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  #1  
Old 05-14-2014, 08:13 PM
FLYIN9A FLYIN9A is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 109
Default Feedback GDL 39

Thinking about going to Garmin GDL 39 or 39 3D. ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SETUP ON ANDROID. DOES IT WORK ON ANDROID OR SHOULD I GO AHEAD WITH THE IPAD. Is there any Ipads it works better on than others or are they all about the same. Is there any suggested memory minimums etc i should be aware of. ALSO IS THIS SYSTEM RELIABLE AND AS FLAWLESS AS MY CURRENT 496.
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JOE MOORE
RV9A, 385 HRS AND CLIMBING
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  #2  
Old 05-14-2014, 08:47 PM
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BCP Boys BCP Boys is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Kennesaw, Ga
Posts: 825
Default

Joe, I just bought a GDL 39 myself mainly to work with my 796 but I'll connect to the my iPad mini as well. A few things you should consider....
1. Most folks find the iPad is too big for our cockpits so consider the iPad mini.
2. Buy the most memory your wallet allows... it's always handy.
3. This is a biggy.... The iPad does not due very well in direct sun light and there is plenty of sunlight that comes through the canopy (really most tablets don't do well in direct sunlight).
4. If you decide to go Android route, Garmin Pilot is supported on Android.
6. Regarding GDL39, it only works with Garmin Pilot App and no other apps. According the Garmin website it does provide ADSB traffic to your 496 but it doesn't support FIS weather on the 496.
7. The 1 time that I have used my GDL39 it seemed to work great.
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Last edited by BCP Boys : 05-14-2014 at 08:49 PM.
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  #3  
Old 05-14-2014, 08:51 PM
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Chino Tom Chino Tom is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chino, CA
Posts: 738
Default Not flawless

I don't have an android, but an iPad mini. My GDL 39 is blue toothed to both my 796 and iPad (with garmin pilot). It works and connects flawlessly with the Garmin 796.
With Garmin pilot on the iPad, most of the time, I have to go into settings
on the iPad and select the GDL on the bluetooth page. Also, many times
I must shut the iPad down completely and restart in order for it to connect
to the GDL 39. Once it is connected, there are no issues. Ensuring the
connectiion of the iPad to the GDL 39 is part of my runup check list.
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Tom Prokop
Chino, CA
RV-8A,180/CS/Carb, AFS 4500 EFIS/EMS
RV-6, sold, 820 hrs of fun.
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  #4  
Old 05-14-2014, 09:00 PM
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bullojm1 bullojm1 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,039
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Joe,

I run the GDL39 connected to a Google Nexus 7 (2013 edition). The combination is fantastic. I have an iPad 2, iPad Mini Retina and the Nexus 7, and the Nexus 7 is the only tablet I have ever used that has excellent sunlight readability in ANY condition the RV can encounter. I have yet to have the Nexus 7 shutdown due to heat, unlike both iPad's which have always seemed to shutdown at the worst possible times.

NewEgg is selling the 32 GB refurbished Nexus 7 for $164.99 after $50 rebate (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834231507). I purchased my Nexus 7 refurbed and it has performed flawlessly.

From both a price and sunlight readability standpoint, the iPad can't touch the Nexus 7. For even better use, make sure to pick up an anti-glare screen protector. I personally use the Tech Armor brand and it works great.

I have been flying behind this for about 6 months without a single hickup in all weather conditions and temperatures.
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  #5  
Old 05-14-2014, 09:08 PM
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agirard7a agirard7a is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Newport, RI
Posts: 705
Default GDL39

I use the battery operated Gdl 39 blue toothed
to my IPAD mini strapped to my knee. It's a nice setup
to use mobil. I personally like the Garmin Pilot app.
It's nice having weather and ADSB. The system works well.
The App has a split screen function or the option for full screen.
I like splitting the moving map with the ADSB target screen.
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  #6  
Old 05-14-2014, 09:39 PM
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dsvajda dsvajda is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 63
Default

I use Garmin Pilot with a Garmin Glo GPS bluetooth to an Asus Transformer TF700 Infinity. In Super IPS mode I have no problem seeing great detail on the screen in bright daylight. I just purchased a GDL 39 and have only flown with it once. GPS worked just like the Glo. I'm going to install a Delta Pop ADS-B/UAT antenna and a GPS antenna and get the GDL off the glareshield.

Dave
RV-6
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  #7  
Old 05-14-2014, 10:00 PM
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RVG8tor RVG8tor is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 1,261
Default Love it

I have been using the GDL 39 for a year now and love it. I initially used an android tablet but a few months back picked up the iPad mini with retina display. Thus beats the two android based tablet by a wide margin.

I love the Garmin pilot app. Weather, traffic, charts, etc are great. The traffic info is very accurate. I have used it to join up in a buddy when he is out flying.

Cheers
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  #8  
Old 05-16-2014, 01:44 PM
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boomer boomer is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ladonia,Tx
Posts: 153
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FLYIN9A View Post
Thinking about going to Garmin GDL 39 or 39 3D. ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SETUP ON ANDROID. DOES IT WORK ON ANDROID OR SHOULD I GO AHEAD WITH THE IPAD. Is there any Ipads it works better on than others or are they all about the same. Is there any suggested memory minimums etc i should be aware of. ALSO IS THIS SYSTEM RELIABLE AND AS FLAWLESS AS MY CURRENT 496.
I run the GDL-39/Garmin Pilot on both Android and IOS. As far as updates are concerned, the android version of pilot seems to lag behind the IOS version, but Garmin keeps the android version fairly current. I don't think you have any concerns there. Either are fine.

As to hardware, the Nexus 7 is superior in the bright cockpit of my RV-8, and its size is about right. I do carry an old IPAD 1 along in my flight bag as a backup, so either will work. The IPAD mini is probably more useful than the full sized IPAD, but I don't believe the screen is as bright as the Nexus 7.

The main drawback on the Nexus 7 (and this may be true on the IPADS as well) is battery life. Garmin Pilot drains the battery pretty quickly unless you keep it on a charger or allow the screen to go into dark mode often. For instance, last month I flew from Ohio to Tx (5.5 hrs flight time) with one fuel stop. The weather was bad on the second leg, but the Nexus 7 was down to about 20% battery life. I had to turn it off and on to keep it useful, mainly because my cigarette lighter receptacle is inop.

-John
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John Banister
RV-8 Engine (IO-360), Prop (CS)
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  #9  
Old 05-16-2014, 02:33 PM
jjhoneck jjhoneck is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: PORT ARANSAS
Posts: 419
Default

I have been running Garmin Pilot on a Nexus 7, bluetoothed to the Garmin GDL-39, since it was introduced.

After some teething problems, it has evolved into a bulletproof, wonderful system. Even though we now have ADS-B in/out on our GRT Horizon Hxr, we have retained the GDL-39 for the backseat set up, using the Nexus 7.

Between that app, and the Grand Rapids Technology's EFIS app (that bluetooths to the Horizon, providing us with a complete back-seat EFIS), we are all set.

Here's a pic of it in use with the GRT app in the landscape mode: (Stupid flash. It's usually much more readable!)



And here's one running Garmin Pilot in the portrait mode:



You can toggle between them with a button push. It's a great set up!
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  #10  
Old 05-16-2014, 09:26 PM
alcladrv alcladrv is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southeast
Posts: 569
Default

I've been running Garmin Pilot on a 32GB iPad with good success. I don't find the iPad to be too big to work with in my -7A. The built-in iPad gps has been generally trouble-free. A couple of times the gps wouldn't lock on but was easily corrected by re-booting the iPad. The iPad uses the WAAS gps signal from the GDL-39 through its bluetooth connection.

I also feed the GDL-39 info into my G3X system. Even though I have the XM capable G3X screens, I never subscribed to XM weather.

While the ADS-B weather depiction is helpful, the weather images in Garmin Pilot on the iPad will sometimes scare the heck out of you or your significant other. I have extensive experience in using the WSI weather website as well as inflight radar. Oftentimes, when I compare the radar images of Garmin Pilot and WSI side-by-side, Garmin Pilot has the intensity colors so ridiculously over enhanced that it's darn near unusable. It's like it's crying wolf and trying to scare you right out of the sky.

Personally, I'm comfortable flying my -7A into and through light precip areas (depicted in green by WSI) and closely skirt the edges of small moderate echoes (depicted in yellow by WSI). Garmin Pilot takes those some intensities and rapidly moves from green to red with moderate WSI echoes being depicted in red. On the G3X, the intensity depictions are a little more realistic. As a result, I rely less and less on Garmin Pilot iPad weather radar depictions because of their unrealistic presentation.

As far as traffic, I only have the ADS-B in from the GDL-39. It has been more helpful than I expected, especially in the large northeast metro areas like New York. The iPad traffic depiction is more helpful than the G3X because of the larger iPad screen size.

Good luck in your choice,

Mike
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