MGL Avionics - news

[Rainier Lamers]

Two items of news that may be of interest to the many MGL users on this forum.

Transponder
------------
MGL Avionics has reached an agreement with the German company Garrecht, known for their top quality mode-s transponders and ADSB gadgets (www.Garrecht.com). As a result, MGL will be interfacing natively to Garrecht transponders, including headless, low cost versions. Intergration has commenced and this is expected to be finalized towards the end of January. We will also support Garrecht's ADSB products.
This support applies for MGL G2 EFIS systems and of course the new iEFIS panels.

Navworx ADSB
--------------
We presented some ADSB Wx radar images from the Navworx ADSB products at Oshkosh this year on our EFIS systems and this development is now nearing completion. This includes regional and Conus USA radar Wx, Notams, TAFs, Metars etc and of course traffic.
This is a free upgrade for MGL G2 EFIS systems (only software required). This uses the built in high speed RS232 port so if you are using this for something else you may need to consider a low cost COM extender to give you more ports.
Of course, you will need to purchase a Navworx ADSB receiver or the new ADSB transceiver which is also supported (ADSB-OUT).
The Navworx products are also supported with our iEFIS panels.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

[iowaflyer]

So does this mean that the MGL T6 transponder project has been shelved?

[Rainier Lamers]

Let's just say it is on the back burner.
This also means the NAV radio is on the front burner...

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Originally Posted by iowaflyer

So does this mean that the MGL T6 transponder project has been shelved?

[aerhed]

This also means the NAV radio is on the front burner...

Nice! I have a NAV122 (analog) installed now as a temp with the G2's. I've got it to drive the HSI, but it only drives the AP on the from side of the OBS. Have to set freqs manually too. Talk about stone knives & bearskins.
P.S. I just built a little board with 3 USB jacks & a 3PDT remote rocker for AP switching (left/right). I'll post a pic next week.

[bobdobbs]

I believe MGL was expecting to release the iEFIS in March as well as the V6R headless COMM unit, is there any update on this?

What about the G3 CPU for the Odyssey/Voyager screens, is there a time frame?

Support for the Garrecht items was expected in the end of January. Will this be supported on the iEFIS as well as the Odyssey/Voyager EFIS? How is this effort going.

Trio servers on the iEFIS was mentioned to be technically difficult. Is this still the case?
Thanks

[Von Writter]

Any word on cost?

[Rainier Lamers]

No release in March, sorry.
We have some component supply issues, mostly caused by our largest supplier "changing business model" whatever that means.
We have had a nightmare come true. Components with long lead times had orders placed more than 6 months ago. Many of these orders have not gone into the new system or have gone wrong (like we get 10 and ordered 1000) or wrong packages etc.

Ria has been working like a demon to try and find alternate supplies and trace missing shipments and has been mostly successfull (except for one or two silly items that are promissed for next week). Everything is with our contract manufacturers now.

My best guess at this stage is release in May. However, first production batch is fully sold out at this stage. Most of this batch is allocated to our various distributors with the remainder taken up in local sales.

Regarding the question on price: Less than a current system, much less if you opt for multiple panels.

Sorry, no Trio servos. I can't support Trio servos on the iEFIS as it does not have the required hardware to support these items. This was ditched to get the cost down as the hardware required had no other use.

For information on transponders, please see www.MGLAvionics.co.za (click on the "RF" button on the left).
One thing not mentioned on the website - we will also be supporting the Sandia STX165 transponder which is very low cost. You can use either the STX165 or the STX165R. The support for this transponder is in the next software release expected very soon. It uses a RS232 port so you may need a COM extender module unless you have the built in RS232 free for use.

G3 development is temporarily halted but will continue after iEFIS release (that is taking nearly all of my time).
The reason for halting the G3 was a release of a new processor chip which I have just received first engineering silicon for - it is not yet in production. The halt is worth it as this chip promisses very low component count and even lower cost while giving extremely respectable performance. It was worth waiting for it.
The G3 board is a plug in upgrade for all iEFIS systems as well as G1 and G2 systems. Very simple upgrade - unplug the old, in with the new. This kind of system upgradability is built into all our larger systems and has proven itself during the G1 to G2 upgrade phase. It allows you to keep up with development it you so wish.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Originally Posted by bobdobbs

I believe MGL was expecting to release the iEFIS in March as well as the V6R headless COMM unit, is there any update on this?

What about the G3 CPU for the Odyssey/Voyager screens, is there a time frame?

Support for the Garrecht items was expected in the end of January. Will this be supported on the iEFIS as well as the Odyssey/Voyager EFIS? How is this effort going.

Trio servers on the iEFIS was mentioned to be technically difficult. Is this still the case?
Thanks

[FlyingArcher]

Originally Posted by Rainier Lamers

Sorry, no Trio servos. I can't support Trio servos on the iEFIS as it does not have the required hardware to support these items. This was ditched to get the cost down as the hardware required had no other use.
Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

Rainier,

This is really bad news. I purchased my Trio Gold servos from MGL USA quite early in my build in order to have them properly and easily installed with the provided kits. This was even before you announced your MGL servos, so there was little choice to be made at the time.
I'm currently building my fuselage and will be at the panel stage by the end of this year, so the iEFIS would be the perfect choice for me, but what are my options now for the AP feature? Buy a Trio head? Not fair...

[Peterk]

We have some component supply issues, mostly caused by our largest supplier "changing business model" whatever that means.
We have had a nightmare come true. Components with long lead times had orders placed more than 6 months ago. Many of these orders have not gone into the new system or have gone wrong (like we get 10 and ordered 1000) or wrong packages etc.


hmmm....that statement can be a "game changer" in any retail business...might want to keep to yourself.

[bkthomps]

sounds like Dynon is really the odd man out with no integrated wx options now.