel.

Short version is that I highly recommend considering ALL of the electronic upgrades you expect to make in the next few years, and do your homework if you expect ADS-B to play any role in that. Many will not successfully output traffic and weather data to a different brand display for example. Some actually encrypt the stuff (like Garmin, I am told) so only their brand can see it; others just use weird formats.

If all you care about is basic 'out' and interaction with a tablet, that's not too hard to come by, but even then you need to be careful. The company formerly known as NaxWorx wouldn't even guarantee ForeFlight compatibility for example, though some people unofficially told me they got it to work.

There is going to be a real challenge ensuring total compatibility in this space, since technology is now evolving at an almost consumer-tech pace. NORSEE is increasing the speed as well since the onerous STC process is now reduced considerably. It's an exciting time to be upgrading a plane, but trying to make sure all these different boxes play nice is a full project in itself.

I just read that NavWorx shut their doors yesterday.

I had decided on the ESG...until I saw this unit come out at Osh Kosh. This is the kind of stuff I’ve been hoping would come to market. Easy install and relatively cheaper. So, I’ll play chicken with this mandate a bit longer to see what happens with this unit.


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These folks are absolutely genius! .... I mean... who hasn't walked around a row of T hangars and found an errant nav light or two, often complete with the bezel just laying on the ground... Now instead of the cost of a bulb, dome and bezel the offending owner can pony up and replace a $1,500 ADS-B unit

Rob, I understand that you weren’t actually asking, but I haven’t been finding errant ANV lights laying around. Is that a thing?

Agree that the ease of installation is the kicker with this. If nothing else, this shows potential for some real innovation in solving the problem. The only reason I hadn’t done ADS-B on my 206 was the install cost for any of the options.

Brett


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I get Rob's point-- I knocked off a nav light myself a couple years ago.
(didn't think I was that close to that hangar!!!).
Just glad it wasn't a $1500 gizmo.

whee wrote:...With the Echo you need a GPS source, Garmin 430, 650 etc. The Skybeacon has an internal gps receiver.

I'm liking the looks of that Echo, along with the Garmin GDL82 it's on my short list.
Per that linked website, the echo unit connector, out antenna, and combination gps receiver/antenna ... $1399.
Hopefully they can get sanctified for certified aircraft before the 2020 drop dead date.

This is a simple and clean and fast and affordable solution that I may get it even in my non ADS-B flying environment.

If it gets certified and maybe a year or so of other people's reports.

FWIW here's a link to the user & installation guide for the Uavionix Echo.

http://uavionix.com/downloads/echo-uat/ ... -Guide.pdf

I see that it can be hardwired to a newer txp, or for a "legacy" txp it can steal the signal wirelessly and incorporate it that way--
as opposed to the Garmin GDL82 which is connected to the txp-to-antenna cable.

And as an added benefit, while operating outside of the Ads-b required areas, you could turn your nav lights off and revert back to a normal transponder if you didn’t want big brother watching you. I’m sure technically if it’s installed your supposed to have it on...but I’m sure there are those that having that option may be appealing.


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Grassstrippilot wrote:And as an added benefit, while operating outside of the Ads-b required areas, you could turn your nav lights off and revert back to a normal transponder if you didn’t want big brother watching you. I’m sure technically if it’s installed your supposed to have it on...but I’m sure there are those that having that option may be appealing.


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Yeah, if installed it’s required to be functional and on during all flights

The biggest sales point for this item is the minimal installation it will take, compared to most other ADS-B Out solutions. The most negative thing that strikes me is that (so far) it doesn't include a compatible strobe.

FWIW, though, any concerns others may have about different brands not "playing nice" with one another is likely not a problem. For now, I only have my own installation to describe, but it's a Bendix-King transponder (actually made by Trig) tied to a Garmin 430W. In fact, my whole panel is a hodgepodge of different manufacturers, and all of them seem to work just fine. I've flown other airplanes with similar hodgepodge panels. Probably the biggest objection to some such panels is that the face plates are often different colors, not that the avionics themselves care much what color they might be--that seems to be a human problem, not an electronic problem.

Cary

I really like the direction these guys are heading with cheaper ADS-B solutions, even though I’m not partial to the nav light model. Hopefully they keep driving the market innovation up and prices down.

CamTom12 wrote:I really like the direction these guys are heading with cheaper ADS-B solutions, even though I’m not partial to the nav light model. Hopefully they keep driving the market innovation up and prices down.

Hear hear!!