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  #1  
Old 11-12-2009, 09:20 PM
the_other_dougreeves the_other_dougreeves is offline
 
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Default G3X Questions

The economy and my personal circumstances have revived my interest in building full-time for a few months. As part of the planning, I've been looking at the advances in the EFIS market.

The G3X is an interesting product. I've been flying with a G696 for a few months and have been impressed with the user interface and the robustness of the unit, although it's not perfect. So, along with AFS, Dynon and GRT, Garmin is on the list for consideration. The integration seems to be a major plus.

So, I'm trying to figure out how the G3X works in detail. The documentation is good, but some questions remain:

* How does SL30 CDI data display on the HSI? Is there a softkey to turn it off and on?

* Is there any kind of integration / cross-checking between the SL30 data and GPS data, say, on an ILS?

* You configure the system as 1-screen or 2-screen by grounding certain pins on the displays. When you set it up as a 2-screen system, it looks like you loose the ability to display engine data across the top of the PFD or to display map data on the PFD - true?

* The GDU units are fairly thin. It looks like you could mount one for the back seater in a -8. All it really needs is power and a 2-wire CANBUS connection to the other GDUs. How would you configure the unit to act as a 1-screen PFD?

Thanks,
TODR
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  #2  
Old 11-13-2009, 05:39 AM
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mburch mburch is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_other_dougreeves View Post
So, I'm trying to figure out how the G3X works in detail. The documentation is good, but some questions remain:
As with many things, the documentation lags a bit behind the capabilities... I can probably answer a few questions for you.

Quote:
How does SL30 CDI data display on the HSI? Is there a softkey to turn it off and on?
Yes, there's a softkey on the PFD to cycle through the available navigation sources.

Quote:
Is there any kind of integration / cross-checking between the SL30 data and GPS data, say, on an ILS?
For the most part, that's up to the pilot.

Quote:
You configure the system as 1-screen or 2-screen by grounding certain pins on the displays. When you set it up as a 2-screen system, it looks like you loose the ability to display engine data across the top of the PFD or to display map data on the PFD - true?
That's currently the case. Engine and map data are on the MFD in a two-display system. If the MFD fails, the PFD reverts to its split-screen state.

Quote:
The GDU units are fairly thin. It looks like you could mount one for the back seater in a -8. All it really needs is power and a 2-wire CANBUS connection to the other GDUs. How would you configure the unit to act as a 1-screen PFD?
You can actually have three displays at the same time, so you would just connect the pins on the third display for "PFD2".

mcb
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  #3  
Old 11-13-2009, 07:21 AM
the_other_dougreeves the_other_dougreeves is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mburch View Post
As with many things, the documentation lags a bit behind the capabilities... I can probably answer a few questions for you.
....
You can actually have three displays at the same time, so you would just connect the pins on the third display for "PFD2".
Hmmm ... Lawrence, KS ... And you know a lot about the G3X ... Hmmm

Thanks for the answers. As for setting the back screen up as PFD2, would you be able to scroll through different screens on the bottom section like you would if it were set up as a single display, or would it be HSI all the time? Could you force it into reversionary mode (ground pin 25) and make it act like a single screen system, with the engine data strip, flight instruments on top and selectable pages on the bottom? It would seem like the later would be the ideal system for a back seater with only one screen.

TODR
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  #4  
Old 11-13-2009, 07:54 AM
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mburch mburch is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_other_dougreeves View Post
Could you force it into reversionary mode (ground pin 25) and make it act like a single screen system, with the engine data strip, flight instruments on top and selectable pages on the bottom?
Yep, exactly.

mcb
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  #5  
Old 11-13-2009, 09:11 AM
TThurston TThurston is offline
 
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Default EGT Display

Another question, as I read the documentation, it seems like there is no way to display EGT information on a single display system. The documentation also does not indicate any way to display EGT or CHT for multiple cylinders on a single display system.

How does one use the engine information on a single display system to properly lean and otherwise manage an engine?
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  #6  
Old 11-13-2009, 05:15 PM
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mburch mburch is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TThurston View Post
Another question, as I read the documentation, it seems like there is no way to display EGT information on a single display system. The documentation also does not indicate any way to display EGT or CHT for multiple cylinders on a single display system.

How does one use the engine information on a single display system to properly lean and otherwise manage an engine?
At present, the G3X software does not yet support user configuration of engine inputs, nor does Garmin currently sell engine sensors, so at the moment the G3X system is being sold to end users for "no EIS" applications only. As for future developments, I expect any news will be delivered through the G3X site or G3X product page.

cheers,
mcb
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  #7  
Old 11-23-2009, 09:52 PM
krwalsh krwalsh is offline
 
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Default G3X integration to 430W, SL30, etc

How does the G3X integrate into the other Garmin products? I see in the pilot's guide how it interfaces to the SL40, and I presume that the same is possible with the SL30 in terms of being able to load frequencies from waypoints or nearest airports.

If I connect a 430W to a G3X and input the flight plan into the 430W, do I get anything on the G3X other than a heading, or is the whole flight plan passed along?
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  #8  
Old 11-24-2009, 05:31 AM
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mburch mburch is offline
 
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Originally Posted by krwalsh View Post
If I connect a 430W to a G3X and input the flight plan into the 430W, do I get anything on the G3X other than a heading, or is the whole flight plan passed along?
With a 430/530, you see the flight plan waypoints from the 430/530 duplicated on the G3X moving map and elsewhere. The PFD HSI needles are driven by the 430. In terms of VOR/ILS, the PFD HSI can be driven either by the VLOC side of a 430/530, or by an SL30. The system supports connection to two "boxes", e.g. 430+430, 430+SL30, or I suppose even SL30+SL30 if for some reason you wanted to do that.

mcb
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  #9  
Old 11-24-2009, 07:10 AM
the_other_dougreeves the_other_dougreeves is offline
 
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Slightly OT, but the SL30 is a very flexible radio - seems to "play nice" with just about everyone's EFIS, dual VOR RX, dual COMM RX .... I hope Garmin keeps the SL30/40 twins around for a while.

TODR
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  #10  
Old 11-25-2009, 06:11 AM
rv699jb rv699jb is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mburch View Post
With a 430/530, you see the flight plan waypoints from the 430/530 duplicated on the G3X moving map and elsewhere. The PFD HSI needles are driven by the 430. In terms of VOR/ILS, the PFD HSI can be driven either by the VLOC side of a 430/530, or by an SL30. The system supports connection to two "boxes", e.g. 430+430, 430+SL30, or I suppose even SL30+SL30 if for some reason you wanted to do that.

mcb
Matt,

Another question if you will. You say the HSI part can be driven by the VLOC side of the 430/530 or an SL30. Can it be driven by the GPS side of the 430? I guess the question is more will the HSI needles, both lateral and vertical guidance, work when shooting a non-precision or WASS GPS approach? Thanks!

Jim Baker
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