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Truth be told, if I'm spending well north ten thousand dollars like these panels cost... limiting my future capability based on a hundred dollars seems incredibly short sighted. It costs more than that to fill my truck fuel tank and the 'free' data is neither equal nor guaranteed to remain free. If I later want to go IFR, having all of those things on the large screen rather than the smaller navigator will make my life easier. Garmin is even cheaper now and make no mistake, when Garmin dropped their prices this year the rest had to follow suit. That's the only reason we are finally seeing a price break on these overpriced systems (all of them). |
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AOA: AFS $ 599.00 / Garmin $0.00 (Included on the new GSU-25) VPX Interface: AFS $275.00 / Garmin $0.00 Moving Map: AFS $500.00 / Garmin $0.00 So by my apples to apples calculation if you want the AOA and Moving Map features Garmin just paid for 11 years of the VFR data updates for the G3X. If you are planning to use the VP-X system Garmin just paid for 2.75 more years of the VFR data updates. Plus I tend to agree with ColoRV that I am not convinced that the free updates are going to remain free. Just a little more food for thought. (Disclaimer I know these are list prices and the actual prices would be less.) |
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Single download Airport Diagrams from Garmin- $50 Single download Airport Diagrams from Advanced- $25 Single download Airport Diagrams from FAA- FREE Single download Geo-Referenced Approach Plates, IFR Charts, VFR Sectionals from Garmin- $75 Single download Geo-Referenced Approach Plates, IFR Charts, VFR Sectionals from Advanced- $50 Quote:
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It also saddens me to say that I have received more emails and PM's than posts in this thread regarding support and info about the AFS and GRT EFISs with the common end statement "hope this helps, I just dont want to get involved in the crossfire from the G3x Mafia"
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Guys keep it civil or this thread will disappear. Nothing wrong with good clean debate. This stuff just is not worth losing friends over. That's the problem with forum discussions, they always go South.
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Brian, I appreciate that you are always willing to provide help with any system you are familiar with - and that's most of them!
NavData costs $. If you fly in the system (IFR) that's part of the cost. It would be nice if AeroNav/FAA would open-source the stuff but I doubt that will happen. The raw data needs work before it goes to devices anyway. I've seen data costs start to come down, even at Jepp (gasp). I suspect the cost of massaging data each release is similar for most players so, eventually, the charges will start to even out due to competition if there are enough users to be statistically meaningful. I fly with GNS 530W/430W (Toga) and with a 400W in the RV-6. I just did an IPC in the -6! I'm also on the early adopter list for the IFD series so I'll be happy to report on those once I get my finger prints all over them. I don't know what data on those will cost yet either. |
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XM add for AFS - $999, Garmin - $400 ADSB for AFS - $799, Garmin - $699 Arinc adapter AFS - $500, Garmin - $0 Don't get me wrong I think the AFS stuff is top notch and easily the most intuitive out there. I really enjoyed playing with it at Oshkosh. Rob is also a really nice guy. But when I priced out a complete system, it was over $5k above the Garmin price. That's a lot of 'free' data. The screens are beautiful and I considered going that extra cost to get them, but there is the Blue Mountain/Chelton syndrome to consider and when spending this amount of money..... When I went through all of this 6 months ago before deciding to buy the one company I was convinced (in the beginning) I would not buy, the frustrating part for me was digging though all of the apples to oranges comparisons. What I did was write down what I believe a $20k system should have as a minimum to even be considered for my panel. That list eliminated one manufacturer for me. My next criteria was is it ready to fly right now. Not promises for the future, as we have all seen those go on for years and then the company moves on to its next big thing...and the old promises are never kept. That eliminated another manufacturer. That left two and when I priced up both systems top to bottom.... It wasn't even close. The odd thing is if I had believed (and I did) what I read in here....I wouldn't have even considered the system I ended up buying. I asked a LOT of questions of the company I bought my system through and ended up completely reversing my position once I was educated enough to make a decision. |
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Many people have been completely scrapping the XM subscriptions for ADS-b. Garmin charges $425 for their Arinc adaptor, it is not included, I believe it is the GAD 29. It is like you said earlier, not everyone is going to have a Navigator so it is more cost effective by the company and to the buyer to make it “available” by the smaller avionics companies. But it is like you say, Apples and Oranges. Things to take into consideration is included add-ons: Garmin- AOA and VPX add-ons at no additional cost Advanced- Weight & Balance and Maintenance cklists, screen size, recurring database maintenance, and the biggest one of all, the history proven dedication to provide the experimental category with some of the most advanced (no pun intended) avionics available. You may be sick and tired of people talking down Garmin, but I am wondering why all of a sudden now that they have dropped their prices to jump into the market people think they need to advocate for them every time another EFIS company makes a new stride? |
Just a friendly clarification...:)
Garmin now has both options available for the ARINC interface. The original all inclusive GSU73 and the new products which split the ARINC, ADAHRS and EIS interfaces up into multiple components. It is the installers choice. The G3X system has a dedicated Weight and Balance Page/Utility. It also has customizable checklist (no maintenance timers however) Thanks for keeping it civil guys, we are all folks with a common passion and face to face most of us would get along just fine. It is OK to have good debate. As long as history has been recorded it has been Ford vs Chevy or BMW vs Benz. or something like that. That's OK, lets just not lose sight of the big picture and keep this fun! |
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