I am doing my first Garmin Panel updates after my first flight. . I am very surprised of the costs. Am I doing something wrong? I have (2) G3X and a GTX 375.
The cost of the G3X updates are $150 and the cost of the annual GTX 375 is $500
Should have bought Dynon.
Volume is not the only factor; cost of obtain the data and how many are sold likely have a larger impact on pricing.It's great that you USA based guys get these:
- $0.00 - US VFR Navigation Data, Terrain, and Obstacles databases
- $49.99 - US VFR Navigation Data, Terrain, Obstacles, Airport Directory, IFR/VFR Charts and SafeTaxi
- $149.95 -Garmin Navigation Data, Obstacles, SafeTaxi, Airport Directory, FliteCharts, IFR/VFR Charts, and Terrain
@G3XPERT are there any plans for those of us in the UK/Europe to get a similar deal at any time? The Europe equivalent of the $49.95 pack is £530 ($458) which is a pretty hefty difference for what is a smaller geographical area, the equivalent to the $149.95 pack is a whopping £1,015 ($1265).
Looking for to the response
[*]$49.99 - US VFR Navigation Data, Terrain, Obstacles, Airport Directory, IFR/VFR Charts and SafeTaxi
[*]$149.95 -Garmin Navigation Data, Terrain, Obstacles, Airport Directory, IFR/VFR Charts, SafeTaxi and FliteCharts.
Thanks,
Justin
Volume is not the only factor; cost of obtain the data and how many are sold likely have a larger impact on pricing.
Yes that's true to a degree but a smaller area has less data to obtain, not only that but also having lower cost mapping would generate more people selecting Garmin over Dynon for example, and thus a greater market share of people with Garmin hardware which in turn sells more map updates. When something is circa 8 times the equivalent cost compared the USA one can't help but think it's a tad unfair. A difference in cost can be justified on the grounds you mention but 8X ????
I rearranged the descriptions above to make them it easier to compare/contrast. The costs are what they are. I do think marketing terms are a bad idea though, and the Garmin site needs better descriptions of what is in each database.
I'm pretty sure that "FliteCharts" is Garmin-speak for approach plates. I think most people would say approach plates actually fall under the broad heading of IFR/VFR Charts, but I get it. If you want approach plates to display on your G3X Touch, you need "FliteCharts." Jepp has their own marketing name for plates...ChartView
"SafeTaxi" seems to be Garmin-speak for airport diagrams.
But can someone explain or point me to a site that describes the specific differences between "Garmin Navigation Data" and "US VFR Navigation Data?"
Is it GPS approach waypoints? Intersections? I've failed in my efforts to find this information.
If you want to fly IFR with a GPS navigator, you need to buy the databases no matter who's gear you have.
Good question! This VFR version of the Navigation Database is very similar to the regular United States Navigation Database but because the G3X Touch has no ability to navigate approach procedures, it does not contain approach data. This allows us to avoid passing the cost of that data on to users who do not have the ability to use it.
Thanks,
Justin
From this thread https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=199335Rich,
As long as you have a Garmin U.S. Navigation Database instead of a Garmin U.S. VFR Navigation Database, and the connected GPS IFR navigator is failed (not providing either MapMX RS-232 or A429 GPS Navigation data), you should be able to load and/or activate an instrument approach using Internal flight planning on your GDU 4XX G3X Touch Display.
Steve