Bendix King AV8OR handheld GPS

638RS · #1 07-29-2008, 09:37 AM

King has announce the release of a new handheld GPS with weather capability called the AV8OR.

Has anyone wandering around OSH looked at this unit? I have been trying to find out if it is capable of driving a autopilot. The web site says it cannot drive a autopilot in a certified A/C but nothing on if there is a GPS out put.

If they did not provide a GPS output I think they really missed the boat in competing with Garmin, AvMap, etc...

Davepar · #2 07-29-2008, 10:37 AM

More info at their web site (turn down speaker to avoid annoying audio):
https://www.bendixking.com/AV8OR/

638RS · #3 07-29-2008, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the link, but that's where I initially got confused. They have the following in their FAQ's:

1.Can the AV8OR interface with certified GPS systems?
Yes. Using the optional serial interface cable, the AV8OR can be configured to display the course and way points loaded in panel-mount GPS systems, including the Bendix/King KLN 94 and the Garmin? 430/530 GPS units.

2.Can I connect my unit to my autopilot?
No. The AV8OR is an uncertified, portable device, and cannot be linked to an autopilot on a certified aircraft.

The questions imply that there is a serial interface cable but it can't be used to drive a autopilot... Or can you, and they are only telling you it is not allowed on certified a/c..

I would just like some clarification...

w1curtis · #4 07-29-2008, 11:45 AM

This looks like a very nice alternative to the Garmin portables. This unit has a larger screen, though slightly lower resolution, is smaller in overall size and half the weight of the Garmin. $750 for the basic unit with XM option for another $473 is VERY competitive with the Garmin units.

It think that has to be their official statement but as long as the unit can output NMEA via the optional RS-232 interface, you should be able to use it with a TruTrak.

EtherAviator · #5 07-29-2008, 12:37 PM

PIREPS would be useful, as details about specs are somewhat sketchy on the Bendix website.

What does the navdata include? (i.e. private airports, Victor airways, approaches, center/FSS freqs, etc) Terrain and airspace profile is a nice feature, but does it also provide TAWS-like alerts and airspace alerts? Any plans to incorporate TIS-like information (from Zaon XRX?)

Nonetheless, looks like a good value, and should prompt Garmin to consider a pricing adjustment.

jmartinez443 · #6 07-29-2008, 01:12 PM

I'm a little torn about the touch screen interface. On the one hand it sounds pretty intuitive, on the other, I don't know how useful it would be in turbulence.

Nice unit though.

w1curtis · #7 07-29-2008, 01:49 PM

The Honeywell site is pretty slow today probably as many seek to get information on their announcements. Here are the direct links to the Quick reference and pilot guides.

Quick Reference:
https://www.bendixking.com/servlet/c...702-0013_0.pdf

Pilots Guide:
https://www.bendixking.com/servlet/c...03000008_0.pdf

As for touch screens, I use my Nuvi in the cockpit all the time and I find it easier than buttons. The secret is that you have to steady your hand by using one of your other fingers against the unit, allowing your index finger precise control.

638RS · #8 07-29-2008, 04:11 PM

If I understand the manual correctly, the RS232 port is only active if you select "external gps" as the source. If you are using the internal gps then the rs232 port is not active... which means I can't drive my AP or my fuel computer....

Bummer... If I am wrong on this please correct me...

craigvince · #9 07-29-2008, 06:13 PM

I went to their presentation tent this afternoon. The price of the unit is $750, and the price of the USB WxWorks receiver is $625-ish, but Bendix is offering a $250 rebate on the XM receiver. This makes for a much cheaper option to the Garmin 396. The unit looks very small, but the display is 4.3", which is about the same as the x96 models, I think. The reason it looks so small is that there are no external buttons on it, since it is touch-screen.

I must admit, I have not yet had time to play with one as the line was very long. I'll try to report back on it later in the week. I also don't have any idea about the A/P output capabilities.

Kyle Boatright · #10 07-29-2008, 08:47 PM

Picked one up yesterday. The folks at the Bendix booth indicated that it would be as simple as "Buy the GPS, then take the discount coupon to the WeatherWorx folks, then buy the Weatherworx hardware. Next, get an XM plan and you're off and running." Not even close.

Bendix does not have their act together in rolling out this product. The Weatherworks guys don't have the hardware at Osh to support XM on this unit. I discovered this after buying the GPS. The Weatheworx folks were to one-day ship the hardware to Osh for me to pick-up this morning. It was a no-show. When I followed up with Weatherworx, their story was that the XM hardware (I think we're talking proprietary cables from Bendix) that interfaces with the AV80R was only delivered to the Weatherworx warehouse yesterday and wasn't available for shipment until today. So I flew home into the face of nasty weather today without XM weather.

I tried to use the AV80R to guide my trip home, and was able to program my route home with it, but used my 10 year old Lowrance 100 as primary navigation. Why? The AV80R does not ship with a manual. Only a CD with the manual on it. So I was unable to delve deeply into the system set-up, and couldn't get the unit to display airspace. Therefore, I chose against using it as primary nav on the way home.

When I did use the unit, I found the unit's display is hard to read in bright sunlight. Again, there may be a setting I couldn't find (no manual, remember?) to address this issue, but my old Lowrance was MUCH easier to read in the cockpit than the AV80R. Additionally, the system didn't display certain information I am used to seeing - Bearing and distance to the next waypoint. Again, this may be user configurable. We'll see.

I'm about to plug in the CD and see if I can figure out how to address some of these issues. If they are fixable, I may be able to get over the fact that I spent a half day of my day and a half at Osh dealing with the butchered roll-out of this product. If the issues I found are not something I can resolve through user settings, I'll be returning the unit and the Weatherworx hardware that is supposed to arrive at my home (signature required... AARGH!!) tomorrow.

1st Edit: The system manual (on the CD) contained instructions on resolving several of the issues I originally had. The airspace issue is resolved (apparently, airspace info is turned off as a default setting). As far as data displayed goes, there are 20 or so options for data windows. You can select the 9 of these you are most interested in, and put those in your desired order. Four of them will be visible at any given time and the remaining 5 (of the 9 you selected) can be reached by scrolling.

At this point, the brightness of the display may still be an issue. I am still scrolling through the 274 pages of info on the CD looking for brightness controls. Boy, I wish there was a paper manual....

Also, the standard internal battery seems to last about an hour with me scrolling through a bunch of set-up screens and the like.