Hey Guys - Are any of using the GDL39-3D for ADS-B in? I'm having the hardest time keeping it paired with my iPad... The thing will connect after I pull the power to it and then it will only stay connected for about a half hour. Then it becomes disconnected, only in Garmin Pilot, in settings on the iPad is says its still connected. Then I have to yank the power and pair it again to get it working again.

It frustrating... Any ideas?

I sometimes have to go to settings on the iPad, cancel the Blue Tooth and reconnect.

Arnold

Yes i used mine all last year. I had the exact same problem. Mine certainly did not disconnect every half hour but probably once a flight. I have an IPAD without the internal GPS so when my 39 disconnects i loose GPS. The last time it happened i was IFB conditions and was not happy.

The Garmin pilot app software has been updated two or three times since last summer and that also included a GDL-39-3d firmware update. The updates supposedly addressed this issue. I have not done anything but kill zombies with my IPAD in the last 6 months so i could not tell you if the updates cured my issues.

Not that this helps you any, but for Android tablets the GDL firmware update helped tremendously. I experienced the bluetooth drop a bunch before the update and now it is (relatively) rock solid. The initial pairing is also greatly improved. I run (2) Nexus 7s both paired to the GDL and have a Samsung Galaxy as backup.

Well, as it turns out these problems were self induced. I bought the 796 new and unused in the box and figured the software was up to date... Turns out I was wrong. after an hour on the phone with Garmin and them walking me through the update process for both the firmware and IFR/VFR charts, my problems seem to be resolved (knock on wood)...

Turns out that the GDL will crash if it is hard-wired to a 796 with firmware previous to 4.0. Mine was version 2.5. I updated the firmware and got traffic, weather and synthetic vision on both the iPad mini and the 796.

I'm going to fly it this weekend and see how it works...

Garmin provided outstanding support and tech I was working with really knew his stuff...

Hopefully, I've got it licked...