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12-30-2016, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: uk
Posts: 57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g3xpert
Hello Tom,
Ok, that makes sense.
All Aera 660 units come with a worldwide basemap that generally gets the job done, but the Atlantic units also ship with an SD card that includes quite a bit of additional enhanced basemap detail for Europe.
Obviously too much detail for your taste, so just leave the SD card out of the unit and it will work fine.
Thanks,
Steve
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I didn't know about the enhanced database. Thanks for the info. I do prefer the display without the enhancement.
But my problem with the TOPO shading remains to a certain extent. If I turn it on it will not turn off. I had to reinsert the SD card and remove it. When I removed it the TOPO turned off. I will leave the TOPO turned off, but I am a bit uncomfortable that there may be a problem. Is this something that could be a problem with my particular GPS? Maybe your bug fixing team should be told if it is unlikely to be restricted to my GPS.
Thanks
Tom
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12-30-2016, 10:41 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn25854
If I remember when I turned my off here at home it faintly said "charging" or something like that on the screen.
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I saw a "charging" screen once as well... When I first got mine, and was doing the initial "full charge", I had powered it on and off a couple of times while playing with it, and then plugged it in to leave it overnight and this "charging" graphic came up on an otherwise black screen. I hadn't seen it before, and I have yet to see it again.
I'll go read page 3 in the manual as suggested and see if it sheds any light.
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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12-30-2016, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 2,885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdhanson
Overall Garmin Portable lineage question.
Is there a chart that gives the specs of the 660/795/796 side by side?
The 660 appears to be recently available and may contain newer processor/speed over the older 795/796? Are newer 795/796 models coming soon? Any time horizon we may consider for this?
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Hello,
We don't have a chart for side by side comparison, but the product pages for the Aera 796 and Aera 660 provide spec pages and you can go to the manuals page and download those for more information.
It is true that newer products incorporate newer technology that is usually faster and more capable, and the Aera 660 is no exception. The Aera 660 incorporates some nice new features like WiFi download of databases and software, but the 795/796 units also perform nicely even when doing things like panning/zooming on the IFR/VFR charts. So, it mostly comes down to whether you want a 5" or 7" display.
It is somewhat of a big deal to announce when a new product is about to be launched or even in development, so don't expect Garmin to leak out their product development activities on a public forum too often - even one as great as this!
Thanks,
Steve
__________________
Garmin G3X Support
g3xpert@garmin.com
1-866-854-8433 - 7 to 7 Central Time M to F
Please email us for support instead of using Private Messaging due to the limitations of the latter.
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12-31-2016, 08:19 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 2,885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomww
I didn't know about the enhanced database. Thanks for the info. I do prefer the display without the enhancement.
But my problem with the TOPO shading remains to a certain extent. If I turn it on it will not turn off. I had to reinsert the SD card and remove it. When I removed it the TOPO turned off. I will leave the TOPO turned off, but I am a bit uncomfortable that there may be a problem. Is this something that could be a problem with my particular GPS? Maybe your bug fixing team should be told if it is unlikely to be restricted to my GPS.
Thanks
Tom
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Hello Tom,
It would probably be better to contact us directly if this doesn't help.
We are quite certain that the Map, Menu, Topo Shading control works perfectly, but perhaps its operation is being complicated by the insertion/removal of that European VFR Basemap Enhancements SD card since that dramatically changes what is shown underneath the aviation navigation data.
We recommend you power-off the Aera 660, remove that SD card, and never re-insert it again.
Power on the Aera 660 without this card and verify that Topo Shading is turned off (if that is what you prefer).
Reading your posting I thought of something else. Perhaps you not only don't like Topo Shading on your map but also don't like Metro Area shading. If not, from the map page select Menu, Setup, Misc and turn off Metro Area shading.
Thanks,
Steve
__________________
Garmin G3X Support
g3xpert@garmin.com
1-866-854-8433 - 7 to 7 Central Time M to F
Please email us for support instead of using Private Messaging due to the limitations of the latter.
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12-31-2016, 02:00 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 2,885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by control
"....but the Atlantic units also ship with an SD card that includes quite a bit of additional enhanced basemap detail for Europe."
So is the enhanced basemap available for download? (if I buy a 660 and fly in the US first and then return to Europe with it?)
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Hello Control,
Yes, everyone who adds an Aera 660 to their FlyGarmin account will see a database category called "Map Enhancements".
Currently the only choice in the "Map Enhancements" category is this Europe enhanced basemap data with coverage for Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom for $39.99.
We obviously don't use this over here in the U.S., but Garmin's European pilot's like using these enhancements a lot and pushed to include this SD card containing this database for the Atlantic version - and we did. The list price of the Atlantic version (P/N 010-01518-01) is no higher than the Americas, so this is a bit of a bonus for European pilots.
If you buy a version other than Atlantic, you would need to buy both an SD card and pay for the download if you want this database, so it may not make sense for you to purchase an American version for use in Europe.
Thanks,
Steve
__________________
Garmin G3X Support
g3xpert@garmin.com
1-866-854-8433 - 7 to 7 Central Time M to F
Please email us for support instead of using Private Messaging due to the limitations of the latter.
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01-02-2017, 09:48 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Pilot Hill, CA
Posts: 845
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g3xpert
Hello,
In case you didn't see this in the G5 Electronic Flight Instrument thread, we just wanted to mention that the aera 660 makes an excellent navigator for a small system with a G5, GMC 307 autopilot control panel, and servos. You can even fly coupled VNAV descents to pattern altitude with the aera 660 connected to the G5.
Thanks,
Steve
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Steve,
My RV-8 is currently equipped with the following:
1. Garmin GNS 430W
2. Garmin GTX 345
3. Garmin Aera 660
4. TruTrak DigiTrak II
5. AFS 4500
I want to add the following to gain additional functionality, specifically:
1. Garmin GM 307 Autopilot Controller (replace TruTrak)
2. Garmin GSA 28 (X2) Autopilot servos
3. Garmin G5 Flight Instrument (Backup to AS 4500)(Replace ASI, VSI, ALT)
4. Garmin GAD 29 Nav Date Adaptor
Will the above proposed combination of items enable the use of the autopilot for GPS steering, WAAS LPV vertical approach guidance?
If the Garmin GNS 430W was being used for an IFR approach and the APR button on the GMC 307 autopilot control panel was activated, will the the autopilot fly the approach and will the Area 660 show the aircraft's position on the approach plate?
With a flight plan entered into 430W and the 307 was being used, what happens if the 430W goes off-line? Does the 660 become the navigator and drive the G5 and in turn the 307? Is it automatic?
When time permits, and if appropriate, could you please provide a flow chart (like the one you did above) illustrating the connectivity and flow with the GAD 29, GNS 430 and GTX 345 added to what you already have illustrated?
It would help me better understand.
Happy New Year!
Thank you,
__________________
Charlie
RV-8
Last edited by Chkaharyer99 : 01-03-2017 at 05:12 AM.
Reason: Add question
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01-03-2017, 04:44 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: uk
Posts: 57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g3xpert
Hello Tom,
It would probably be better to contact us directly if this doesn't help.
We are quite certain that the Map, Menu, Topo Shading control works perfectly, but perhaps its operation is being complicated by the insertion/removal of that European VFR Basemap Enhancements SD card since that dramatically changes what is shown underneath the aviation navigation data.
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Glad to hear you are "quite certain" it works perfectly.  Unfortunately mine will not turn off the TOPO shading with the enhanced map. Maybe you confidence is misplaced?
Quote:
Originally Posted by g3xpert
We recommend you power-off the Aera 660, remove that SD card, and never re-insert it again.
Power on the Aera 660 without this card and verify that Topo Shading is turned off (if that is what you prefer).
Reading your posting I thought of something else. Perhaps you not only don't like Topo Shading on your map but also don't like Metro Area shading. If not, from the map page select Menu, Setup, Misc and turn off Metro Area shading.
Thanks,
Steve
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Removing the SD card has enabled me to turn off the TOPO shading. I find it better with the TOPO turned off as I find it easier to read the map.
Last edited by tomww : 01-03-2017 at 04:55 AM.
Reason: correct spelling
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01-03-2017, 06:38 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 2,885
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Hello Charlie,
Thanks for your interest in these products.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chkaharyer99
Steve,
My RV-8 is currently equipped with the following:
1. Garmin GNS 430W
2. Garmin GTX 345
3. Garmin Aera 660
4. TruTrak DigiTrak II
5. AFS 4500
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Quote:
I want to add the following to gain additional functionality, specifically:
1. Garmin GM 307 Autopilot Controller (replace TruTrak)
2. Garmin GSA 28 (X2) Autopilot servos
3. Garmin G5 Flight Instrument (Backup to AS 4500)(Replace ASI, VSI, ALT)
4. Garmin GAD 29 Nav Date Adaptor
Will the above proposed combination of items enable the use of the autopilot for GPS steering, WAAS LPV vertical approach guidance?
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Yes, the G5 based autopilot will follow the guidance from the 430W and allow you to fly autopilot coupled LPV approaches with both lateral and vertical coupling (with a flight director).
Quote:
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If the Garmin GNS 430W was being used for an IFR approach and the APR button on the GMC 307 autopilot control panel was activated, will the the autopilot fly the approach and will the Area 660 show the aircraft's position on the approach plate?
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Yes, the APR button on the GMC 307 tells the G5 autopilot flight director that you wish to couple to the GPS approach guidance being provided by the 430W. When flying an LPV approach (is there anything else?), pushing the APR button also arms the vertical mode to automatically capture the glidepath (GP) on the LPV approach. You can push your last button (the APR button) many miles outside the IAF on an LPV approach.
Yes, you can use the Aera 660 to display the approach plate which will also show the aircraft position on the approach.
Quote:
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With a flight plan entered into 430W and the 307 was being used, what happens if the 430W goes off-line? Does the 660 become the navigator and drive the G5 and in turn the 307? Is it automatic?
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No, there is no automatic fail-over to use the Aera 660 should the 430W fail. The G5 has a single serial interface to receive navigation guidance, and this can be configured for MapMX when interfaced to the 430W or NMEA when interfaced to the Aera 660.
As you probably know, the Aera 660 can be installed/configured to automatically receive the current flight plan from the 430W, so it makes a great backup navigator should the 430W fail. It would be possible to install a switch that you would only use to switch to using the Aera 660 as your navigator (coupled to the autopilot) should the 430W fail, but you would have to manually change the G5 RS-232 input from MapMX to NMEA to allow the G5 autopilot to follow the Aera 660, so this wouldn't be something you would want to use except as a "get home" backup. If you did, you would certainly fly home with a smile on your face with the autopilot coupled to the Aera 660 both laterally and vertically (with a flight director).
Quote:
When time permits, and if appropriate, could you please provide a flow chart (like the one you did above) illustrating the connectivity and flow with the GAD 29, GNS 430 and GTX 345 added to what you already have illustrated?
It would help me better understand.
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Good idea!
Thanks,
Steve
__________________
Garmin G3X Support
g3xpert@garmin.com
1-866-854-8433 - 7 to 7 Central Time M to F
Please email us for support instead of using Private Messaging due to the limitations of the latter.
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01-03-2017, 09:21 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Pilot Hill, CA
Posts: 845
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Steve,
Thank you for the quick and complete response.
I re-read every post in the "Garmin? Team X introduces the G5 electronic flight instrument" thread and found much to support your response to my questions and reinforce my very limited understanding of this stuff.
The posts I found most helpful over there were #77, 96 and 171. I'm listing them here as a reference for myself to go back to.
Thank you!
Charlie
__________________
Charlie
RV-8
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01-04-2017, 08:34 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Kennesaw, Ga
Posts: 825
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g3xpert
If you did, you would certainly fly home with a smile on your face with the autopilot coupled to the Aera 660 both laterally and vertically (with a flight director).
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Steve, Quick question on this. If you do lose the 430W in flight (or 650/750) how would the 660 provide vertical "guidance"? I know the 660 can provide Lateral guidance to the G5 which would steer the Autopilot, but I was not aware that the 660 would be able to provide vertical guidance if a primary IFR GPS fails. My understanding was that the only vertical information that a 660 could use to input in to an autopilot would be information similar to the VNAV profile but not as a back up to 430 on an LPV approach. That would be awesome if I am wrong 
__________________
Amir
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RV-7
RV-10 - Sold
Supporting VAF since the first visit
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