Ditching the 496

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by Pilot135pd

So instead of paying for anything else why not just buy an iPad or Samsung ( cheaper than IFly and no subscriptions ) and leave it installed in the plane like you?re planning on doing with the IFly?
Then you have everything as you do now and won?t forget your tablet plus no new wiring! You both have to learn to use the new IFly so just learn to use the iPad or he learns to use the Samsung.

I have the Dynon D-180 with autopilot and a 496. I plan to install the Echo ADSB also so I?ll pretty much have your same setup. I?m going to install an iPad in the panel (currently using it or my 6s+ on a ram mount) and I?m done. No wiring.

I think that would be the simplest and cheapest solution and no additional wiring or future subscription costs plus it does exactly what you want plus redundancy with the 496 and tablet displays.


On another note I?m also considering in the near future replacing the 496 with a Garmin 175 to be able to fly it IFR and I still won?t have any issues with ADSB because it?s still going to the iPad.

Well... first off, there would be wiring to supply power to whatever tablet we decided to mount, plus needing to actually mount the tablet. And in the end, it STILL won?t supply guidance to the autopilot, so flight plans would need to be entered twice... meaning we couldn?t just mount the tablet over the top of the 496. We both use our tablets for other things in addition to flying. This way we have a dedicated GPS device that will drive the autopilot and other D180 functions and is controlled by the avionics switch like everything else. Maps and other data will always be up to date, and neither of us has to give up our tablet for exclusive use in the plane. My co-owner can drop his FF subscription if he wants. We CAN pay for the multi-platform upgrade, but we boxing have to... since we can just punch everything into the 740 pretty easily. It?s not like we fly compels routes or anything.

[Pilot135pd]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Well... first off, there would be wiring to supply power to whatever tablet we decided to mount, plus needing to actually mount the tablet. And in the end, it STILL won?t supply guidance to the autopilot, so flight plans would need to be entered twice... meaning we couldn?t just mount the tablet over the top of the 496. We both use our tablets for other things in addition to flying. This way we have a dedicated GPS device that will drive the autopilot and other D180 functions and is controlled by the avionics switch like everything else. Maps and other data will always be up to date, and neither of us has to give up our tablet for exclusive use in the plane. My co-owner can drop his FF subscription if he wants. We CAN pay for the multi-platform upgrade, but we boxing have to... since we can just punch everything into the 740 pretty easily. It?s not like we fly compels routes or anything.

I think you disagreed with me first then gave me reasons why my idea works then went back again

-You need to mount the IFly just like the tablet.

-Wiring the tablet is only 2 wires for power. Still need more wires for the IFly.

-Still need to enter flightplan twice if you?re using IFly because it won?t transfer to the tablet.

-Your 496 is already wired and gives guidance to the autopilot. You have to buy a new IFly so you just buy a new tablet for the exclusive use in the plane and you still have yours so you can still use it for your other needs.

-Maps and everything else stays updated FREE, IFly needs a paid subscription.

[DaleB]

I think you are missing a couple of points here. With the iFly mounted, you no longer NEED the tablet for anything. If you WANT to use it for something, like advance flight planning, the exact same app runs on Apple or Android tablets and from what I understand will sync flight plans to the 740. Not that it matters much, because I honestly don?t see a need for that. And (as I?ve pointed out a few times already) the tablet won?t replace the 496 for providing GPS data to the Dynon. The extra couple of wires really aren?t a factor.

Mounting a tablet isn?t all daisies and sunshine. You?ll need a reliable 5V USB source wired in, and you?ll have to find and install something better than a Ram mount. Oh, wait... no, because you STILL need to get to that bloody 496.

We considered pretty much every possible path here. The iFly 740 won out by a good margin.

Hoping to get time to solder up the cable tomorrow, so we can flight test this weekend. Really looking forward to seeing how well it all works together.

[rv3flier]

DaleB,

Once you get the 740 mount dialed in, are you going to consider making a kit for sale? I would certainly be interested. I basically ignore my 396, except for the autopilot input, and rely on the 740.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by rv3flier

DaleB,

Once you get the 740 mount dialed in, are you going to consider making a kit for sale? I would certainly be interested. I basically ignore my 396, except for the autopilot input, and rely on the 740.

The mount I cooked up is unique to the RV-12. I'll certainly publish the Solidworks file and the STL so people can 3D print their own. It's a pretty long print job, so I'm not sure about offering to print for other people but I'm not ruling it out. I could make it a lot faster by printing it in two pieces to be glued together. As it is, the "clip" part at the bottom means nearly the entire thing gets printed with supports, which takes an extra hour or so.

I wanted to make sure it was stout enough to withstand normal use in a -12, including getting bounced around in turbulence. I lack the engineering chops to conduct any sort of stress analysis, but at present I suspect it's somewhat over-built. I'm fine with that, but I would like to slim it down a little if I can. I made the main body of the mount .25" thick, with counterbored holes for the screw heads. In hindsight, I could probably make it a lot thinner and forego the counterbores since the scree heads are nowhere near the GPS itself. I guess I just got a little carried away learning how to do stuff in Solidworks.

After we fly with it for a week or two, I may try a Version 2 design to use less print time and plastic, get it a little closer to the panel, and still be strong enough not to worry about it flexing or breaking.

[gasman]

I have had my 740 since it was introduced. Made a simple channel clip mounted to the panel. The 740 slips up under it to secure the top of the unit to the panel. The bottom just pushes to the panel and held with velcro. It sets right on top of my transponder and is flush with it. Can be removed in 15 seconds.

The unit is full of features and is well supported. But it has one flaw...... REFLECTION. Plan for it.

[NinerBikes]

Originally Posted by gasman

I have had my 740 since it was introduced. Made a simple channel clip mounted to the panel. The 740 slips up under it to secure the top of the unit to the panel. The bottom just pushes to the panel and held with velcro. It sets right on top of my transponder and is flush with it. Can be removed in 15 seconds.

The unit is full of features and is well supported. But it has one flaw...... REFLECTION. Plan for it.

Would it be possible to take a picture and post up what your solution is? Would be helpful to others here.

[Piper J3]

See post #49 above. Today I took the iPhone 7 running ForeFlight out to the plane for a flight. Overall size is nearly same when I held the phone in front of the Garmin 296 and screen size may actually be a little larger. I ran the phone in “Airplane Mode” and connected WiFi to the uAvionix UAT transceiver for traffic and weather. Worked a charm. Display is very readable in bright sunlight, and when positioned in front of the Garmin at the top of the radio stack, glare off the screen isn’t a problem either. Larger screen on iPhone 7 Plus might be ideal...

My conclusion is that the phone would be a good replacement for the Garmin allowing same touch-screen capability as a mini iPad. This idea has some merit and I will give it further consideration.

Pros / Cons…

• I would lose GPS position data sent to the D-180 if I removed the Garmin. In my case, not a big problem because I don’t have autopilot. Essentially, I would lose winds-aloft display on the D-180.
• How to power the phone with ugly plug-in connector – maybe run on internal battery and charge after each flight? Maybe wireless inductive charging from back of phone?
• Mount to panel using a cell phone case. Cell phone case would be similar to and function like a Garmin AirGizmo dock. Installation would be really clean.
• iPhone 7 Plus has larger screen and can be bought used for less than $200
• ForeFlight has a Cockpit Sharing feature that will slave mini iPad and cellphone

So many things to think about for a retired engineer... My ten-year old granddaughter says "Papa overthinks everything" and my wife thinks I’m crazy.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Piper J3

See post #49 above. Today I took the iPhone 7 running ForeFlight out to the plane for a flight.

One word of caution .. I use my iPhone X with ForeFlight in my RV-9A, and if the sun is hitting the phone, it will overheat. I have not yet had the phone go to the overheat screen, but I've seen the processor slow to a crawl to the point that ForeFlight was unusable. It wouldn't pan, zoom, or even update the screen. So, if you will be using the iPhone in the cockpit, I'd strongly recommend that you come up with a means to keep it out of the sunlight so you don't run into overheat problems.

[Piper J3]

Correct... I currently have mini iPad running ForeFlight. I remove the iPad when the plane is parked in the sun. iPad doesn't like heat or cold and requires gentle warming if temp is below freezing.