New (March 1, 2016) Garmin aera 660 Portable GPS

[noelf]

To gFlyer...

I went through this two weeks ago with the same results. I ended up calling Garmin support.

The first thing they told me was to not use the micro sd card to update the software, but to use the direct cable attach between the 660 and the USB port on the computer. This method worked. And I was told it was faster than the wifi approach.

With Support still on the phone, we tried to update the databases for the 660. This did not go smoothly, Support stayed with me for an additional hour, and we finally got the download to work. Turns out I was havIng problems with my computer and MS 10. Went to another computer and all started working as expected. The database up date took about 40 minutes.

I was very happy with my very patient Garmin support expert.

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by gFlyer

Hi Steve,

When I cut the cable which is coming with the unit, does this cable has the same number of wires and colours than the spare part "Aviation Mount with Bare Wires (aera? 660)" ?

Thanks
gFlyer

Hello gFlyer,

The cable which comes with the unit doesn't include wires it doesn't need, so for example it does not include any wires for the two serial ports.

You will want to obtain the bare wire cable rather than cut up this purpose built cable.

Thanks,
Steve

[mooniac]

Originally Posted by mooniac

Steve,

I understand what you are saying but why is the aera trying to re-sync the flight plan when I have it set to only send the flight plan with user action? I have a friend who is experiencing the same issue with his 796 with the latest firmware. I would like the aera to behave like Garmin Pilot where I can always receive the flight plan from the FS210 but only send it when I manually push it. This is quite annoying otherwise since I get the message a couple of times on each flight and then I need to go and delete the flight plan from the GTNs otherwise they mess up my catalog with garbage entries at the top.

Also, how do I determine if this is really the cause as I have never noticed a BT disconnect on my Garmin Pilot?

Thanks!

Steve,

Sorry to keep this one going but it would be great to have a way to just disable BT flightplan transfer because sometimes you want to have a different flightplan on the portable than the one in the GTNs. How should that be handled?

Thanks!

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by mooniac

Steve,

Sorry to keep this one going but it would be great to have a way to just disable BT flightplan transfer because sometimes you want to have a different flightplan on the portable than the one in the GTNs. How should that be handled?

Thanks!

Hello Mooniac,

There are a couple of ways to achieve this. One, simply turn off the BT and keep them isolated in that way.

Second, go to the Tools, Setup, Connext page and you have configuration choices for both Incoming and Outgoing flight plans.

Set the Incoming Flight Plan Mode to "No Transfer" and the Outgoing Flight Plan Mode to "Require Action", and the two systems will retain separate flight plans unless you specifically touch the Connext button on the flight plan page and select Send FPL or Load FPL to manually force a sync.

This guidance assumes you are using V2.50 software on the aera 660.

Thanks,
Steve

[mooniac]

Originally Posted by g3xpert

Hello Mooniac,

There are a couple of ways to achieve this. One, simply turn off the BT and keep them isolated in that way.

Second, go to the Tools, Setup, Connext page and you have configuration choices for both Incoming and Outgoing flight plans.

Set the Incoming Flight Plan Mode to "No Transfer" and the Outgoing Flight Plan Mode to "Require Action", and the two systems will retain separate flight plans unless you specifically touch the Connext button on the flight plan page and select Send FPL or Load FPL to manually force a sync.

This guidance assumes you are using V2.50 software on the aera 660.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

I appreciate the response. I am on v2.50. I don't want to turn off BT since I still would like traffic and weather. I have had the setting on the Connext page set as you suggested all along and it still is sending the flight plan to the GTN in the case you've identified as BT reconnect. That is what I found troubling about it.

Thanks! I really appreciate your help.

[nippaero]

Originally Posted by KCutri

I am comparing Foreflight/ iPad/ Stratus 2 with my new Garmin 660 and GDL 39 3D. I had issues with iPad freezing up in flight, and Foreflight doesn't provide any airspace warnings or graphics on their World Map (leaves it up to the VFR pilot with moving VFR chart - dah, thanks.). Garmin does a great job for VFR pilots in the default moving map (not VFR chart mode) for airspace management - worry free cross country flying. Also, the Stratus 2/ Foreflight synthetic vision is really poor - very flat ground images, and you don't actually see the runway until you're down final and almost on top of it. Garmin Synthetic Vision on the 660 seems much richer, as was the previous 796 I owned.

Question 1) Why can't the Garmin 660 pick up weather while on Wifi sitting at my desk planning a flight? Foreflight does this with great ease. Ugh!

Question 2) Since the Garmin 660 doesn't show weather on Wifi on the ground, I am using Garmin Pilot on my Android for that purpose (really trying to give Garmin a shot here). Has Garmin considered a joint subscription for Garmin 660 owners to allow free downloads and use of Garmin Pilot on a separate smartphone, when you own a 660? Even Foreflight allows for an iPad and an iPhone on the same subscription.

I am not sure if I saw an answer to this question. I have the same feedback to the Garmin team about using the 660 for flight planning over WiFi. Is there a way to get weather while on the ground? I currently have to bounce back and fourth between the 660 and Garmin Pilot in order to plan a flight.

Is there a technical reason the 660 cannot get weather over WiFi?

If the answer is no then would Garmin consider offering 660 users a combined subscription to Garmin Pilot?

[nippaero]

Pretty quiet on this thread the past few days. I have another question/suggestion. Is it possible to change the aircraft type on the 3D vision page to something other than an RV? Maybe high wing? I know this is VAF but some of us would like to move the 660 between other airplanes

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by nippaero

Pretty quiet on this thread the past few days. I have another question/suggestion. Is it possible to change the aircraft type on the 3D vision page to something other than an RV? Maybe high wing? I know this is VAF but some of us would like to move the 660 between other airplanes

Hello nippaero,

The Profile setup page allows you to select from one of 5 different airplane types for the moving map (including a high wing and a helicopter).

The 3D Vision page shows either a fixed wing (which looks like an RV) or a helicopter, but no high wing.

Thanks,
Steve

[Low Pass]

Steve,

Seems I cannot get attitude information from my hard wired connection to my GDL-39 3D. All other data seems to be communicating through wired connection normally. It works with the Bluetooth connection. Tried disabling Bluetooth, still no attitude. Have the latest GDL-39 firmware.

I know this is a second question on this problem, Steve, but I'm still unable to receive attitude info and thought others might chime in if having the same problem.

Thanks

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

Steve,

Seems I cannot get attitude information from my hard wired connection to my GDL-39 3D. All other data seems to be communicating through wired connection normally. It works with the Bluetooth connection. Tried disabling Bluetooth, still no attitude. Have the latest GDL-39 firmware.

I know this is a second question on this problem, Steve, but I'm still unable to receive attitude info and thought others might chime in if having the same problem.

Thanks

Hello Bryan,

Thank you and others for the heads up on this. We agree that this is not working correctly and will make improvements before the next release of the aera 660 software.

The hardware interface including the attitude data does work correctly with a GTX 345.

Thanks,
Steve