MGL Avionics - new RF products at Osh

[Rainier Lamers]

Well, we had been asking Trig for some two years and while we got enthusiastic replies, nothing happened. We signed an NDA and nothing happened.
Of course there is a limit to our patience (and I think we gave them a lot of that) but we obviously had to make a plan.

We started a paper project for a transponder that would effectively remove the need for some of the traditional hardware and allow a lower cost device but after we established initial contact with Trig, we shelved it.

Now we have taken it out again, dusted it off, had a look at what has happened with electronics in the meantime with latest silicon, changed a few things related to that and now we are are working hard to get something ready for Oshkosh. It's tight but I think we can make it.

We are putting it into the same housing as used in the V6 and of course it is fully remote controllable so you can use the EFIS numeric keypad to punch in the sqwauk code (if you don't want to use the knobs on the transponder).

We have been talking to the South African CAA about TSO but have discontinued this last week as it became apparent that they lack the required expertise. We are starting the process of doing the TSO with the FAA instead, it seems much easier anyway and makes more sense.

As we have something to prove here, our price target is below $1000 for a mode-s level 2. We where aiming for a class 1 at this price but it looks like it is more realistic to do a class 2 as there is a fairly cost effective transmitter chain available for that power band. We can always do a class 1 at slightly higher price after this.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Originally Posted by ColoCardinal

Rainier,
Is the Odyssey capable of controlling the Trig TT22 transponder? If not, do you have plans for this? I?m looking at installing two Odysseys in my RV7a; a Garmin 430W and your V15 radio/audio panel and possibly a VP-X breaker box. There would be almost nothing visible except the two Odysseys.
Any update for the release of the V15?
Thanks

[Rainier Lamers]

R6 is on my desk.
V6 should be going off for certs end of this month.
Production is scheduled to start in two months.

V15 has been shelved for now, instead V6 is fully remote controllable so it effectively replaces the V15 anyway as it has good audio capabilities as well (stereo all the way, several audio inputs).

V20 (the NAV radio) was to be a remote only unit (like the V15) but it makes more sense now to use the V6 housing and form-factor as well so that is what is happening there.

This means, with this line complete, we will have the V6 VHF, V20 NAV and V?? transponder all in the same housings so that makes a good deal of sense.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Originally Posted by rvmills

Rainier,

Any further updates on the V6 and R6? I'm in the market for a second comm radio for formation work, and am comparing the V10 and the V6. I currently have an SL-40 and a GMA-340, so the desire is a simple set-up to wire in as comm 2 on the GMA-340 (no no intercom needed, though the VOGAD sounds nice).

Panel space is a little tight, so I'm leaning to the V6, though behind-panel space is a possible factor too, so the V10's shallow depth is appealing.

Along those space limitation lines, can the R6 be used with a remote V6 radio (if a remote V6 is available...like the pic of the V15 below...is that a combo you will produce?).

Thanks very much!

Cheers,
Bob

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by Rainier Lamers

V20 (the NAV radio) was to be a remote only unit (like the V15) but it makes more sense now to use the V6 housing and form-factor as well so that is what is happening there.

This means, with this line complete, we will have the V6 VHF, V20 NAV and V?? transponder all in the same housings so that makes a good deal of sense.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Thanks for the news! Will the V20 NAV radio be VOR / localizer only or will it support glide slope as well? (asking for the moon here, but assuming no DME?).

Also curious about your ADS-B plans with respect to the V?? Transponder. Any integration planned or are you thinking about a separate box?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Rainier Lamers]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Thanks for the news! Will the V20 NAV radio be VOR / localizer only or will it support glide slope as well? (asking for the moon here, but assuming no DME?).

DME is really closer to a transponder but we are not looking at it. Not sure if there is much of a need for it anymore.
Yes, the NAV does glide slope as well as marker RX.

Also curious about your ADS-B plans with respect to the V?? Transponder. Any integration planned or are you thinking about a separate box?
Jeff

The transponder supports the native ADS-B extended squitters out of the box (for transmission).

ADS-B receiver (1090ES) is quite simple and only needs a handful of components these days. It would make sense to include this in the transponder but we will not do that for fear of screwing up the certification.
You could make a fair ADS-B receiver for your EFIS for perhaps $200 end user price that would result in a nice and very useful traffic display.
I'm expecting that receivers like this will become plentiful so there is no need for us to do anything. Receivers like this are already used by plane spotters in all their forms. We just need to pick one and support it.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

[rvmills]

Rainier,

Thanks for the quick responses!

Sorry for my confusion, but will the form factor for the V6, V20 and XPNDR be:

1. Like the item on the left in the pic below (remote mounted and all remote controlled via the R6)

or

2. Like the item on the right in the pic below, and when you say remote controllable, you mean from the EFIS (if desired).

The reason I ask is in my situation, I'll be mounting the second radio in a small area to the left of my EFIS. The V10 may fit there, the R6 will fit there (and I'd mount the V6 box out of the way, if it was a remote device). If the V6 is like the item on the right, it still may fit, but depth may be an issue for me.

Just planning ahead, and appreciate your posts, as always!!

Cheers,
Bob

Originally Posted by Rainier Lamers

R6 is on my desk.
V6 should be going off for certs end of this month.
Production is scheduled to start in two months.

V15 has been shelved for now, instead V6 is fully remote controllable so it effectively replaces the V15 anyway as it has good audio capabilities as well (stereo all the way, several audio inputs).

V20 (the NAV radio) was to be a remote only unit (like the V15) but it makes more sense now to use the V6 housing and form-factor as well so that is what is happening there.

This means, with this line complete, we will have the V6 VHF, V20 NAV and V?? transponder all in the same housings so that makes a good deal of sense.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Originally Posted by Rainier Lamers

From left to right:

V15 - EFIS controlled remote VHF radio
R6 - 2.1/4" remote control head for V6, V10 and V15 radios. Will also be used as optional indicator for V20 nav radio.
V6 - 2.1/4" VHF radio, 6.5W TX, dual scan RX, dual circuit intercom with 4 microphone circuits, stereo music channel.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

[Rainier Lamers]

Like the unit on the right.
This means one single box for each.
Obviously they are panel mount devices, but - like our current V10 - can be completely mounted behind the panel or anywhere else (for example the "other" seat on a tandem) and fully controlled by up to two EFIS systems independently. This includes all things like volume and squelch (on the radios) as well as all setup items.

So, you have the complete freedom to view them either as panel mount or remote mount/controlled or both.

Yes, the R6 can also be thown into the mix...

Rainier

Originally Posted by rvmills

Rainier,

Thanks for the quick responses!

Sorry for my confusion, but will the form factor for the V6, V20 and XPNDR be:

1. Like the item on the left in the pic below (remote mounted and all remote controlled via the R6)

or

2. Like the item on the right in the pic below, and when you say remote controllable, you mean from the EFIS (if desired).

The reason I ask is in my situation, I'll be mounting the second radio in a small area to the left of my EFIS. The V10 may fit there, the R6 will fit there (and I'd mount the V6 box out of the way, if it was a remote device). If the V6 is like the item on the right, it still may fit, but depth may be an issue for me.

Just planning ahead, and appreciate your posts, as always!!

Cheers,
Bob

[rvmills]

Got it Rainier, thanks!

Has the depth of the V6 been established? (If you can release that info yet.)

Thanks again!
Cheers,
Bob

[Rainier Lamers]

10 cm (or 3.9" if you prefer).

Plus connector, a D25, due to the additional audio channels, stereo etc we need more pins compared to the V10 radio which has a D15 connector.

Rainier

Originally Posted by rvmills

Got it Rainier, thanks!

Has the depth of the V6 been established? (If you can release that info yet.)

Thanks again!
Cheers,
Bob

[rvmills]

Perfect...thanks! Looks like a winner to me!! Thanks for suffering through all the Q's...while you're trying to bring new products to market!!

Cheers,
Bob

[gasman]

WOW!! It just keeps getting better.......

Looks like the heaviest part of my new panel will be the blank aluminum sheet the panel was made from.

Thank You MGL