Quote:
Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot
Sorry for the dumb questions, but it's how we learn.
Why is the AV30 attractive or desirable? I watched the ad https://youtu.be/_3SjbeZtruQ
I see it has some unique form, fit and function. However the bug the OP mentions brings some question of suitability as an attitude indictator. Many EFIS use GPS in the solution, as well as magnetometer. May be being self contained stand alone is too much of a compromise..
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Don't think for a second the G5 is perfect. I have had a G5, Sandia Quattro and AV-30 installed in my RV3 simultaneously for testing and the G5 behaved fine until maneuvering caused shadowing of the GPS signal which didn't affect the other two makes. Granted an external antenna would mitigate this. Where I live the gubmit' is occasionally GPS blocking so instruments that depend on it wonk out (G5, Aspen etc). What's that new controversial 5G signal the FCC just approved going to do? I don't know.
Alll these things are gizmos with occasional dud units despite quoted high MTBF (mean time between failures). As an aside if you ever get a chance to tour any of the manufacturers of these types of instruments donit. It is impressively mind blowing how much care and testing goes into each individual unit. Dynon used to do this during the Arlington Fly In and it was brilliant marketing.
I had a G5 air data sensor go nuts at just shy of 20 hours from new installation. It was the AI in a dual G5 panel in a Pioer Comanche and I had used it as the digital altitude encoder source for transponder and ADS-B. Unfortunately it decided to malfunction during VFR climb out from the LA basin. Southern Cal approach lit up when the encoded altitude reported from between zero and 40 some-odd thousand feet and all points in between randomly multiple times a second. The G5 altitude tape exhibited this same behavior. The controllers had the pilot turn off altitude squawk. Consequently we got a nastygram in the mail from the FAA asking for a suitable explanation lest the aircraft be ADS-B blacklisted.
And then there's the issue with support. Trying to get Garmin to believe they have a bad unit can be tough. To be fair they field questions all day and are weary of Grandma calling without even knowing what model number they have. So sometimes they have the same disposition as the IRS when you call. Then having them point you to the dealer you bought it from complicates the whole process. You have to call the dealer and start all over with the questions and answers and convince them Garmin support concured there is a problem. In this case I had a spare G5 I used as a loner to to troubleshoot and correct the problem and get the FAA off our back. But it took more than a month to get the warranty replacement through Spruce with their green and incompetent employees. I had to call back multiple times to check on progress and got confused responses.
Warranty claims and support from uAvionix (and Aerovonics before that) is a quick and simple phone call with someone who is technically knowledgeable and can make an instant decision to get a replacement unit on the way without delay or dealing with a dealer.
The G5 air data module failure was 5 months ago and I still get occasional calls from ACS avionics asking where the battery and connector are for the G5 and I have to explain and swear on my life all they sent me was the stripped down bare unit without these items and I re-used the original accessories. I have a picture in my mind of a box on a desk in a cubicle that nobody seems to know what to do with.
Don't take this the wrong way. I am satisfied with the G5 and just installed one in my Husky. I have a new one in the box waiting to go into my G3X Touch equipped RV-8. There isn't an argument that the G3X and G5 just go together. There isn't anything perfect out there and I go both ways. I just happen to prefer and recommend the AV-30 for aircraft without Garmin glass, or the owner doesnt insist on a slaved heading system or is a Type Certified aircraft (until such time as the AV-30 is approved by the FAA). The AV-30 is more bang for the buck, is beautiful to behold and displays attitude as smooth as a physical gyro. And I dig the EFIS Arc mode for enroute.