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Thanks for the response and good to know. I'm also looking at the 796 GDL-39 3D combo to use in the C172 until I finish the 7. My laptop is starting to act up and so was considering a tablet for replacement and in the interim try the Pilot app with a GDL-39 on the tablet. I down loaded the 30 day free trial for my android phone and so far it has worked pretty well (not really good for flying as the screen size is small, but gives a good overview/demonstration of the capabilities).
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I'll second the comments on Pilot's "amplification" of weather returns. I was using it to track weather as I was flying commercial back to Boston from Charleston, SC last week. The intensity of returns didn't seem to match what I was seeing out the window, so I went back to using another iPad radar app that uses what seems to be normal NWS reflectivity scaling. I've been using Pilot quite a bit and am on the verge of buying a GDL-39, but I'd like to see a more accurate depiction of weather.
Perhaps the Garmin folks can explain why their weather rendering is different? Dave |
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NEXRAD Data Color Mapping
First we want to say that these are all very good questions. There was certainly no decision to alter the weather depiction to look scarier than it is.
We reviewed all available guidance before deciding on how to map NEXRAD radar reflectivity to the colors shown by Garmin Pilot and our other products which display weather. Some of the best guidance is provided in DO-267A, Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards for FIS-B Data Link and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). The radar color table used in Garmin Pilot is based on two factors:
We also notice that it is not uncommon for FIS-B NEXRAD data to show more red (heavy precipitation) data than shown in SXM weather data, but again we use the same color mapping regardless of data source and will show red when the data indicates it should be represented in this manner. Thanks, Steve |
Thanks for the update
Steve,
Thanks for the update on this. It sounds like this was done based on a lot of research and was intentionally done this way. Personally, as long as I know what to expect and what the colors mean I think it will work out fine. The issue was that the "normal" colors that I'm used to seeing from XM or FIS-B on other Apps didn't match. My assumption and expectation was that these colors were some what universal. Similar to watching the news and seeing Radar images on one channel then flipping the channel to another news cast and seeing the same images (or colors) on another channel. But like I said as long as I know what the color representation stands for it should be fine . . . it's the data that it represents that matters not the pretty colors :D. Just one more question/clarification Steve: Are these colors only used on the App? So on other Garmin products like the 796 or even the G3X system should we expect these same colors or is this just for the Pilot App? |
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Yes, this method of assigning colors to NEXRAD data is consistently applied across Garmin products including the Aera 796 and G3X. Our certified products are actually required to follow DO-267A guidance as part of receiving one or more related TSOs. Thanks, Steve |
Excellent ! Thanks Steve.
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Well---Y'all heard the man. Next thing to do, instead of just a few RV er's with Garmin Pilot installed, is have an army of RV er's with Garmin Pilot (installed) go out in real world conditions and report back here. That's what I'm going to do (as soon as I heal up and can fly again)
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I can hear it now.
Center, this is RV12WX. How would you characterize that precip at my 12 o'clock. Light, Moderate, or Heavy? :) Steve |
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I may have heard this incorrectly, but I believe they also said that their ability to see light precip is so poor that they don't even report it anymore. It was a very helpful meeting. Jim Berry RV-10 |
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