Folks,

Looking to finally do ADSB on our Bearhawk. Currently have a GTX320A, and I just fly around the local class C in Boise when necessary. Was considering doing the tail beacon, as it sounds like a quick and easy install. However, I have hear rumors that Canada will eventually adopt the mandate but will require a diverse ADSB solution. As such, should I plan ahead and drop the extra cash to get a 1090ES transponder? If so, what is the most economical option to install? I'd like to spend money on dead dinosaurs, not fancy electronics.

While I'm at it, I may update the audio panel. Any fan favorites? I have an older PMA6000M-C. Since getting the slightly larger O540 it just seems to be obnoxious any time I transmit on the radio under greater than 65% power. Pulled back in the pattern, not that big of a deal. I've adjusted squelch, changed headsets, etc. to no avail. I'm not sure if a newer audio panel would help me fine tune things a little bit more (plus listen to CCR en route to the mountains) or if it would just be a waste of money.

Thanks for the advice. I'm new to airplane ownership. Flying a club plane was so much simpler without any decisions to be made.

Canada will require compatibility with satellite ADS-B. Tail beacon will likely work, but typical U.S. installs with the antenna on the bottom of the aircraft won’t.

Canada mandatory requirement is years out. Prices will come down. Wait would be my thought.

As Ted noted, Canada plans a satellite based system for ADS-B, which will also be 1090 ES.

At this point, it looks to me that the hip it ticket for someone in your situation MAY BE the new uAvionix Tailbeacon which will afford a duplex antenna and offers 1090 ES. The beauty of this device is it contains not only an ADS-B out transmitter, a WAAS enabled GPS receiver, the duplex antenna, but also this Tailbeacon also contains its own TRANSPONDER! So, in one tiny package, you get ADS-B out at 1090 ES, a transponder and gps.

Only down side I see is you’ll also be required to install an AV 30 PFD, which then controls the Xponder. Good news is, the AV-30 is a really nice replacement for Stone Age artificial horizons. Or a good backup for a glass cockpit.

MTV

A few hangar neighbours thinking Canada have done the AV-30 + Tailbeacon. Pretty slick. Others are going Trig +GPS. So far I've been getting around (or under) the C airspace in the US without much inconvenience, though the occasional C "veil" can be a PIA. Not a lot of flight-following in Canada, if you don't have sat-tracking (who doesn't these days?) then the ADSB can help out.

Like Ted suggests, I'm waiting.

The tailbeacon X is currently the best option out there for diversity. The price point is also unbeatable right now. Thats what I'm going with on my 206. The AV-30 is very nice.

I just installed Dual Av30s and a tailbeaconX very simple, and inexpensive. So far no problems!

I’ve yet to install ADSB in my airplane and I skipped the audio panel since I elected to leave out a second com and a nav radio. So, I have no first hand experience but I have looked at the options and made my selections should I decide to pull the trigger.

My pick for an audio panel is a Garmin GMA 245. And for diversity ADSB I would use the SkyBeacon. However, I don’t see a need for ADSB in Canada and there is no anonymous mode with 1090ES so if I decide to install ADSB it will be the EchoUAT

However, I agree with those that say wait. I want to take the Bearhawk places that I would need ADSB, Seattle, SLC, Boise, but since that would be a tiny part of my flying I’ve opted to buy gas instead, so far. Options are changing and prices might come down, maybe.

A1Skinner wrote:The tailbeacon X is currently the best option out there for diversity. The price point is also unbeatable right now. Thats what I'm going with on my 206. The AV-30 is very nice.

uAvionix advertised not long ago about a $1000 credit if you trade in a Tailbeacon for a TailbeaconX.

I think Canada will be years away from mandating the dual requirement. We don’t do things fast up here. I went regular Tailbeacon for now, and will see what becomes available in the future.

I'm waiting, too. I think the tailbeacon X _should_ be able to be controlled by garmin PFD's as well - it's just RS232 so you pull 2 wires to the tail and configure the baud rate. I doubt uAvionix would make it so only the AV30C would talk to the tailbeacon.

My thought is I'd like to stick with with Mode C for most of my lower 48 adventures. But getting rid of a transponder box, sure is appealing.

There's also Mexico which currently requires 1090ES. So if you ever think you might fly down to Baja at some points - another consideration.

I also _think_ that diversity itself is not a requirement. Folks have been telling me that just mounting your transponder antenna on top of the a/c instead of under it is all that is really required to meet the sat-based Canada requirements. So you don't really need a dual antenna solution. The top-mounts still work just fine down here in the states. Not sure about this yet - this is what I'm reading in my investigation.

soyAnarchisto wrote:I'm waiting, too. I think the tailbeacon X _should_ be able to be controlled by garmin PFD's as well - it's just RS232 so you pull 2 wires to the tail and configure the baud rate. I doubt uAvionix would make it so only the AV30C would talk to the tailbeacon.

My thought is I'd like to stick with with Mode C for most of my lower 48 adventures. But getting rid of a transponder box, sure is appealing.

There's also Mexico which currently requires 1090ES. So if you ever think you might fly down to Baja at some points - another consideration.

I also _think_ that diversity itself is not a requirement. Folks have been telling me that just mounting your transponder antenna on top of the a/c instead of under it is all that is really required to meet the sat-based Canada requirements. So you don't really need a dual antenna solution. The top-mounts still work just fine down here in the states. Not sure about this yet - this is what I'm reading in my investigation.

Interesting that you caught that about the diversity. What I've been thinking is just having 2 antennas on my aircraft. One top, one bottom, each with its own wire ran behind the panel. Then when I fly into the US I hook the belly antenna up, and in Canada hook the top one up. Easy peasy. But I do like the idea of losing the xponder box...

soyAnarchisto wrote:..... I doubt uAvionix would make it so only the AV30C would talk to the tailbeacon. ....

I would be surprised if they didn't.

hotrod180 wrote:

soyAnarchisto wrote:..... I doubt uAvionix would make it so only the AV30C would talk to the tailbeacon. ....

I would be surprised if they didn't.

Yep, Garmin sure makes sure a lot of their stuff only talks to Garmin, something I would assume....

MTV

The tailbeaconx can also get it's inputs from the AV20 which is significantly cheaper and only a 2" hole.

asa wrote:The tailbeaconx can also get it's inputs from the AV20 which is significantly cheaper and only a 2" hole.

The certified version has to have the AV-30 as a control head fir right now. The AV20 can only legally control the experimental version.

The AV-30 isn't certified for IFR due to lack of scaling indications. If you install a tailBeaconX and have an IFR GPS, then you will need both the AV-30 and another IFR-certified CDI-like device connected to your IFR GPS for precision approaches. I don't have a lot of panel space in my Maule MX-7-180 so I replaced my vacuum DG with a Garmin G5 HSI connected to my Garmin GTN 650 and an Appareo ESG/Stratus 2i. If I had it to do again, I'd go with all Garmin: GTN 650xi, G5 HSI, GTX 345. Less panel space and Garmin really only talks compatibly with Garmin. At some point I'll replace my vacuum AI with a G5 AI and remove the entire vacuum system to save some weight. A lot of Maule owners are doing this.

Try to find something that will not send your personal information when set to 1200, especially with the way things have been going

NineThreeKilo wrote:Try to find something that will not send your personal information when set to 1200, especially with the way things have been going

As far as I know, there is no mode S transponders that won't send the information. So no anonymous mode for mode S transponders. If there is one that works with diversity that will I haven't found it yet.

A1Skinner wrote:

NineThreeKilo wrote:Try to find something that will not send your personal information when set to 1200, especially with the way things have been going

As far as I know, there is no mode S transponders that won't send the information. So no anonymous mode for mode S transponders. If there is one that works with diversity that will I haven't found it yet.

There is no anonymous mode with any 1090ES units.